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Salary: USD 200,000 - 300,000 / annual
Periodic Labs is an AI and physical sciences company building state-of-the-art models to accelerate breakthroughs in materials, energy, and related domains. The company combines frontier AI models with integrated lab systems and scientific expertise to enable materials scientists to work alongside AI agents in planning experiments, running analyses, and translating results into decisions.
As a Mechanical Engineer, you will join a tight-knit engineering team responsible for designing and building the integrated lab systems that scale materials synthesis and characterization workflows. You'll own mechanical design end-to-end, from early-stage concept through fabrication, assembly, and operational bring-up.
Key responsibilities include:
- Collaborating with materials scientists and engineers to translate vague, early-stage problems into clear requirements and hardware solutions
- Owning the design and build of lab automation systems and subsystems from concept through installation
- Designing core lab systems including gloveboxes, furnaces, presses, deposition equipment, and consumables
- Customizing lab machines and instrumentation to fit evolving scientific needs
- Programming and troubleshooting robots integrated into lab workflows
- Engaging directly with scientists and technicians to uncover real needs behind stated requirements
- Producing CAD, mechanical drawings, and design documentation (including GD&T) for in-house builds and subcontracted manufacturing
- Hands-on assembly and hardware build, plus management of subcontracted manufacturing (machining, additive, sheet metal, welding)
- Applying strong safety mindset throughout design and build with attention to engineering and process controls
Ideal candidates have 2+ years of mechanical design experience with hands-on and vendor-facing manufacturing exposure. You should be proficient in CAD (Onshape or equivalent), comfortable with hand calculations, and demonstrate strong project ownership from concept to completion. Experience assembling and building physical hardware (not just designing on paper) is essential. Comfort working closely with scientists and technicians to translate workflow needs into engineering requirements is critical.
Bonus qualifications include experience programming and controlling robots or automated lab systems, working in software repos with agentic collaboration, dispensing challenging materials, measurement and test experience, high-temperature design, and test planning and bring-up experience.
