At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead product strategy for groundbreaking electronic materials and drive innovation in science.
- Company: Join Lila Sciences, a pioneer in Scientific Superintelligence™.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, equity options, flexible time off, and comprehensive health benefits.
- Other info: Dynamic startup culture focused on solving humanity's greatest challenges.
- Why this job: Shape the future of technology with cutting-edge materials and make a real-world impact.
- Qualifications: PhD or equivalent in materials science or condensed-matter physics with strong leadership experience.
The predicted salary is between 81000 - 99000 £ per year.
Your Impact at LILA
Lila Sciences is hiring a (Senior) Director, Product, Electronic Materials: a strategic, cross‑functional product leader who shapes the vision, roadmap, and execution for platforms that accelerate the discovery and development of new electronic materials (e.g., superconductors, semiconductors, magnets, photonics). Reporting to the Head of Physical Science Product, you will lead product strategy and delivery across capabilities at the intersection of condensed‑matter physics, simulation and physics based modeling, device performance, lab automation, data and ML, and scientific intelligence.
This role requires strong leadership, crisp prioritization, and the ability to translate complex physical phenomena into clear product direction and measurable outcomes for internal teams, partners, and customers. You will be deeply customer‑facing, serving as a trusted technical and product voice with prospects and partners, shaping proposals, driving commercial conversations, and closing deals that bring Lila's electronic‑materials platform to market. We are hiring a product‑focused materials scientist or condensed‑matter physicist fluent in component and device design, not an electrical engineer whose focus is circuit or system‑level design divorced from the underlying materials.
What You’ll Be Building
- Set the long‑term product vision, roadmap, and portfolio priorities for Lila's electronic‑materials portfolio, spanning superconductors, semiconductors, magnetic materials, and photonics.
- Translate frontier materials‑physics capability into commercial electronic‑materials programs, defining target product profiles (TPPs) across synthesis, fabrication, characterization, and device integration for partners in semiconductors, quantum computing, aerospace and defense, telecommunications, and energy.
- Drive product execution from concept to launch across materials science, simulation, automation, data engineering, and ML.
- Represent product to executives, scientific leaders, partners, and customers as the senior external voice for the domain.
- Own commercial outcomes end‑to‑end: opportunity shaping, proposal development, deal closure, and revenue for the domain.
- Define success metrics and milestones (technical, product, commercial) and report progress clearly to leadership.
What You’ll Need to Succeed
- MS, PhD, or equivalent experience in condensed‑matter physics, materials science, or electrical engineering, with genuine fluency across fundamental science (band structure and semiconductor physics, superconductivity theory, magnetism, and nonlinear/quantum optics), characterization (XRD, XPS, AFM, Hall‑effect and four‑point transport measurements, SQUID/VSM magnetometry, and photoluminescence/optical spectroscopy), and manufacturing (thin‑film deposition, epitaxy, lithography, cleanroom processing, device architectures, and packaging).
- A track record of translating materials physics from fundamental science to commercialized electronic‑materials products.
- 7+ years of product leadership (PM, Group PM, Product Lead) building and launching complex technical products: materials systems, devices, scientific software or hardware, simulation platforms, data products, or ML‑enabled systems.
- Deep understanding of materials and device R&D workflows: experimental iteration, instrumentation, data quality, and scale‑up constraints.
- Strong executive communication: clear storytelling and decisions legible to technical and non‑technical audiences.
- Highly collaborative leadership style, with the ability to influence across research, engineering, operations, and commercial teams.
- Output‑ and impact‑focused, driven by delivered results against mission and program goals.
Bonus Points For
- A track record defining and executing TPPs and product strategies for scientific platforms (software, hardware and workflows), not just standalone applications.
- Experience building products at the intersection of LLMs / agentic systems and materials or device R&D workflows, with a point of view on where these tools actually change throughput and decision quality in the lab (materials discovery, device design, process optimization).
- Direct experience with external partners or customers in electronics‑intensive sectors (semiconductors, quantum computing, aerospace and defense, telecommunications, energy).
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.
Director/ Senior Director, Product, Electronic Materials in Cambridge employer: Lilasciences
At Lila Sciences, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that fosters a collaborative and innovative work culture. As a Senior Principal or Principal Software Engineer in our AI Lab Execution System team, you will have the opportunity to lead cutting-edge projects that directly impact scientific discovery while enjoying comprehensive benefits, flexible time off, and a commitment to employee growth through mentorship and educational assistance. Join us in a dynamic environment where your contributions will shape the future of AI in science, all while working alongside passionate professionals dedicated to solving humanity's greatest challenges.
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We think this is how you could land Director/ Senior Director, Product, Electronic Materials in Cambridge
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We think you need these skills to ace Director/ Senior Director, Product, Electronic Materials in Cambridge
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Technical Skills:In the manufacturing-production sector, it's crucial to highlight your technical skills and experience. Make sure your CV features any relevant qualifications, such as certifications in machinery operation or production management, and don’t forget about any specific systems or software you’re familiar with. This can really set you apart!
Emphasise Teamwork and Communication:Working in manufacturing often means being part of a larger team. Highlight your experience in collaborative projects or environments where communication was key. Maybe you have experience with lean manufacturing principles? Talk about how you worked with your team to improve productivity and maintain quality.
Tailor Your Cover Letter to the Company:Don’t just recycle an old cover letter! Take the time to tailor your cover letter to Lilasciences specifically. Mention what excites you about their production processes or products, and how your previous experiences can contribute to their goals. We want to see your enthusiasm for the role!
Use Concrete Examples of Your Achievements:When detailing your work experience, include measurable achievements that can demonstrate your impact. Whether it’s improving efficiency by a certain percentage or successfully leading a project, these specifics can make a huge difference. Numbers speak volumes in the manufacturing world!
How to prepare for a job interview at Lilasciences
✨Know Your Manufacturing Processes
Before you walk into the interview with Lilasciences, brush up on the specific manufacturing processes relevant to the role. Understanding lean manufacturing principles or quality control techniques could give you a solid edge to discuss how you’d fit into their operations.
✨Technical Questions Are Key
Be prepared for technical questions around machinery, production scheduling, or materials handling. Make sure you can confidently explain how you've dealt with these in past experiences or internships. Knowing industry-specific software could also be a big plus!
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Manufacturing environments often focus on continuous improvement. Be ready to discuss specific instances where you’ve solved a production issue or implemented a process improvement. It’s all about demonstrating your analytical thinking and hands-on approach.
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In a full-time role, companies like Lilasciences value commitment to quality and safety. Be prepared to discuss how you prioritise these factors in your work. It’s about showing that you’re not just looking for a job, but that you genuinely care about contributing positively to their production environment.
