Senior Research Associate / Associate Scientist, Chemical Synthesis

Your Impact at LILA We are seeking a motivated and detail-oriented Senior Research Associate / Associate Scientist to join our high-throughput autonomous chemistry team. This is a hands-on role at the intersection of organic and inorganic synthesis, advanced characterization, and laboratory automation. You will design and execute high-throughput experiments, synthesize small molecules, and perform rigorous downstream analysis while working side-by-side with senior scientists to translate ambitious product goals into scalable experimental workflows that directly drive our company’s growth. This position offers first-hand exposure to automated chemistry platforms, with real ownership over experiments that inform company strategy and scientific direction. Ideal candidates are execution-driven, thrive in fast-paced laboratory environments, and are eager to build deep technical expertise while contributing meaningfully to next-generation chemical discovery at Lila Sciences. What You'll Be Building Independently execute experiments to synthesize, purify, and characterize organic and inorganic small molecules Optimize reactions, perform method development, and interpret analytical data to guide project decisions Translate early-stage ideas into reproducible, functional experiments Apply retrosynthetic planning to support target molecule synthesis Operate Schlenk lines, gloveboxes, and other inert-atmosphere systems for sensitive compounds Use PAT tools (UPLC, LCMS, NMR, IR, Fluroescence, DLS) to monitor reactions, ensure quality control, and generate high-quality data for ML workflows Leverage automation and AI-driven platforms to accelerate workflows and reduce experimental cycle times Collaborate with engineers, ML scientists, and stakeholders to validate model-suggested conditions, analyze trends, troubleshoot issues, and communicate results clearly through reports, discussions, and presentations Document results, maintain accurate digital records and adhere to EHS and laboratory best practices What You’ll Need to Succeed M.S. in Chemistry or related discipline (organic, organometallics, catalysis) with 2+ years of hands-on high-fidelity laboratory experience in an academic or industry setting, or B.S. + 5 years Hands-on experience in organic/inorganic synthesis, purification, chromatographic techniques, product analysis Strong understanding of retrosynthesis, reaction mechanisms, and method optimization workflows Proficiency with analytical techniques such as TLC, HPLC, LCMS, NMR, and IR Ability to follow SOPs and work safely with diverse chemical reagents and automated platforms Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, multidisciplinary research environment Required proficiency in using SciFinder, Reaxys, Chemdraw to search public database and literature Basic proficiency in Python or other scripting languages for data handling Good document practices, strong attention to detail and a proactive, problem-solving mindset Effective oral and written communication skills; contributed to internal reports, technical documentation, or peer-reviewed publications Bonus Points For Experience with high-throughput or AI-driven automated platforms Authored publications in peer-reviewed journals in chemical catalysis, organic methodology Ability to handle air/moisture/light sensitive compounds Compensation We offer competitive compensation including bonus potential and generous early equity. The final offer will reflect your unique background, expertise, and impact. Expected Base Salary Range $80,000 — $118,000 USD 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 unsolicit