Contractor, Maintenance Engineering Technician I/II

Your Impact at LILA

Lila's AI Science Factories (AISFs) run complex, high-throughput science across a diverse instrument fleet spanning life science, materials and physical science, and robotic automation. Keeping that fleet performing at the highest level is mission-critical, and that is what the Maintenance Engineering (ME) team does.

Maintenance Engineering Technicians are the backbone of instrument uptime at Lila. You will execute preventive maintenance (PM) schedules, perform first-response troubleshooting, maintain calibration and qualification records, and coordinate with Lab Operations, Research Operations, and Hardware & Controls Engineering (HCE) to keep workcells running. This is a hands-on, precision role in a fast-moving, highly automated lab environment.

What You'll Be Building

• Execute scheduled PM procedures across the commissioned instrument fleet per SOPs and manufacturer specifications, and maintain accurate records in the CMMS
• Perform instrument calibration per the calibration registry and support IQ/OQ/PQ execution for new commissions, repairs, and re-qualifications
• Serve as first-response for instrument alarms, failures, and performance anomalies during shift, executing in-scope repairs and escalating engineering-level issues to HCE/Automation
• Document all incidents, repairs, and out-of-tolerance conditions in CMMS, and initiate CAPA where required
• Coordinate day-to-day scheduling and on-site visits with service vendors, track service records, and maintain spare parts inventory for high-priority instruments
• Contribute to MTBF and downtime tracking, surfacing recurring failure patterns and improvement opportunities
• Help develop and refine ME SOPs, work instructions, and the broader ME function as a founding team member

What You'll Need to Succeed

• Hands-on maintenance experience on biological research or analytical instruments such as liquid handlers (Hamilton, Tecan, Beckman), plate readers (BioTek, Molecular Devices, BMG), PCR/qPCR systems, automated cell culture platforms, flow cytometers, or imaging systems (ImageXpress, IN Cell)
• Working knowledge of pipetting system calibration, fluidics troubleshooting, optical and detection system upkeep, and cell culture equipment PM
• Familiarity with biological safety and containment protocols
• Strong documentation discipline and comfort working in a CMMS
• Technician I (L3): 1+ years of hands-on instrument maintenance experience in a research, clinical, or production lab setting
• Technician II (L4): 3+ years of hands-on instrument maintenance experience, with demonstrated independence on troubleshooting and PM execution across multiple instrument families

Bonus Points For

• Direct CMMS experience (e.g., Maximo, eMaint, MaintainX, Fiix)
• Prior experience authoring or executing IQ/OQ/PQ in a regulated lab environment (GxP, ISO, or equivalent)
• Vendor management experience including service contract coordination
• Exposure to robotic automation platforms or integrated workcells
• Comfort with shift-based operations supporting 24/7 lab environments