Who We Are
Vanguard Laboratory is a growing, family-owned analytical and microbiological laboratory located in Olympia, Washington. We provide analytical testing for a broad range of sample types, including peptides, research chemicals, small molecules, nutritional supplements, pharmaceutical materials, food, agricultural products, drinking water, and environmental samples.
We are an ISO/IEC 17025:2017-accredited laboratory with a collaborative team and a strong focus on technical quality, accurate documentation, continuous improvement, and reliable client service.
Our peptide-testing workload is growing, and we are seeking an analytical chemist who can perform accurate, efficient, high-throughput peptide testing using HPLC/UHPLC, LC–MS/MS, and HRMS workflows.
The Role
We are hiring a Peptide Analytical Chemist with a primary focus on sample preparation, chromatographic purity testing, LC–MS/MS and HRMS instrument operation, data processing, and routine analytical troubleshooting.
This role is designed for a chemist who already has practical chromatography or mass-spectrometry experience and wants to develop deeper expertise in peptide analysis. The successful candidate will run established methods, process high sample volumes, review chromatographic and mass-spectral data, maintain accurate records, and support method-development and validation projects.
The right candidate does not need to be a senior method-development scientist. However, they must understand the complete analytical workflow and be able to produce accurate, defensible results in a fast-moving contract-laboratory environment.
What You’ll Do
- Prepare peptide samples, standards, blanks, controls, and quality-control samples according to established procedures.
- Perform accurate weighing, dilution, reconstitution, extraction, filtration, and transfer procedures.
- Conduct peptide purity testing using HPLC or UHPLC with UV/DAD and mass-spectrometric detection, as applicable.
- Operate LC–MS/MS systems for peptide identity confirmation, targeted analysis, and related testing.
- Operate HRMS systems for accurate-mass confirmation and routine peptide characterization according to established methods.
- Review mass spectra, charge-state distributions, isotope patterns, deconvoluted molecular masses, and other method-defined acceptance criteria.
- Set up analytical sequences, verify sample positions, assign methods, review injection orders, and confirm that standards and controls are included correctly.
- Process high-throughput sample batches while maintaining accuracy, traceability, and required turnaround times.
- Review chromatograms, integrate peaks, evaluate system suitability, calculate results, and identify questionable or inconsistent data.
- Compare observed peptide masses with theoretical or expected masses using established data-processing procedures.
- Recognize and escalate potential carryover, contamination, poor peak shape, low sensitivity, retention-time shifts, mass discrepancies, or instrument-performance issues.
- Perform routine instrument care, including mobile-phase preparation, solvent replacement, column handling, source cleaning, consumable replacement, and basic troubleshooting.
- Maintain complete worksheets, instrument logs, sample records, sequence information, calculations, and analytical data packages.
- Follow SOPs, approved methods, safety procedures, and ISO/IEC 17025 documentation requirements.
- Communicate clearly with other chemists, project managers, and laboratory leadership regarding sample status, instrument issues, data concerns, and workflow priorities.
- Support method-development, method-verification, validation, and process-improvement activities under the direction of senior scientists.
- Assist with other HPLC, LC–MS, or analytical laboratory projects as needed based on experience and laboratory priorities.
What You Bring
- Hands-on experience with HPLC, UHPLC, LC–MS, or LC–MS/MS sample preparation and instrument operation.
- A working understanding of analytical sample preparation, including accurate weighing, serial dilution, extraction, filtration, standards, blanks, controls, and contamination prevention.
- Working knowledge of chromatographic data review, including integration, retention time, peak shape, resolution, carryover, calibration, and system suitability.
- Ability to follow detailed written procedures consistently and document work clearly.
- Strong attention to detail, especially when handling sample identifiers, dilution factors, sequence tables, calculations, and data files.
- Ability to work accurately and efficiently in a high-throughput laboratory with changing priorities.
- Ability to recognize questionable data or instrument behavior and escalate concerns rather than reporting results without review.
- Ability to troubleshoot basic sample-preparation, chromatography, and instrument problems.
- Strong organizational and time-management skills.
- Professional written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to take ownership of assigned samples and follow work through data processing and documentation.
- A degree in chemistry, biochemistry, analytical chemistry, pharmaceutical science, or a related field is preferred. Substantial directly relevant laboratory experience may be considered in place of some formal education.
Preferred Experience
- At least one year of hands-on HPLC, UHPLC, LC–MS, or LC–MS/MS experience in a professional laboratory.
- Peptide purity testing, peptide identity testing, or analysis of synthetic peptides.
- HRMS experience using QTOF, Orbitrap, or another accurate-mass platform.
- Experience reviewing charge-state envelopes, deconvoluted masses, isotope patterns, or MS/MS spectra.
- SCIEX, Agilent, Waters, Thermo, Bruker, Shimadzu, or comparable analytical instrumentation.
- SCIEX OS, Analyst, OpenLab, ChemStation, Empower, MassLynx, Chromeleon, or related software.
- Experience in an ISO/IEC 17025, GMP, GLP, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, supplement, or contract-testing laboratory.
- Experience supporting method development, validation, verification, or method transfer.
- Prior laboratory experience beyond academic coursework is strongly preferred.
Schedule
This is a full-time, on-site position in Olympia, Washington.
Vanguard Laboratory is generally open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Some scheduling flexibility may be available while meeting laboratory and client needs.
Why Join Vanguard
This is a hands-on role in a growing analytical lab where your work matters. You will not be limited to one repetitive task. You will help prepare samples, run instruments, review data, improve methods, troubleshoot problems, and contribute to the expansion of the laboratory’s technical capabilities. This position has high opportunity for growth
We are looking for someone who is motivated, proactive, quality-focused, and interested in building real analytical chemistry expertise.
Benefits
- 401(k).
- Employer 401(k) matching.
- Health insurance.
- Dental insurance.
- Vision insurance.
- Life insurance.
- Paid time off.
- Parental leave.
- Flexible scheduling options where compatible with laboratory needs.
- Professional development assistance, including technical training, conferences, and seminars.
- Merit-based pay increases tied to individual and laboratory performance.
- Opportunity to gain practical experience with advanced chromatography and mass-spectrometry techniques.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $22.00 - $30.00 per hour
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Parental leave
- Professional development assistance
- Retirement plan
- Vision insurance
Application Question(s):
- Did you submit a cover letter? Required for Application.
Experience:
Location:
- Olympia, WA 98502 (Preferred)
Ability to Commute:
- Olympia, WA 98502 (Required)
Work Location: In person
