Associate / Engineer I, ResOps, Synthesis

Your Impact at LILA

We are seeking a motivated and detail-oriented Associate Engineer to join our high-throughput Research Operations team. In this role, you will focus on hands on materials synthesis of various powders and porous medias as well as characterization of materials using spectroscopy and microscopy techniques.

You will gain hands-on experience with state-of-the-art automation technologies while contributing directly to projects that drive our company’s growth.

This is an excellent opportunity for candidates excited to learn engineering principles, work with advanced laboratory automation, and develop a strong foundation in scientific operations in a dynamic, shift-based environment.

What You'll Be Building

• Perform materials synthesis for materials including zeolites, MOFS, coolants, quantum dots, and lipid nanoparticles
• Prepare reagents, solutions/electrolytes , samples, and consumables to ensure seamless continuation of experiments across shifts
• Follow detailed standard operating procedures (SOPs) to ensure accuracy, reproducibility, and throughput
• Monitor workflow performance, troubleshoot common issues, and escalate when necessary to ensure continuity between shifts
• Record, organize, and maintain experimental data with high attention to detail
• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency and streamline processes across shift operations
• Flag unusual features or results for scientist review
• Collaborate with scientists and engineers to support diverse projects across life sciences and physical sciences

What You'll Need to Succeed

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Physics, Chemical/Materials Engineering, or a related field (or equivalent laboratory experience)
• Attention to detail and strong organizational skills
• 1 year of experience with bench top and wet lab environments an industrial setting with high throughout performing: pipetting, chemical handling, solution and sample preperation, high temperature annealing
• Hand on experience synthesizing zeolites, MOFs, and powder materials
• Experience working and disposing of acids and bases, synthesis in fume hoods, and handling powders
• Curiosity to learn new skills and techniques relevant to materials science

Bonus Points For

• Additional familiarity with: coolants, quantum dots, nanoparticles, and thin films.
• Experience working in high-throughput production environments with a focus on scalability, efficiency, and accuracy
• Basic engineering skills for troubleshooting synthesis tools such as centrifuge, annealers, chemical handler robots, glove box
• Familiarity with automated workflows and techniques to operate and generate custom scripts
• Experience with characterization methods for analyzing morphology and chemical compositions