Contractor, Support Engineer I, Automation (2nd shift)

About the role

The Support Engineer I, Automation at Lila Sciences is responsible for maintaining and troubleshooting the AI Science Factory (AISF) during second shift operations. They coordinate with on-shift Research Operations scientists, handle instrument faults, software errors, and run failures, and document shift details for seamless handovers.

Responsibilities

• Monitor and maintain AISF workcells, triaging instrument faults, software errors, and run failures as they arise.
• Coordinate with on-shift Research Operations scientists to prioritize recovery efforts and keep active experiments moving when multiple issues compete for attention.
• Troubleshoot electro-mechanical and software systems independently, using judgment about when to resolve in-shift versus stabilizing and handing off to day-shift engineers for fixes that need vendor support, parts, or extended downtime.
• Surface recurring failure patterns to the engineering team so root causes get addressed, not just symptoms.
• Run routine maintenance, setup, and teardown to keep workcells reliable across shifts.
• Document each shift's events, decisions, and outstanding issues so the day team inherits a clear picture and can plan accordingly.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Biology, Chemistry, Materials Science, or a related field, or equivalent hands-on experience.
• 1+ years of hands-on experience with lab automation, lab instrumentation, or production operations in a life sciences or physical sciences environment.
• Ability to troubleshoot electro-mechanical equipment and software systems independently, on second shift.
• Strong written communication skills, particularly for shift handoff documentation the day team can act on without follow-up questions.
• Willingness and availability to work a 2–10 PM weekday schedule on site in Cambridge, MA.

Qualifications

• Experience with liquid handlers, plate-based workflows, or high-throughput screening instrumentation.
• Familiarity with lab scheduling or workflow orchestration software (Cellario or similar).
• Scripting or light programming ability (Python, C#, or similar) for log analysis or quick diagnostic work.
• Exposure to robotic integration platforms or multi-instrument workcell environments.
• Background in a 24/7 or multi-shift operations environment where structured handoffs were part of the workflow.

Skills

• Lab automation and instrumentation troubleshooting.
• Lab scheduling and workflow orchestration.
• Electro-mechanical and software system troubleshooting.
• Documentation and communication skills.

Benefits

Flexible work schedule, competitive compensation, professional development opportunities, and a dynamic team environment.

Pay

$60,000 - $80,000 annually, commensurate with experience.

Schedule

Second shift, 2–10 PM, Monday through Friday, on-site in Cambridge, MA.

Contact

To apply, please visit www.apply.lila.ai.