Technical Success Lead, Physical Sciences

The Company 

Lila Sciences is a privately held, early-stage technology company pioneering the application of artificial intelligence to transform every aspect of the scientific method. Lila is backed by Flagship Pioneering, which brings the courage, long-term vision, and resources needed to realize unreasonable results. Join our mission-driven team and contribute to the future of science. 

Our platform is integrating AI and automation into discovery and development efforts across materials and life sciences to accelerate solutions for sustainability and therapeutics challenges. 

At Lila, we are uniquely cross-functional and collaborative. We are actively reimagining the way teams work together and communicate. Therefore, we seek individuals with an inclusive mindset and a diversity of thought. Our teams thrive in unstructured and creative environments. All voices are heard because we know that experience comes in many forms, skills are transferable, and passion goes a long way. 

If this sounds like an environment you’d love to work in, even if you only have some of the experience listed below, please apply. 

Role:

Lila Sciences is seeking a technically-grounded project coordinator to orchestrate complex physical sciences automation initiatives in synthesis, characterization, and testing. Reporting directly to the Director of Automation, this role leverages deep physical sciences expertise to coordinate cross-functional teams, optimize resource utilization, and drive successful implementation of automated experimental workflows. 

The successful candidate will apply their strong technical background to effectively coordinate automation projects, drive system optimization, and ensure seamless execution of physical sciences operations. This is an excellent opportunity to leverage expertise in a strategic coordination role, driving operational excellence and contributing to groundbreaking innovations in materials research and development. 

Responsibilities Include: 

• Coordinate implementation of automated workflows for synthesis, characterization, and testing across multiple teams using JIRA 
• Drive efficient execution of physical sciences projects by managing technical dependencies and resource allocation 
• Lead cross-functional coordination between materials scientists, automation engineers, and stakeholders 
• Manage timelines and resources for method development in automated synthesis and materials testing 
• Streamline communication and track progress of technical initiatives across characterization and synthesis teams 
• Apply technical expertise to identify workflow bottlenecks in physical sciences processes 
• Guide resource allocation for automated synthesis platforms and analytical instruments 
• Facilitate technical discussions and coordinate resolution of complex characterization challenges 
• Drive standardization of experimental documentation and technical communication 
• Coordinate training and knowledge transfer for new automation methods in physical sciences 
• Manage timeline dependencies between multiple projects while maintaining technical quality 
• Track and report on project progress and analytical instrument utilization 

Qualifications:

• MS/PhD in Physical Chemistry, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, or related field with 5+ years of research experience (7+ years if BS degree) 
• Deep technical knowledge of materials synthesis, characterization methods, and performance testing 
• Strong background in analytical techniques (including spectroscopy, microscopy, and materials analysis) 
• Experience coordinating complex technical projects and managing competing priorities 
• Demonstrated success using JIRA for project tracking and dependency management 
• Expert understanding of automated methods for materials synthesis and characterization 
• Strong knowledge of laboratory safety requirements for physical sciences operations 
• Experience coordin