Associate Engineer/ Engineer I, Formulations and Characterization

Your Impact at LILA

We are seeking a motivated and detail-oriented Associate Engineer / Engineer I to join our high-throughput Research Operations team. In this role, you will focus on hands-on material formulation characterization using synthesis techniques relevant to rheology, material chemistry, and mechanical properties.

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

• Conduct rheological, thermal, and chemical characterization/measurements of formulations, and perform mechanical testing on polymer-based specimens, such as tensile, peel, and shear tests
• Perform wet-lab materials characterization and formulation of materials including coatings, solutions, adhesives, paints, and elastic materials
• Prepare reagents, solutions/electrolytes, test specimens, 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)
• 1 year of experience with bench top and wet lab environments in an industrial setting performing characterization, mechanical testing (must have peel and shear experience), pipetting, chemical handling, and solution and sample preparation
• Hands-on experience characterizing, synthesizing, and testing materials such as coatings, solutions, adhesives, paints, and elastic materials
• Experience working and disposing of acids and bases, synthesis in fume hoods, and handling powders
• Experience working in high-throughput production environments with a focus on scalability, efficiency, and accuracy
• Curiosity to learn new skills and techniques relevant to materials science
• Strong attention to detail and organizational skills

Bonus Points For

• Additional familiarity with: materials processing, mechanical testing techniques (tensile, tack, high temp), rheology, calorimetry (TGA/DSC), spectroscopy (IR), polymer-based systems, materials characterization (SAXS/WAXS, DLS/SLS, Optical Microscopy, Elemental Analysis)
• Basic engineering skills for troubleshooting characterization tools such as centrifuges, pipettes, ovens, chemical handlers, glove box, and pumps
• Familiarity with automated workflows and techniques to operate and generate custom scripts