Staff / Principal Mechanical Engineer

Location: Cambridge, MA USA

Department: Autonomous Science Platform

Your Impact at Lila

Lila Sciences is seeking an experienced Staff/Principal Mechanical Engineer to join our Hardware & Controls Engineering team. The specific title (Staff or Principal) will be determined based on experience level and expertise. As a key technical leader, you'll leverage your deep expertise to design and engineer components for workcell robotics, mechanical systems, and automation across life science and physical science domains. You'll collaborate with experimental scientists, AI/ML scientists, software/controls engineers, and process/automation engineers to lead complex projects, guide multidisciplinary teams, and deliver state-of-the-art automation solutions.

What You'll Be Building

• Lead the design and implementation of bench-scale robotics and mechanical systems for sophisticated automation in life science and physical science applications.
• Design innovative pneumatic, electro-mechanical, and optical solutions for advanced robotic workcells used in biological research and materials discovery.
• Lead and mentor teams in advanced CAD design and analysis using SolidWorks, optimizing systems for high-throughput workflows.
• Direct the creation and validation of designs through 3D printing, laser cutting, and other rapid prototyping methods.
• Lead cross-functional collaborations to integrate mechanical designs with software and controls across scientific domains.
• Develop strategies to transform manual processes into automated workflows while maintaining rigorous safety and quality standards.
• Coordinate with external vendors for custom component development and system integration.

What You’ll Need to Succeed

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Robotics, or a related field.
• 8+ years of mechanical engineering experience with proven expertise in life science and physical science automation (title will be determined based on experience & expertise).
• Extensive proficiency in SolidWorks CAD design, GD&T, and DFMA
• Extensive proficiency working with & implementing requirement management systems, product lifecycle management, & product data management.
• Demonstrated leadership in managing complex projects and mentoring engineering teams.

Bonus Points For

• Deep experience in automation across scientific domains, with expertise in SolidWorks CAD design, PDM Vault management, rapid prototyping, and mechanical testing.
• Expert knowledge of motion control and mechatronic systems for diverse scientific applications.
• Strong background in automated systems and robotic integration for biological research, and materials science in the biotech sector.
• Demonstrated strong attention to detail in documentation, adherence to standards, and equipment management.
• Experience in automotive manufacturing, battery manufacturing, semiconductor manufacturing, and packaging with discrete material movement.

About Lila

Lila Sciences is the world’s first scientific super intelligence platform and autonomous lab for life, chemistry, and materials science.  We are pioneering a new age of boundless discovery by building the capabilities to apply AI to every aspect of the scientific method.  We are introducing scientific super intelligence to solve humankind's greatest challenges, enabling scientists to bring forth solutions in human health, climate, and sustainability at a pace and scale never experienced before. Learn more about this mission at  www.lila.ai

If this sounds like an environment you’d love to work in, even if you only have some of the experience listed below, we encourage you to apply.

We’re All In

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

Information you provide during your application process will be handled in accordance with our Candidate Privacy Policy.

A Note to Agencies

Lila Sciences does not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than candidates. The submission of unsolicited resumes by recruitment or staffing agencies to Lila Sciences or its employees is strictly prohibited unless contacted directly by Lila Science’s internal Talent Acquisition team. Any resume submitted by an agency in the absence of a signed agreement will automatically become the property of Lila Sciences, and Lila Sciences will not owe any referral or other fees with respect thereto.