Job description
About Periodic Labs
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 a tight-knit engineering team building the integrated lab systems that scale our materials synthesis and characterization, alongside our frontier models, scientific data, and the scientists who use them.
Periodic Labs is seeking a Mechanical Engineer to help build the environment where materials scientists work alongside AI agents to plan experiments, run analyses, coordinate workflows, and turn results into decisions. You'll work with the team to translate vague, early-stage problems from scientists and engineers into clear requirements and build-ready hardware, owning the mechanical design of lab systems and instrumentation end to end and seeing them through fabrication, assembly, and operational bring-up.
This role will help define what engineering looks like at Periodic: technically deep, ambitious in scope, and tightly coupled to scientific work.
What You'll Do
Collaborate with a multidisciplinary team of materials scientists and engineers to synthesize vague, early-stage problems into clear requirements and hardware that solves them.
Own the design and build of systems and subsystems for lab automation and workflows, from concept through installation.
Layout and design core lab systems, including gloveboxes, furnaces, presses, deposition equipment, and consumables.
Design and customize lab machines and instrumentation to fit evolving scientific needs.
Program and troubleshoot robots integrated into lab workflows.
Engage directly with scientists and technicians to understand how they actually work, getting past stated requirements to uncover the real needs behind them, and translate that into clear engineering specifications.
Produce CAD, mechanical drawings and design documentation, including GD&T, to support both in-house builds and subcontracted manufacturing.
Assemble and build hardware hands-on, and manage subcontracted manufacturing across machining, additive, sheet metal, and welding.
Apply a strong safety mindset throughout design and build, with attention to engineering and process controls.
You Will Thrive in This Role If You Have
2+ years of mechanical design experience, with hands-on and vendor-facing manufacturing exposure (machining, additive, sheet metal, welding).
Proficiency in CAD (Onshape or equivalent) and hand calculations.
Demonstrated ability to discover and write clear requirements, with strong project ownership from concept to completion.
Experience assembling and building physical hardware, not just designing it on paper.
Comfort working closely with scientists and technicians to translate workflow needs into engineering requirements and real hardware that solves problems.
Especially Strong Candidates May Also Have
Experience programming and controlling robots or other automated lab systems.
Experience working in software repos with agentic collaboration.
Experience dispensing challenging materials.
Measurement and test experience.
Design experience for high-temperature service.
Experience with test planning and bring-up.
Mechanics
Minimum experience: 2+ years
Minimum education: Bachelor's degree or similar experience
Location: Menlo Park, CA
Compensation: The annual compensation range for this role - $200,000-$300,000
Visa sponsorship: Yes, we sponsor visas