Senior Research Associate / Associate Scientist, Characterization

Lila Sciences; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 118,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive base compensation with bon

Equity (early-stage)

Comprehensive U.S. benefits

Job summary

Lila Sciences is seeking a Senior Research Associate / Associate Scientist, Characterization in Cambridge, MA to maintain and improve characterization workflows supporting active materials research campaigns.

The role focuses on running SEM, optical microscopy, and XRD, preparing samples, and documenting methods while collaborating with scientists, engineers, and platform teams to deliver high-quality data.

Qualifications

• B.S. or M.S. in Materials Science, Chemistry, Physics, Engineering, or related field.
• 2 to 5 years of hands-on lab experience in materials characterization.
• Experience operating SEM, optical microscopy, XRD, or similar tools.
• Strong sample preparation, measurement planning, and documentation skills.
• Ability to troubleshoot instruments, workflows, and data-quality issues.
• Comfort following SOPs while improving protocols as methods mature.
• Strong communication with scientists, engineers, and operations teams.

Responsibilities

• Operate SEM, optical microscopy, XRD, and related characterization workflows.
• Prepare samples and measurement plans for routine characterization requests.
• Maintain instrument readiness through checks, calibration, documentation, and troubleshooting.
• Develop and refine protocols for new tools, methods, and sample types.
• Deliver high-quality measurement data with clear records and traceable methods.
• Identify workflow bottlenecks and improve throughput, reliability, and data quality.
• Partner with Materials Science, platform, and operations teams on campaign needs.

Skills

SEM operation

Optical microscopy

XRD

Sample prep

Experiment documentation

Troubleshooting

SOP adherence

Communication

Education

Bachelor's or Master’s in Materials Science, Chemistry, Physics, Engineering, or related field

Job description

Senior Research Associate / Associate Scientist, Characterization

Cambridge, MA USA

Lila Sciences is seeking a Senior Research Associate / Associate Scientist, Characterization to join the Materials Science team within the Autonomous Science Platform. This role focuses on operating, maintaining, and improving characterization workflows that support active materials research campaigns.

The person in this role will run and troubleshoot core characterization methods, including SEM, optical microscopy, and XRD, while helping bring new instruments and protocols into reliable use. They will partner with scientists, engineers, and platform teams to deliver high-quality measurements, document methods, and keep characterization workflows moving efficiently.

This is a hands-on role for someone who enjoys careful experimental work, dependable lab operations, and practical method development. The ideal candidate brings strong attention to detail, comfort working with scientific equipment, and interest in building repeatable workflows that support fast, high-quality research.

What You'll Be Building

• Operate SEM, optical microscopy, XRD, and related characterization workflows.
• Prepare samples and measurement plans for routine characterization requests.
• Maintain instrument readiness through checks, calibration, documentation, and troubleshooting.
• Develop and refine protocols for new tools, methods, and sample types.
• Deliver high-quality measurement data with clear records and traceable methods.
• Identify workflow bottlenecks and improve throughput, reliability, and data quality.
• Partner with Materials Science, platform, and operations teams on campaign needs.

What You'll Need to Succeed

• B.S. or M.S. in Materials Science, Chemistry, Physics, Engineering, or a related field.
• 2 to 5 years of hands-on laboratory experience in materials characterization or adjacent workflows.
• Experience operating SEM, optical microscopy, XRD, or other common materials characterization tools.
• Strong sample preparation, measurement planning, and experimental documentation skills.
• Ability to troubleshoot instruments, workflows, and data-quality issues.
• Comfort following SOPs while improving protocols as methods mature.
• Strong communication skills for coordinating with scientists, engineers, and operations teams.

Bonus Points For

• Familiarity with materials sample preparation for microscopy or diffraction workflows.
• Experience onboarding new lab equipment, methods, or characterization protocols.
• Comfort working in high-throughput or service-oriented lab environments.
• Basic data analysis, visualization, or scripting experience for measurement workflows.

Compensation

We offer competitive base compensation with bonus potential and generous early-stage equity. Your final offer will reflect your background, expertise, and expected impact.

U.S. Benefits. Full-time U.S. employees receive a comprehensive benefits program including medical, dental, and vision coverage; employer-paid life and disability insurance; flexible time off with generous company wide holidays; paid parental leave; an educational assistance program; commuter benefits, including bike share memberships for office based employees; and a company subsidized lunch program.

International Benefits. Full-time employees outside the U.S. receive a comprehensive benefits program tailored to their region. USD salary ranges apply only to U.S.-based positions; international salaries are set to local market.

Expected Base Salary Range

$80,000 - $118,000 USD

About LILA

Lila Sciences is building Scientific Superintelligence to solve humankind's greatest challenges. We believe science is the most inspiring frontier for AI. Rather than hard-coding expert knowledge into tools, LILA builds systems that can learn for themselves.

LILA combines advanced AI models with proprietary AI Science Factory instruments into an operating system for science that executes the entire scientific method autonomously, accelerating discovery at unprecedented speed, scale, and impact across medicine, materials, and energy. Learn more at www.lila.ai.

Guided by our core values of truth, trust, curiosity, grit, and velocity, we move with startup speed while tackling problems of historic importance. If this sounds like an environment you'd love to work in, even if you don't meet every qualification listed above, we encourage you to apply.

Lila Sciences iscommitted to equal employment opportunityregardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status.

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