HHiring Reality
← Lila Sciences

Associate Director, App

Lila Sciences
Location
Cambridge, MA USA; San Francisco, CA USA
Posted
24 days ago
Department
Software
What they actually want (must-haves)
  • Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field
  • 12+ years of engineering experience building and deploying large-scale production systems
  • 5+ years leading senior engineers
  • Track record of building and growing high-performing engineering teams in high-growth or early-stage environments
  • Deep technical judgment on Applied AI and across the full stack (React, TypeScript, Python, FastAPI, SQL/NoSQL, AWS, Kubernetes)
  • Hands-on experience using AI coding assistants and agentic tooling
Nice to have
  • Experience shipping products built on AI agents, graph-based workflows, or LLM orchestration frameworks
  • A point of view on what 'good' looks like for chat, agent, and copilot experiences
  • Familiarity with AWS, Kubernetes, infrastructure-as-code, and CI/CD
  • Thought leadership in the applied-AI community
  • Experience with laboratory software or analytics for life sciences or material sciences
What the job really is

The Associate Director of Engineering for the Application Team at LILA will lead a team of engineers in developing AI-driven tools that enhance scientific research workflows. This role involves team leadership, defining technical strategies, overseeing product delivery, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to ensure the integration of AI into scientific processes. The position emphasizes building a high-performing team and driving innovation in how scientists interact with AI systems.

Benefits
  • Competitive base compensation with bonus potential
  • Generous early-stage equity
  • 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
Things to weigh
  • No specific mention of remote work options
  • The role involves leading a team that is expected to grow quickly in a high-pressure environment
  • The position requires deep technical expertise across a broad stack, which may be challenging for some candidates
Job score3.8/5
Benefits5/5
Freshness4/5
Career value5/5
Role clarity5/5
Pay transparency0/5

Applying to Lila Sciences?

See how your résumé matches this role — and tailor it from what actually gets interviews.