Hardware Inventory Associate

The Company 

Lila Sciences is a privately held, early-stage technology company pioneering the application of artificial intelligence to transform every aspect of the scientific method. Lila Sciences is backed by Flagship Pioneering, which brings the courage, long-term vision, and resources needed to realize unreasonable results. Join our mission-driven team and contribute to the future of science. 

Our platform is integrating AI and automation into discovery and development efforts across materials and life sciences to accelerate solutions for sustainability and therapeutics challenges. 

At Lila Sciences, we are uniquely cross-functional and collaborative. We are actively reimagining the way teams work together and communicate. Therefore, we seek individuals with an inclusive mindset and a diversity of thought. Our teams thrive in unstructured and creative environments. All voices are heard because we know that experience comes in many forms, skills are transferable, and passion goes a long way. 

If this sounds like an environment you’d love to work in, even if you only have some of the experience listed below, please apply. 

The Role

Lila Sciences is seeking a highly skilled and detail-oriented Hardware Inventory Associate to join our team. This role is critical to supporting the Hardware & Controls Engineering and Lab Automation groups by ensuring the efficient tracking, organization, and availability of mechanical/electrical hardware/components. Reporting directly to the Senior Lab Operations Manager, you will collaborate across various domains, including engineering teams and the Director of Procurement, and finance group, to streamline inventory processes and ensure the timely delivery of essential parts. 

The ideal candidate will have a strong background in hardware and electrical components, a keen understanding of their functionality and usage, and the ability to manage complex inventory workflows in a dynamic, fast-paced environment 

Responsibilities Include: 

• Maintain an accurate and detailed inventory of hardware and electrical components, ensuring availability for all ongoing and upcoming projects. 
• Monitor stock levels and coordinate timely replenishment to avoid shortages, particularly for critical hardware and electrical parts. 
• Develop and execute efficient systems for organizing, labeling, and tracking inventory to optimize retrieval and minimize errors. 
• Collaborate with the Director of Procurement and Senior Lab Operations Manager to align inventory practices with project needs and budget constraints. 
• Understand the specifications, functions, and applications of various hardware and electrical components used by engineering teams. 
• Work with engineers to ensure the correct parts are available and accessible for mechanical, electrical, and automation projects. 
• Proactively identify potential gaps in stock or technical compatibility issues and offer solutions to prevent project delays. 
• Maintain familiarity with industry standards and best practices for handling and storing electrical components. 
• Act as the primary inventory liaison for the Hardware & Controls and Lab Automation groups, ensuring their specific needs are met. 
• Provide just-in-time inventory support to engineers, ensuring components are delivered to the right location and on schedule. 
• Partner with engineers to evaluate part usage trends and forecast future inventory needs, particularly for hardware and electrical systems. 
• Inspect and document incoming shipments of hardware and electrical components, ensuring quality and compliance with specifications. 
• Organize and store components in a way that facilitates quick retrieval and prevents damage or misplacement. 
• Oversee the timely distribution of parts to ensure project continuity and prevent workflow interruptions. 
• Continuously improve inventory management processes with a focus on handling hardware and electrical components efficiently. 
• Implement strategies to streamline the movement of critical parts, ensuring on-time delivery to engineers. 
• Develop systems to forecast demand for hardware and electrical components to avoid overstocking or shortages. 
• Create and maintain detailed reports on stock levels, turnover rates, and usage patterns for hardware and electrical components. 
• Provide regular updates to the Senior Lab Operations Manager, Director of Procurement & Finance, and engineering teams on inventory status and forecasts. 
• Coordinate with suppliers to address shortages, ensuring smooth replenishment and delivery of essential parts. 
• Work with the Systems Engineering Team to:
  • Document, track, and maintain an appropriate spares inventory for all in-use lab equipment. 
  • Procure custom fabricated automation components, ensuring strong collaboration with vendors & machine shops.
  • Inventory all incoming hardware & controls components for upcoming project builds, ensuring engineers and technicians can quickly build, assemble, and integrate new automation equipment. 

Qualifications: 

• Proven experience in inventory management or logistics, with a strong focus on hardware and electrical components. 
• In-depth knowledge of electrical and mechanical parts, their specifications, and their applications. 
• Proficiency in inventory management tools (e.g., ERP systems, Excel, or custom databases) with strong analytical and reporting skills. 
• Exceptional organizational and time management skills, with the ability to prioritize tasks in a fast-paced environment. 
• Excellent communication skills to collaborate effectively with engineering, procurement, and finance teams. 
• Problem-solving mindset with a focus on process improvement and operational efficiency. 
• Degree in supply chain management, Engineering, or a related field is preferred but not required. 

 

Working at Lila Sciences, you would have access to advanced technology in the areas of: 

• AI experimental design and simulation 
• Automated custom instrumentation 
• Generative molecular and material design 

More about Flagship Pioneering

Flagship Pioneering is a platform innovation company that invents and builds platform companies, each with the potential for multiple products that transform human health or sustainability. Since its launch in 2000, Flagship has originated and fostered more than 100 scientific ventures, resulting in more than $90 billion in aggregate value. Many of the companies Flagship has founded have addressed humanity’s most urgent challenges: vaccinating billions of people against COVID-19, curing intractable diseases, improving human health, preempting illness, and feeding the world by improving the resiliency and sustainability of agriculture.  Flagship has been recognized twice on FORTUNE’s “Change the World” list, an annual ranking of companies that have made a positive social and environmental impact through activities that are part of their core business strategies, and has been twice named to Fast Company’s annual list of the World’s Most Innovative Companies. Learn more about Flagship at www.flagshippioneering.com.

Flagship Pioneering and our ecosystem companies are 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.

Recruitment & Staffing Agencies: Flagship Pioneering and its affiliated Flagship Lab companies (collectively, “FSP”) do not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than candidates. The submission of unsolicited resumes by recruitment or staffing agencies to FSP or its employees is strictly prohibited unless contacted directly by Flagship Pioneering’s internal Talent Acquisition team. Any resume submitted by an agency in the absence of a signed agreement will automatically become the property of FSP, and FSP will not owe any referral or other fees with respect thereto.