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Salary: USD 108,000 - 170,000 / annual
Lila Sciences is building Scientific Superintelligence™ by combining advanced AI models with proprietary instruments to execute the scientific method autonomously. The Autonomous Science Platform accelerates materials discovery through experimental science, automation, AI, and software integration.
You will join the Materials Science team as a Scientist I/II focused on Characterization and Composition Analysis. This hybrid experimental and software-facing role centers on hands-on characterization with substantial analyzer development. You will work with X-ray fluorescence (XRF), SEM-based energy-dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), wavelength-dispersive spectroscopy (WDS), and related analytical instruments to turn elemental measurements into trusted, machine-readable composition data that supports scientific decisions, automated workflows, and model development.
Key responsibilities include:
- Own data quality and integrity for elemental and materials characterization workflows
- Develop XRF, EDS, and WDS methods, calibrations, and QC procedures
- Prepare standards, run samples, interpret spectra, and troubleshoot measurement issues
- Lead investigations for anomalous or out-of-specification data and determine data validity
- Design, write, and maintain analyzer software for spectral processing and quantification in partnership with the machine learning team
- Build automated data ingestion, metadata, provenance, and quality-control workflows
- Maintain instrument readiness through calibration, documentation, SOPs, and troubleshooting
- Support safe operation of general materials characterization workflows (profilometry, XRD, SEM)
- Evaluate, bring online, and develop methods for new analytical detectors as characterization capability expands
- Collaborate with hardware, automation, AI, and software teams to scale trusted data generation
The ideal candidate is credible at both the instrument and the keyboard: strong experimental judgment in elemental characterization paired with the ability to turn measurement expertise into shared, tested code and production-quality data workflows.
REQUIREMENTS:
- PhD in Materials Science, Chemistry, Physics, Engineering, or related field; OR M.S. with equivalent hands-on characterization experience
- Hands-on experience with XRF, SEM-EDS, and WDS for elemental analysis
- In-depth knowledge of physical principles behind XRF, EDS, and WDS analysis, including signal generation, matrix effects, calibration, quantification, and common sources of error
- Strong understanding of calibration, quantification, spectral interpretation, and data-quality control
- Experience preparing standards, validating methods, and troubleshooting measurement issues
- Experience writing analysis notebooks and maintaining shared, tested code in version-controlled codebases
- Proficiency with Python or equivalent coding environment for data analysis, automation, or analyzer development
- Ability to translate characterization workflows into reliable, structured, machine-readable data
- Clear communication skills for working across scientific, AI, automation, and software teams
BONUS QUALIFICATIONS:
- Experience with EPMA or related elemental microanalysis workflows
- Experience with broader characterization techniques (electron microscopy, optical microscopy, XRD, XPS, ICP-OES, ICP-MS, SIMS, or related analytical methods)
- Familiarity with spectral quantification or analysis tools (fundamental parameter models, PyMCA, DTSA-II, Probe Software, BadgerFilm, or similar packages)
- Experience developing calibration workflows, reference standards, SOPs, or QC systems for analytical instruments
- Experience building training datasets or automated analysis pipelines from instrument data
