Periodic Labs is building an AI-driven, fully automated materials-discovery platform that couples large language models, physics simulations, and robotic wet labs to invent new compounds such as advanced superconductors.
We’re an AI and physical sciences company building state-of-the-art models to accelerate breakthroughs across materials, energy, and beyond. Backed by world-class investors and growing rapidly, we operate at the pace the frontier requires. Our team brings deep expertise, genuine ownership, and an insatiable drive to push the boundaries of what’s scientifically possible. ABOUT THE ROLE Join a world-class team of scientists and engineers pushing the boundaries of materials research in a groundbreaking lab where AI and automation unlock discoveries at unprecedented speed and scale. We’re building an autonomous lab to speed up materials discovery, and we need someone who loves making instruments, robots, and data systems play beautifully together. As our Automation Engineer, you’ll turn scientific workflows into working software and integrations by designing clear data models, connecting instruments and automation to our lab information systems, and making sure everything runs in sync, safely, and reliably. WHAT YOU’LL DO - Collaborate with bench scientists to translate experiments and lab workflows into clear integration specs and data models. - Work with integrators to design and build automated workcells for materials R&D. - Build and maintain services that connect instruments and robots to lab information systems. - Develop instrument drivers that automate lab workflows by generating command sequences and invoking vendor API/SDK methods. - Collaborate with AI and data scientists to tightly integrate the autonomous lab with AI models for analysis and planning of experiments. YOU WILL THRIVE IN THIS ROLE IF YOU HAVE - BS in EE/CS/ME/Controls or equivalent. - 5+ years in lab automation, integration, or industrial automation software. - Hands-on experience with robotic lab automation systems. - Strong experience with scripting/programming (Python preferred). - Familiarity with APIs, databases, and enterprise software integration. - Hands-on experience with information management and execution systems, such as LIMS or MES. ESPECIALLY STRONG CANDIDATES MAY ALSO HAVE - Experience with containers, CI/CD, and Git-based workflows. - Background in lab informatics or scientific data management. - Demonstrated accomplishments recognized in your field. MECHANICS - Minimum education: Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education and training or experience - Location: Our lab is located in Menlo Park and we prefer folks to be located in Menlo Park or San Francisco but can be flexible based on role - Compensation: The annual compensation range for this role — $200,000-$250,000 - Visa sponsorship: Yes, we sponsor visas and will do everything we can to assist in this process with our legal support. We’re building a team of the world’s best — the scientists, engineers, and problem-solvers who don’t just follow the frontier, they define it. If you’re driven to bring AI to life in the physical world and make discoveries that have never been made before, you belong here.