Senior II/ Staff Engineer, Hardware & Controls Engineering, Mechatronic Controls
Lila Sciences is seeking a Senior II/Staff Engineer in Hardware & Controls Engineering, specializing in Mechatronic Controls, to join our Autonomous Science Platform team in Cambridge, MA. This role focuses on designing and delivering real-time control software that powers our custom laboratory instruments, translating electro-mechanical designs into reliable, automation-ready systems through robust embedded controls and integration.
Key responsibilities include developing and implementing real-time control logic and firmware on embedded platforms for electromechanical systems, leading hardware bring-up, motor tuning, and closed-loop control optimization, and diagnosing issues across mechanical, electrical, and software domains. The role also involves building and iterating on bench setups, developing hardware-in-the-loop test fixtures, validating performance against system requirements, and developing and integrating interfaces such as REST APIs and OPC UA endpoints to ensure reliable, cross-platform interoperability. Additionally, the engineer will create and maintain comprehensive technical documentation and collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including mechanical and electrical engineers, software developers, product managers, and end-users, to identify requirements and make design decisions.
The ideal candidate will have proficiency in C/C++ and Python programming languages, experience building control software for mechatronic systems or instruments on embedded Linux platforms (such as Jetson or Raspberry Pi), and familiarity with real-time microcontrollers like STM32 or similar ARM Cortex-M for low-level control tasks. Strong hardware/software troubleshooting and debugging skills, a hands-on approach in prototype-heavy environments, excellent verbal and written communication skills, and proficiency with version control systems, especially Git, are essential. A Bachelor's degree in an engineering field or related discipline with 8-12 years of experience is required.
We offer a competitive base salary ranging from $136,800 to $217,866 per year, along with bonus potential and generous early equity. The final offer will reflect your unique background, expertise, and impact.
Lila Sciences is the world's first scientific superintelligence 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, enabling scientists to bring forth solutions in human health, climate, and sustainability at an unprecedented pace and scale. If this sounds like an environment you'd love to work in, we encourage you to apply.