Senior Software Engineer I/II, Test Robotics

Lila Sciences; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 144,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Lila Sciences is seeking a QA automation professional to steward Verification & Validation for autonomous labs where software meets robotics hardware. You will automate tests across Python (pytest), UI flows (Playwright), and CI/CD, while validating hardware-in-the-loop integration and test planning.

Work alongside platform, simulation, and human-factors engineers to catch failures early. Responsibilities include building V&V processes, reducing nondeterminism, and ensuring scalable test data

Qualifications

• 4–8 years in software test or QA automation for complex, integrated systems.
• Hands-on automation in Python with pytest and a modern UI framework (Playwright).
• Front-end unit testing (Vitest/Jest) a plus.
• CI/CD integration and fast, stable pipelines.

Responsibilities

• Automate test suites including Python, pytest, and UI flows wired into CI/CD.
• Conduct Hardware-in-the-Loop tests against real and simulated hardware.
• Develop test plans and V&V processes mapping requirements to coverage across software-to-hardware boundary.
• Create UI tests for internal dashboards and orchestration UIs.

Skills

Python automation

pytest

Playwright

Vitest/Jest

CI/CD

HIL testing

Cross-functional communication

GitHub Actions

Tools

GitHub Actions

Job description

Your Impact at LILA
You will steward Verification & Validation and software quality for our autonomous labs, where software meets real robotics hardware. On the Independent Verification & Validation team, you\'ll build the V&V, Hardware-in-the-Loop, and UI testing that lets us ship fast without breaking the lab, partnering with platform, simulation, and human-factors engineers to catch failures in test rather than on the bench.

Your Impact at LILA
You will steward Verification & Validation and software quality for our autonomous labs, where software meets real robotics hardware. On the Independent Verification & Validation team, you\'ll build the V&V, Hardware-in-the-Loop, and UI testing that lets us ship fast without breaking the lab, partnering with platform, simulation, and human-factors engineers to catch failures in test rather than on the bench.

What You\'ll Be Building

• Automate the test suites: fast, reliable Python automation — from pytest unit and API coverage to Playwright UI flows — wired into CI/CD (GitHub Actions).
• Validate against hardware: Hardware-in-the-Loop tests that exercise platform software against real and simulated robotics hardware, integrated with our simulation and digital-twin systems.
• Own V&V and test planning: verification & validation processes and test plans that map requirements to coverage across the software-to-hardware boundary.
• Test the interfaces scientists use: UI testing for the internal dashboards and orchestration UIs that drive the factory.
• Tame nondeterminism: regression and reliability testing that isolates flakiness and keeps signal high as the platform grows.
• Manage test data: fixtures that make results reproducible and failures diagnosable.

What You\'ll Need To Succeed

• Test/QA automation depth: 4–8 years in software test or QA automation for complex, integrated systems.
• Automation in Python: hands-on with pytest and a modern UI framework (Playwright); front-end unit testing (Vitest/Jest) a plus.
• V&V and test strategy: defining test plans and V&V processes, and reasoning about what to test at which layer.
• CI/CD integration: embedding tests into pipelines (GitHub Actions or similar) and keeping them fast and stable.
• Integration & HIL mindset: testing across service, UI, and hardware boundaries, including nondeterministic behavior.
• Cross-functional communication: working alongside platform and simulation engineers and communicating risk clearly.

Bonus Points For

• Hardware-in-the-Loop experience: prior HIL, robotics, or lab automation testing against physical or simulated devices.
• Simulation / digital twin: testing software against simulators or digital-twin environments.
• Test infrastructure: building test data management, fixtures, or reporting for large suites.
• Systems engineering & regulated industries: V&V experience in aerospace, manufacturing, or healthcare/life sciences, and a systems-thinking approach to the software-hardware boundary. Exposure to GAMP 5 / FDA CSA, 21 CFR Part 11, or DO-178C a plus.

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: $144,000 USD - $240,000 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.