At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the development of next-gen lab automation platforms and architect high-fidelity simulation environments.
- Company: Join Lila Sciences, a pioneer in AI-driven scientific discovery.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, equity options, flexible time off, and comprehensive health benefits.
- Other info: Dynamic startup culture focused on growth, collaboration, and tackling historic challenges.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in science with cutting-edge technology and innovative projects.
- Qualifications: 10+ years in software development, leadership experience, and strong programming skills.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
Your Impact at LILA
Lila Sciences is seeking a Principal Software Engineer, Instrument Simulations to architect and lead the development of our next-generation laboratory automation platform. In this role, you'll be responsible for designing the simulation infrastructure and integration layer that connects AI-driven experimental design with physical robotic systems, enabling closed-loop scientific discovery at unprecedented scale.
What You'll Be Building
- Architect and implement high-fidelity simulation environments that model complex laboratory instrumentation, fluidics, and robotic workflows.
- Design robust integration patterns between heterogeneous hardware systems, ensuring reliable and safe execution of fully automated experiments.
- Lead the development of APIs and interfaces that enable scientists and AI agents to seamlessly interact with sophisticated automation infrastructure.
- Maintain and help establish best practices for hardware-software integration, system monitoring, and CI/CD in laboratory automation contexts for all newly developed systems.
- Mentor engineers, likely leading a small agile team.
What You’ll Need to Succeed
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field: Background that supports technical and leadership capabilities.
- 10+ years of software development experience, including 5+ years in a leadership role: Demonstrates ability to lead and manage complex projects and engineering teams.
- Proven experience in architecting and directing large-scale software projects: Skilled in designing and leading the development of scalable, reliable, and maintainable systems.
- Strong proficiency in programming languages such as C++, Python, or Java: Capable of setting technical standards and guiding development practices.
- Strong record of implementing and advocating for engineering best practices such as code reviews, testing, and continuous integration.
- Experience in leading diverse engineering teams with a focus on collaboration, innovation, and efficiency.
- Excellent strategic thinking skills, with the ability to understand and align team efforts with organizational goals.
- Proven ability to mentor and develop engineering talent, fostering an environment of growth and continuous learning.
- Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills: Effectively engage with stakeholders at all levels, from developers to senior executives.
Bonus Points For
- Ph.D. in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field.
- Experience in leading the development of laboratory automation systems or scientific instrumentation.
- Experience with organizational change management and fostering innovation in large technical programs.
- Track record of successful project delivery in agile environments, optimizing team workflows and balancing priorities.
- Published work or presentations that highlight contributions to the field of software engineering and leadership in simulation or automation systems.
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. Expected Base Salary Range: $204,000 - $270,000 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 the 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 unsolicited resumes by recruitment or staffing agencies to Lila Sciences or its employees is strictly prohibited unless contacted directly by Lila Science’s internal Talent Acquisition team. Any resume submitted by an agency in the absence of a signed agreement will automatically become the property of Lila Sciences, and Lila Sciences will not owe any referral or other fees with respect thereto.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal Software Engineer, Instrument Simulations in Cambridge
✨Join Local Tech Meetups
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We think you need these skills to ace Principal Software Engineer, Instrument Simulations in Cambridge
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show off your coding skills:When applying for a software engineering role, it's super important to showcase your coding skills. Make sure your CV includes your tech stack, any relevant programming languages you’re comfortable with, and examples of projects you've worked on. If you have a GitHub profile, link it up! We love to see code in action.
Tailor your portfolio:For a full-time role, we’d expect to see some solid examples of your work in your portfolio. Make sure to include at least two or three projects that highlight your problem-solving skills and your ability to work with different technologies. Focus on the projects that are most relevant to the position at Lilasciences.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Lilasciences and how your skills align with the role. Show us your passion for software development. We dig enthusiastic candidates who understand the value of collaboration and continuous learning!
Be clear and concise:When it comes to writing your CV and cover letter, clarity is key. Avoid jargon that could confuse us and stick to simple, direct language. Highlight your achievements with quantifiable results where possible, and keep everything easy to read. A well-organised application goes a long way!
How to prepare for a job interview at Lilasciences
✨Brush Up on Your Coding Skills
For a full-time software engineering role, it's crucial that we stay sharp with our coding abilities. Expect technical questions that might involve solving problems on the spot or discussing algorithms. Practise on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank to get comfortable with the types of questions that often come up.
✨Know Your Tools and Frameworks
Make sure we’re well-acquainted with the tools and technologies listed in the job description. Familiarise ourselves with any specific frameworks or programming languages mentioned. If Lilasciences uses React or Node.js, for instance, be ready to discuss how we’ve used them in previous projects or coursework.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Bring along a portfolio that highlights our best work. This could be code samples, GitHub repositories, or any side projects we’ve built. Make sure we can talk through our thought process for each project, especially the challenges we faced and how we solved them—this shows our problem-solving skills in action.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
While technical skills are key, full-time positions also require cultural fit. Be ready to discuss our previous experiences and how we handle teamwork, conflict, and deadlines. Brush up on the STAR method—Situation, Task, Action, Result—to clearly articulate our past experiences when discussing how we've contributed to a team.
