Senior Software Engineer I/II, Test Robotics

About the role

Ensuring Quality at the Hardware-Software Boundary

At Lila Sciences, the Independent Verification & Validation (IV&V) role sits at the critical intersection where software logic meets physical robotics hardware. Professionals in this position own the entire quality strategy for autonomous labs, ensuring that software releases enhance scientific experimentation rather than disrupt it. The responsibility involves close collaboration with platform, simulation, and human-factors specialists to identify and eliminate risks during the testing phase, long before any hardware is stressed on the bench.

Building Robust Test Frameworks

The core mission involves designing and maintaining a comprehensive suite of automated tests that provide rapid feedback. This includes writing fast, reliable Python tests using pytest for unit and API coverage, and Playwright for complex UI flows, all integrated into a resilient CI/CD pipeline powered by GitHub Actions. The focus is on creating a safety net that is both fast and deterministic, allowing engineers to iterate quickly without fear of breaking critical lab functions.

Validating Through Hardware Interaction

A significant portion of the work revolves around Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) validation. Practitioners construct tests that exercise platform software against actual robotics controllers and simulated dynamics. This involves integrating the test suite with simulation and digital-twin environments to replicate real-world conditions. The goal is to verify software behavior in a controlled setting before it interacts with expensive or dangerous physical assets, thereby reducing the likelihood of unforeseen issues during live experiments.

Orchestrating Verification and Test Planning

Ownership of the V&V process is central to this role. This means creating detailed test plans and strategies that trace requirements from initial concept through to implementation. The practitioner must map coverage across the entire stack, verifying functionality at the unit level, integration layer, and UI level. This systematic approach ensures that gaps are identified and addressed before they can escalate into major problems.

Ensuring Interface Reliability

The internal tools used by scientists are mission-critical. The role involves extensive UI testing to guarantee that dashboards and orchestration interfaces perform flawlessly under real-world conditions. Because these interfaces drive experimental workflows, the tester must ensure they are robust, intuitive, and free of defects that could slow down scientific discovery.

Managing Complexity and Nondeterminism

Lab automation platforms are inherently complex and can exhibit nondeterministic behavior. The IV&V professional must specialize in regression and reliability testing to isolate flaky tests and distinguish true software defects from environmental noise. This involves creating stable test data and fixtures that make results reproducible and failures easy to diagnose, even as the underlying platform scales and evolves.

Required Expertise

Success in this position requires a deep background in software testing. Candidates should bring four to eight years of experience in test or QA automation for complex, integrated environments. This must include hands-on expertise with Python automation, pytest, and modern UI frameworks like Playwright. Knowledge of front-end testing frameworks such as Vitest or Jest is also essential, particularly within CI/CD environments.

A strong understanding of V&V methodologies and test strategy is mandatory. The ideal candidate can design test plans that effectively assess risk across software layers and hardware interfaces. Experience integrating tests across service boundaries, including UI and hardware interactions, is crucial.

Preferred Experience

Bonus qualifications include direct Hardware-in-the-Loop experience, particularly within robotics or lab automation contexts. Familiarity with simulation or digital-twin environments is highly valued, as is background in building test data management and reporting infrastructure.

Experience in systems engineering, particularly in regulated industries such as aerospace, manufacturing, or healthcare, is a significant asset. Candidates with knowledge of standards like GAMP 5, FDA CSA, 21 CFR Part 11, or DO-178C demonstrate an understanding of rigorous verification processes.

Compensation for this role includes competitive base salary, bonus potential, and equity. U.S. employees receive a comprehensive benefits package covering medical, dental, and vision insurance, life and disability coverage, paid time off, parental leave, and professional development opportunities.