Research Engineer, Lab Automation
Research Engineer, Lab Automation
Research Engineer, Lab Automation
Periodic Labs
Periodic Labs is an innovative AI and physical sciences lab focused on accelerating materials research through automation and AI. They seek a Research Engineer to collaborate with scientists and engineers in developing automated systems for scientific processes, enhancing the discovery of new materials.
Qualification
- PhD in Materials Science (or related field) or equivalent experience, with a track record of hands-on experimental work.
- Demonstrated engineering instincts—custom instruments, automation-focused PhD work, or post-PhD industry experience in automation.
- Strong experimental design and data analysis (e.g., Python or similar), with a bias toward measurable results.
- Familiarity with one or more relevant domains: thin films, solid-state synthesis, in-situ characterization, or automated property testing.
- Clear communicator who can translate between scientists, engineers, and vendor partners.
Responsibility
- Translate scientific goals into an automation roadmap: identify high-value targets, outline benefits and risks, and prioritize what to build next.
- Plan, run, and analyze proof-of-concept experiments.
- Write clear user requirements and partner with engineers and vendors to turn them into practical designs and build plans.
- Co-develop and evaluate prototypes designs—iterate quickly with mechanical, robotics, and controls engineers to develop reliable lab automation systems.
- Define data and metadata needs so automated workflows produce trustworthy, reusable results.
- Support installation and commissioning; ensure the resulting system fits the lab’s safety, usability, and reliability standards.
