Mechatronics Engineer I/II

Your Impact at Lila

We're seeking a fearless mechatronics engineer who thrives at the intersection of hands-on hardware and rapid software development. You'll learn details of vendor lab equipment fast, build ESP32-based control modules to solve blockers, and create the electromechanical systems that enable our AI Science Factory (AISF™) to run autonomously. This role is 50% coding, 50% building things with your hands. One day you're debugging serial protocols on a liquid handler, the next you're soldering custom sensor boards because waiting for a vendor solution means missing deadlines. While this role is titled Mechatronics Engineer, we need someone who jumps into any engineering challenge that arises—we'll push you to grow across the full engineering stack as the team and product evolve.

What You'll Be Building

• Design and build custom control systems for lab automation—ESP32 modules, sensor integrations, whatever solves the problem
• Utilize vendor equipment when APIs don't exist or documentation lies—read schematics, sniff protocols, make it work
• Debug electromechanical systems in the real world—multimeter in hand, fixing what breaks
• Write firmware and control software—C/C++ for microcontrollers, inform higher-level orchestration teammates about real-world hardware constraints
• Prototype rapidly—3D print mechanical parts, design PCBs, iterate based on what actually works in the lab

What You’ll Need to Succeed

• Undergraduate degree in Mechatronics, Electrical Engineering, Robotics, or related field (or equivalent hands-on experience)
• Comfort with microcontrollers, especially ESP32/Arduino ecosystem—you've made things blink, read sensors, communicate
• Hands-on hardware skills: soldering, wire wrapping, reading schematics, using multimeters—you're not afraid to get your hands dirty
• Programming ability: C/C++, Python, or similar for firmware, debugging serial protocols, you actually understand what a header file does
• Self-motivated problem solver who doesn't wait for perfect information—you figure things out and move forward

Bonus Points For

• Microcontrollers: ESP32, Arduino, STM32, or similar—programming, debugging, peripheral configuration
• Hardware Fundamentals: Reading schematics, using multimeters/oscilloscopes, understanding voltage/current/resistance basics
• Hands-On Skills: Soldering, crimping, wire management, mechanical assembly—building things that work reliably
• Programming: C/C++ for embedded systems, Python for automation, understanding serial communication
• Debugging: Methodical troubleshooting from "nothing works" to "ship it"—reading datasheets, testing hypotheses, isolating failures

Nice to Have

• Experience with communication protocols (I²C, SPI, UART, CAN, Modbus, RS-232/485)
• Familiarity with network protocols or device communication (TCP/IP, HTTP, MQTT)—or curiosity about how devices talk to each other
• PCB design experience (KiCad, Eagle, Altium) for custom boards
• 3D printing and mechanical prototyping skills—CAD basics, iterating designs quickly
• A portfolio of "things I built"—personal projects showing you make things work

What Makes You Stand Out

• You've built something that controls real hardware—motors, sensors, actuators in working systems
• You're curious about how devices communicate—you've wondered what's happening under the hood when your ESP32 connects to WiFi
• You've debugged problems requiring both code changes and physical fixes—thinking across hardware/software boundaries
• You have a maker/hacker background—personal projects with electronics, robotics, automation, making things do what they weren't designed to do
• You've worked through ambiguous problems with incomplete information and made progress anyway

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 $76,000–$125,000 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.