Mechanical Engineer (AI)

TL;DR

Mechanical Engineer (AI): Building integrated laboratory systems and instrumentation that enable materials scientists and AI agents to plan experiments, run analyses, and convert results into decisions with an accent on mechanical design, lab automation, and hands-on hardware development. Focus on designing high-temperature and automated systems, programming laboratory robots, managing fabrication, and bringing complex equipment into operation.

Location: On-site in Menlo Park, California, United States. Visa sponsorship is available.

Salary: $200,000–$300,000 annually, plus equity.

Company

Periodic Labs is an AI and physical sciences company developing advanced models and integrated laboratory systems to accelerate discoveries in materials, energy, and related fields.

What you will do

• Translate early-stage scientific and engineering problems into clear requirements and build-ready hardware.
• Own mechanical design and system development for lab automation workflows from concept through installation and operational bring-up.
• Design and customize gloveboxes, furnaces, presses, deposition equipment, consumables, and laboratory instrumentation.
• Program and troubleshoot robots integrated into laboratory workflows.
• Create CAD models, mechanical drawings, GD&T documentation, and engineering specifications.
• Build hardware hands-on and coordinate subcontracted machining, additive manufacturing, sheet-metal work, and welding.

Requirements

• At least 2 years of mechanical design experience and a bachelor's degree or equivalent experience.
• Proficiency with CAD, such as Onshape, and hand calculations.
• Hands-on experience assembling and building physical hardware, with vendor-facing manufacturing exposure.
• Ability to define requirements, own projects from concept to completion, and collaborate closely with scientists and technicians.
• Experience with robot or automated laboratory-system programming, measurement and testing, and test planning.
• Experience designing for high-temperature service and applying strong engineering and process safety controls.

Nice to have

• Experience working in software repositories with agentic collaboration.
• Experience dispensing challenging materials.

Culture & Benefits

• Work in a tight-knit, multidisciplinary engineering environment alongside materials scientists and technicians.
• Contribute to technically deep projects closely connected to scientific research.
• Receive equity in addition to annual compensation.
• Visa sponsorship is available.