Analytical and Physical Chemist

Precise Systems; Maryland; On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Precise Systems seeks an Analytical and Physical Chemist with 3–5 years of experience to evaluate the environmental fate of chemicals and assess hazards in environmental samples. Role emphasizes chemical analysis and performance of GC/GC-MS and LC-MS methods, with collaboration across chemists and engineers.

The role requires in-person support, meticulous documentation, and the ability to lead instrumental analyses and report findings to program customers and internal teams.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Chemistry, Environmental/Chemical Engineering, Biology, Biochemistry, or closely related field.
• 3-5 years of practical laboratory experience.
• Hands-on experience utilizing vapor pressure measurement methods, mass spectrometry, gas chromatography, and liquid chromatography.
• Proven experience in sample preparation techniques, particularly for complex matrices.
• Strong general laboratory skills and direct experience with laboratory equipment maintenance.
• Meticulous documentation in laboratory notebooks, authorship of technical reports, and drafting of SOPs.
• Ability to function effectively as part of an interdisciplinary team.
• Outstanding verbal and written communication skills for varying technical backgrounds.

Responsibilities

• Lead and participate in technical research to meet program goals.
• Perform instrumental analysis and controlled environmental-exposure experiments.
• Analyze samples from vapor, soil, water, and tissue for target compounds and degradation products using GC/GC-MS, LC-MS.
• Determine and evaluate chemical physical properties (vapour pressure, solubility, density, etc.).
• Develop, revise, and maintain laboratory procedures (IOPs, SOPs) and reports.
• Support laboratory management, equipment and chemical tracking, waste-disposal coordination.
• Prepare monthly progress reports and communicate with program customers and internal teams.

Skills

Analytical chemistry

Environmental fate

GC/GC-MS

LC-MS/LC-MS/MS

Instrumentation

Technical reporting

Interdisciplinary teamwork

Experimental design

Education

Ph.D. in Chemistry or related field

Tools

GC

GC-MS

LC-MS

LC-MS/MS

Thermal desorption

Pyrolysis

Job description

Precise Systems delivers integrated, mission-ready solutions that advance warfighter readiness and strengthen our nation's most critical defense programs. Through the power of our combined capabilities, we provide deep expertise in Advanced Engineering; Digital Transformation; Electromagnetic Warfare; Interactive Training & Simulation; Physical Sciences Research; Platform Lifecycle Support; and Foreign Military Sales. Unified by decades of trusted performance and expanded through strategic growth, our team applies innovative technologies, engineering rigor, and customer-focused execution to solve complex challenges and accelerate mission success. Guided by our commitment to partnership, precision, and performance, we deliver the scalable solutions and technical excellence our customers depend on-today and into the future.

Precise Systems seeks an Analytical and Physical Chemist with 3-5 years of experience in determining the environmental fate of chemicals. This position supports the initial hazard assessment of emerging hazardous and toxic compounds by evaluating stability, transport and partitioning, degradation, persistence, physical, and chemical properties. The incumbent may also assess the environmental impacts, and hazards associated with toxic materials following dissemination or environmental exposure. Experience with thermal desorption, pyrolysis, gas chromatography (GC), gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS), liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS, and liquid chromatography mass spectrometry-mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS) a plus. This position requires an emphasis of the chemical analysis of toxic compounds and their extraction from environmental samples. The role requires dedicated problem-solving, keen attention to detail, and a strong foundation in general laboratory skills. The successful applicant will possess a demonstrated aptitude for working both independently and in collaboration with other team members, as this position supports many scientists across the center, including chemists, biologists, chemical engineers, and material scientists.

This role requires in-person support.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Support new and ongoing research programs as a technical lead and research team member to meet program goals and objectives.
• Routinely perform instrumental analysis and testing and controlled environmental-exposure experiments of known and suspected toxic compounds.
• Analyze samples from a range of matrices-including vapor, soil, water, and tissue-for target compounds and degradation products using analytical instrumentation and methods such as:
• Thermal desorption
• Pyrolysis
• Gas chromatography with flame photometric detection (GC-FPD)
• Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS)
• Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS)
• Tandem liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)
• Determine and evaluate chemical physical properties, including vapor pressure, solubility, density, viscosity, surface tension, flash point, thermal stability, partition coefficient, and acid dissociation constant.
• Develop, revise, and maintain laboratory procedures (IOPs), SOPs, test plans, research documentation, and technical reports.
• Support laboratory management activities, including equipment and supply inventory, chemical tracking, waste-disposal coordination, and maintenance of laboratory procedures and records.
• Prepare monthly progress reports and maintain routine communication with program customers, stakeholders, and internal technical teams.

Required Education

• Ph.D. in Chemistry, Environmental/Chemical Engineering, Biology, Biochemistry, or a closely related field.

Required Experience

• 3-5 years of practical laboratory experience.
• Hands-on experience utilizing vapor pressure measurement methods, mass spectrometry, gas chromatography, and liquid chromatography.
• Proven experience in sample preparation techniques, particularly for complex matrices.
• Strong general laboratory skills and direct experience with laboratory equipment maintenance.
• Meticulous documentation in laboratory notebooks, authorship of technical reports, and drafting of standard operating procedures (SOPs).
• Ability to function effectively as part of an interdisciplinary team.
• Outstanding verbal and written communication skills for audiences with varying technical backgrounds.
• Effective time management skills; self-starter; attention to detail.
• Ability to independently design and execute experiments; strong critical thinking and problem-solving capabilities.