Lab Operations Technician

Your Impact at Lila

We're seeking a lab automation technician to operate and maintain the instrumentation that powers our AI Science Factory (AISF™). You'll work with liquid handlers, plate readers, and automated lab equipment while collaborating with engineers to troubleshoot when automation doesn't behave as expected. This role is about maintaining operational excellence—you're disciplined about daily setup and teardown because tomorrow's experiments depend on today's work. You'll be the engineering team's first and most important user in the lab, providing the critical feedback they need to make automation reliable.

What You'll Be Building

• Operate automated lab equipment including liquid handlers, plate readers, incubators, and other instrumentation
• Own daily lab operations—setup, teardown, cleaning, maintenance protocols that keep the system reliable
• Execute protocols, monitor runs, and catch problems before they waste reagents or time
• Provide feedback to engineers on real-world performance versus isolated development expectations
• Document/Slack issues clearly so the team can fix root causes together

What You’ll Need to Succeed

• Associate's degree or certificate from a reputable biotechnology training program
• Hands-on experience with pipetting, aseptic technique, and basic lab protocols from coursework or internships
• Strong discipline around routine maintenance and a quality daily setup/shutdown routine.
• Excellent communication skills for collaborating with engineers who depend on your observations
• Comfortable with computers for controlling equipment and logging data

Bonus Points For

• Lab Fundamentals: Pipetting accuracy, serial dilutions, plate layouts, basic molecular biology or cell culture protocols
• Equipment Operation: Experience with or willingness to learn automated liquid handlers, plate readers, thermal cyclers
• Computer Literacy: Instrument software, Excel for data tracking, communication tools
• Problem Recognition: Knowing when something looks wrong, when equipment behaves abnormally, when to escalate

About Lila

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. We are introducing scientific superintelligence 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.

Compensation

We expect the base salary for this role to fall between $52,000–$69,000 USD per year, along with bonus potential and generous early equity. The final offer will reflect your unique background, expertise, and impact.

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.

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.