Staff Engineer, Data Platform
Lila Sciences· startup· AI & Lab Automation· Jun 2, 2026 · 5mo agoPosted 147 days ago
Cambridge, MA USA · San Francisco, CA USA
In office
Full-time
Staff
$185K–$260K est.
8+ years exp
Before you apply
Ghost Signal:
Open since June 2, 2026 — 147 days, and still accepting applications.
Job description
Your Impact at LILA
Lila Sciences is building the software platform that makes automated scientific discovery possible. At the heart of that platform is data: raw outputs from laboratory instruments, experimental model results, curated public datasets, and the scientific literature that contextualizes all of it. The data platform team is responsible for the infrastructure that moves, stores, transforms, and surfaces this data across the organization.
We are looking for a Staff Engineer to set the technical direction for our core data infrastructure: ingestion frameworks, storage architecture, orchestration patterns, and the interfaces that let scientists and ML researchers work with data reliably at scale. You will work closely with software engineers, machine learning researchers, and lab scientists to understand requirements and translate them into durable platform capabilities.
This is a role for engineers who care deeply about how data systems are designed. You will establish the architectural patterns and engineering standards the broader team builds on, mentor engineers across the data platform group, and make technical decisions that compound over time.
What You'll Be Building
Data Platform Architecture: Design and evolve the core data infrastructure that ingests, stores, and serves data across scientific and ML workflows. Make principled build-vs-buy decisions and establish architectural patterns adopted by the broader engineering organization.
Ingestion and Integration: Build reliable pipelines that bring in data from diverse sources: laboratory instruments, public scientific datasets, and external research literature. Own the interfaces between upstream producers and downstream consumers.
Orchestration and Reliability: Operate and extend workflow orchestration systems that run complex, multi-step scientific pipelines. Ensure observability, fault tolerance, and reproducibility across the data stack.
Data Modeling and Schema Strategy: Define and maintain data models, schema evolution practices, and data contracts that ensure consistency, discoverability, and long-term durability of scientific and platform data assets.
Cross-Functional Technical Leadership: Partner with ML researchers, lab scientists, and product engineers to translate scientific and research requirements into platform capabilities. Drive alignment on data standards and integration patterns across teams.
Engineering Standards and Mentorship: Establish coding, review, and design standards for the data platform team. Mentor engineers, lead design reviews, and raise the technical bar across the group.
What You’ll Need to Succeed
Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field, and 8+ years as a software or data engineer with a focus on building and operating data infrastructure.
Designed and shipped data platform components from the ground up, including ingestion frameworks, storage abstractions, and orchestration systems. Fluent in Python and SQL and writes production-quality code.
Production experience with relational and NoSQL databases, schema design, query optimization, and operational concerns at scale. Comfortable working across structured, semi-structured, and unstructured data.
Proven track record of working cross-functionally with scientists, ML researchers, and engineers. Able to translate domain requirements into platform decisions and explain technical trade-offs to diverse audiences.
Experience with cloud infrastructure and containerized deployment (AWS, Kubernetes).
Hands-on experience with modern table formats and open lakehouse patterns (Iceberg, Delta Lake, Hudi).
Bonus Points For
Experience with workflow orchestration systems (Flyte, Airflow, Dagster, or similar).
Experience building data infrastructure that serves agentic and LLM-driven workflows, including vector databases, RAG infrastructure, and retrieval-optimized data access patterns.
Background in scientific computing, life sciences, or research software.
Proficiency with AI-assisted development tools (Cursor, Claude Code, or similar) and ability to incorporate them effectively into day-to-day engineering work.
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 $192,000 — $288,000 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 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.
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Keywords to mirror
mlmachine learningpythonsqlawskubernetesllmai
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Benefits
Benefits detected in the listing.
Dental
Vision
Parental Leave