Overview:
The Principal Scientist serves as a senior technical resource within Method Testing Laboratories, with a primary focus on analytical chemistry, method optimization, technical investigations, and continuous improvement of laboratory methods and processes. This position supports laboratory operations by troubleshooting complex analytical issues, investigating atypical or unexpected results, optimizing analytical methods, and ensuring methods and instrumentation remain scientifically sound, robust, and fit for their intended purpose.
The Principal Scientist works closely with Laboratory Management, Quality Assurance, Lead Analysts, and laboratory personnel to resolve technical challenges and improve analytical performance. The position requires strong working knowledge of chromatography, mass spectrometry, elemental analysis, sample preparation, data interpretation, and laboratory quality systems.
Responsibilities:
- Serve as a senior technical resource for analytical chemistry and laboratory investigations.
- Lead and support method optimization, troubleshooting, verification, validation, and continuous improvement activities for analytical chemistry methods.
- Evaluate existing analytical methods and identify opportunities to improve sensitivity, selectivity, accuracy, precision, robustness, efficiency, and overall method performance.
- Lead technical investigations involving unexpected results, analytical discrepancies, instrument performance issues, quality control failures, atypical chromatography, and other laboratory-related technical concerns.
- Assist with investigations involving out-of-specification (OOS), out-of-trend (OOT), deviations, nonconformances, and Corrective and Preventive Actions (CAPA), as applicable.
- Perform scientifically sound root-cause investigations and assist in developing appropriate corrective and preventive actions.
- Provide advanced technical support for LC-MS/MS, GC-MS/MS, GC-MS, Headspace GC-MS (HS-GC-MS), Liquid Injection GC-MS (LI-GC-MS), and ICP-MS instrumentation.
- Troubleshoot analytical instrumentation, sample preparation procedures, chromatographic performance, mass spectrometry performance, calibration issues, quality control failures, and other method-related problems.
- Review chromatographic and mass spectral data to evaluate peak identification, integration, retention time, ion ratios, calibration performance, internal standards, matrix effects, interferences, and overall data quality.
- Support laboratory personnel in determining whether analytical issues originate from sample preparation, instrumentation, analytical methodology, matrix interference, standards, reagents, or other potential sources.
- Develop, optimize, and document sample preparation and extraction procedures for a variety of matrices.
- Evaluate method performance across different sample types and matrices and recommend modifications when necessary to maintain appropriate analytical performance.
- Assist with establishing and evaluating calibration models, calibration ranges, limits of detection, limits of quantification, quality control requirements, acceptance criteria, and other method performance characteristics.
- Design and execute laboratory experiments necessary to investigate technical issues or evaluate proposed method improvements.
- Ensure experimental studies and investigations are appropriately documented and supported by defensible scientific data.
- Prepare and review technical reports, investigation summaries, validation documentation, method studies, protocols, SOPs, and other laboratory documentation.
- Provide technical review and interpretation of analytical data and communicate conclusions to Laboratory Management and Quality Assurance.
- Work with laboratory leadership to implement method changes and ensure appropriate documentation, training, and verification are completed prior to routine implementation.
- Support the transfer and implementation of new analytical methods and technologies into routine laboratory production.
- Evaluate new instrumentation, technologies, consumables, columns, standards, reagents, and analytical approaches that may improve laboratory performance.
- Assist with instrument qualification, performance verification, preventative maintenance, troubleshooting, and maintaining analytical instruments according to manufacturer specifications and laboratory requirements.
- Serve as a technical mentor to chemists and laboratory analysts by providing guidance on analytical chemistry, instrumentation, data interpretation, troubleshooting, and good laboratory practices.
- Develop and provide technical training related to analytical methods, instrumentation, troubleshooting, data analysis, and laboratory investigations.
- Collaborate with Quality Assurance to ensure analytical methods and laboratory practices comply with applicable quality system requirements.
- Maintain familiarity with ISO/IEC 17025, GLP, Florida Department of Health requirements, and other applicable regulatory or accreditation requirements.
- Support regulatory inspections, accreditation assessments, client investigations, and technical inquiries when scientific expertise is required.
- Stay current with developments in analytical chemistry, chromatography, mass spectrometry, elemental analysis, laboratory instrumentation, and applicable regulatory requirements through technical publications, scientific meetings, vendor training, and other educational opportunities.
- Promote scientifically sound decision-making, data integrity, laboratory safety, and continuous improvement throughout the laboratory.
- Effectively communicate complex scientific findings and technical recommendations to laboratory personnel, management, Quality Assurance, clients, and other stakeholders as appropriate.
- Other duties as assigned or requested.
Qualifications:
- Must have a bachelor's degree in Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, Biochemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences, or another related natural science discipline. Master's degree or Ph.D. preferred.
- Minimum of 8-10 years of relevant analytical laboratory experience, preferably within a high-throughput or regulated testing environment.
- Experience working within an ISO/IEC 17025, GLP, FDA, TNI, or similarly regulated or accredited laboratory environment preferred.
- Advanced knowledge of analytical chemistry principles, chromatography, mass spectrometry, elemental analysis, sample preparation, calibration, quality control, and quantitative data analysis.
- Demonstrated experience with analytical method development, optimization, validation, verification, troubleshooting, and method transfer.
- Familiarity and practical experience with LC-MS/MS, GC-MS/MS, GC-MS using Headspace (HS) and Liquid Injection (LI) techniques, and ICP-MS.
- Strong understanding of instrument operation, analytical troubleshooting, preventative maintenance, and performance evaluation.
- Demonstrated ability to investigate complex analytical problems, identify potential root causes, design experiments, interpret results, and develop scientifically defensible conclusions.
- Experience investigating quality control failures, atypical analytical results, instrument failures, deviations, OOS/OOT results, and other laboratory technical issues.
- Strong knowledge of calibration curves, linear dynamic range, internal standards, matrix effects, chromatographic integration, analytical interference, detection limits, quantification limits, accuracy, precision, and method robustness.
- Ability to critically review raw analytical data and recognize trends, abnormalities, and potential sources of analytical error.
- Strong technical writing skills with the ability to prepare clear investigation reports, validation reports, SOPs, technical protocols, and scientific summaries.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to communicate complex scientific concepts to technical and non-technical personnel.
- Demonstrated ability to manage multiple technical projects and investigations while working effectively in a fast-paced laboratory environment.
- Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with analysts, laboratory leadership, Quality Assurance, and other departments.
- Strong computer skills, including proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, as well as chromatography and instrument data analysis software.
- Must demonstrate a strong commitment to scientific integrity, data integrity, laboratory safety, quality, and continuous improvement.
- Must be willing to undergo any background screening required by the Florida Department of Health or other applicable regulatory authorities.
About us: We are a well-capitalized analytical testing lab in the cannabis industry. We strongly believe that analytical testing is one of the most important aspects of the cannabis supply chain. Laboratory testing and analytics enables the industry's growth, ensures consumer safety and creates trust in this new legal market. Our team brings together diverse backgrounds including fortune 100 companies, successful start ups and multistate cannabis operators. Our mission is to provide the highest quality, speed and world class customer service in the laboratory testing industry.
What We Offer:
- Very competitive salary
- Annual bonus
- Profit sharing
- Equity based on performance
- Benefits package including health, dental and vision
- Paid time off
Job Type: Full-time
Ability to Commute:
- Brandon, FL 33510 (Preferred)
Ability to Relocate:
- Brandon, FL 33510: Relocate before starting work (Preferred)
Work Location: In person
