Staff / Principal Industrial Engineer

Your Impact at LILA

Lila Sciences is seeking an Industrial Engineer to own and architect the physical layout of our AI Science Factories. In this role, you will be responsible for integrating lab instrumentation and robotics into a cohesive, efficient factory design. You will collaborate closely with hardware engineering, science teams, robotics, facilities, and operations to create layouts that are safe, scalable, and engineered for high-throughput autonomous research. This role is central to translating complex cross-functional requirements into a factory environment that enables Lila’s next-generation scientific capabilities. 

What You'll Be Building

• Own the end-to-end factory layout, including spatial planning, adjacency mapping, and utility requirements
• Integrate lab instrumentation layouts from diverse scientific and engineering domains into a unified, high-performance factory design.
• Collaborate with hardware, robotics, science, automation, safety, and facilities teams to incorporate requirements for utilities, safety, accessibility, maintenance, and environmental controls.
• Build and maintain accurate 2D and 3D CAD models of the full factory layout; drive version control and change management for layout updates.
• Work with robotic teams to run simulations and scenario analyses to assess throughput, operational efficiency, and bottlenecks.
• Partner with construction, facilities, and external vendors to ensure physical buildouts reflect the intended design and can scale with future demand.
• Develop standards, documentation, and layout guidelines for new lab instrumentation and factory expansions.

What You’ll Need to Succeed

• BS/MS degree in Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related field.
• Experience designing factory, lab, or production layouts in high-complexity environments.
• Proficiency with CAD tools (e.g., AutoCAD, REVIT, SolidWorks).
• Strong understanding of workflow optimization, material flow, ergonomics, and spatial systems.
• Ability to collaborate across multidisciplinary engineering and scientific teams.
• Clear communication and documentation skills.

Bonus Points For

• Experience with robotic or automated systems and their physical integration into facilities.
• Familiarity with lab/industrial utility requirements (HVAC, gases, power, chemicals, drainage).
• Experience in R&D facilities, pilot plants, or advanced automation environments.