Location
Cambridge, MA USA
Compensation
$168k–$224k USD
Type
full time
Posted
1 months ago
Market range · function + seniority
p25 · target · p75 · n=464
Posted $224k · in the market band
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Your Impact at LILA
Lila is building AI Science Factories (AISFs) — highly automated, AI-directed labs that generate the proprietary experimental data powering our AI platform. As we scale from one AISF to many, the operational infrastructure that keeps those factories running is a first-class strategic capability.
The Director of Sustaining Engineering & LabOps owns that execution layer: fleet reliability, incident response, AISF health, root cause analysis, site-level continuous improvement, and the execution of platform releases and change control at the site — alongside the operational foundation that makes it possible (consumables, reagents, CMMS, asset management, PM, first-response maintenance, multi-shift logistics).
This role will build out Lila's Local Site Sustaining Engineering capability from the ground up, incorporating Maintenance Engineering (ME) as a sub-function. It reports solid-line to the VP, ASP Strategy and Operations with a dotted line to the Director of Sustaining Engineering (Global / Cambridge Core Engineering) for platform standards, change control, and equivalence evidence. The function executes within centrally defined platform constraints and feeds structured signal back to Global Engineering through the operating cadences defined in the ASP Engineering operating model.
You'll define the operating model, lead its expansion to new sites, drive AI-enabled innovation in equipment health and lab operations, and author the standards that travel with every AISF we open. You'll be a principal contributor to the Blueprint program — the global deployment framework defining how Lila builds and runs AISFs at scale.
What You'll Be Building
The site-level execution layer described in the ASP Engineering operating model — executes within centrally defined platform constraints and feeds structured signal back to Cambridge Core Engineering.
What You’ll Need to Succeed
Bonus Points For
Why This Role
Lila is at an inflection point — transitioning from building our first AI Science Factory to operating many, and scientific equivalence across that fleet depends on rigorous site-level engineering execution within tightly defined platform constraints. The Director of Sustaining Engineering & LabOps will be a defining hire in that transition: the engineering leader who builds the site-level reliability foundation, runs the execution layer that keeps the fleet healthy, and ensures every AISF we open runs with the same rigor as the last — while owning the operational scaffolding that makes that execution possible.
Compensation
We offer competitive base compensation with bonus potential and generous early-stage equity. Your final offer will reflect your background, expertise, and expected impact.
U.S. Benefits. Full-time U.S. employees receive a comprehensive benefits program including medical, dental, and vision coverage; employer-paid life and disability insurance; flexible time off with generous company wide holidays; paid parental leave; an educational assistance program; commuter benefits, including bike share memberships for office based employees; and a company subsidized lunch program.
International Benefits. Full-time employees outside the U.S. receive a comprehensive benefits program tailored to their region. USD salary ranges apply only to U.S.-based positions; international salaries are set to local market.
About LILA
Lila Sciences is building Scientific Superintelligence™ to solve humankind's greatest challenges. We believe science is the most inspiring frontier for AI. Rather than hard-coding expert knowledge into tools, LILA builds systems that can learn for themselves.
LILA combines advanced AI models with proprietary AI Science Factory™ instruments into an operating system for science that executes the entire scientific method autonomously, accelerating discovery at unprecedented speed, scale, and impact across medicine, materials, and energy. Learn more at www.lila.ai.
Guided by our core values of truth, trust, curiosity, grit, and velocity, we move with startup speed while tackling problems of historic importance. If this sounds like an environment you'd love to work in, even if you don't meet every qualification listed above, we encourage you to apply.
We’re All In
Lila Sciences is committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status.
Information you provide during your application process will be handled in accordance with our Candidate Privacy Policy.
A Note to Agencies
Lila Sciences does not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than candidates. The submission of unsolicited resumes by recruitment or staffing agencies to Lila Sciences or its employees is strictly prohibited unless contacted directly by Lila Science’s internal Talent Acquisition team. Any resume submitted by an agency in the absence of a signed agreement will automatically become the property of Lila Sciences, and Lila Sciences will not owe any referral or other fees with respect thereto.
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