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Periodic Labs

Automation Engineer

Menlo Park, California, United States

Apply on Periodic Labs’s site ↗View original ad
Location
Menlo Park, California, United States
Work
On-site
Employment
Full-time
Level
Senior
Function
Engineering
Pay
$200K – $250K a year (read from the ad)
Posted
5 weeks ago

Pay and the market here

The top of this role’s range, $250K a year, is 9% above the median of $230K for senior engineering jobs in Menlo Park (middle half $173K – $250K, 67 jobs that state pay).

202 engineering jobs open in Menlo Park: 2% remote, 44 posted in the last 30 days.

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About the role

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 our team of scientists and engineers building a lab where AI and automation speed up materials discovery.

We’re building an autonomous lab to speed up materials discovery, and we need someone who loves making instruments, robots, and data systems run together smoothly. 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 stays 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.

Mechanics

  • Minimum education: Bachelor’s degree or similar experience
  • Location: Menlo Park, CA
  • Compensation: $200,000-$250,000 + equity
  • Visa sponsorship: Yes, we sponsor visas.

Source

Posted by Periodic Labs on their own hiring page, jobs.ashbyhq.com. OptiTalent shows it as published, read 07 Nov 2026 11:18 UTC; the original is the reference.

View the original ad ↗

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