Analytical Chemist, Food Department

Microbac Laboratories, Inc.; Warrendale (Allegheny County); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Microbac Laboratories, Inc. is actively seeking an Analytical Chemist in the Food Department to join our analytical laboratory team. The candidate will work with GC, GC/MS, HPLC/LC, LC/MS, and related instruments on food chemistry analysis.

The role emphasizes chromatographic techniques, data interpretation, method troubleshooting, and maintaining rigorous documentation in a commercial lab setting. Growth toward SME responsibilities is possible as expertise develops.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher in Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, Food Science, Food Chemistry, or a related scientific discipline.
• Minimum of 2 years of hands-on laboratory experience with GC, GC/MS, HPLC/LC, LC/MS or comparable chromatography.
• Working knowledge of laboratory analytical principles, terminology, practices, techniques, and instrumentation.
• Experience with sample preparation, standards, calibration, quality control practices, and documentation.
• Ability to interpret analytical data and troubleshoot instrumentation and methods.
• Ability to prioritize work to meet deadlines and rush orders.
• Strong attention to detail and data integrity.
• Computer literacy and experience with LIMS or similar systems.
• Ability to communicate effectively in writing and verbally.

Responsibilities

• Follow SOPs and comply with state, federal, client, and accrediting-body requirements.
• Prepare and process food samples for chemical and instrumental analysis.
• Perform sample prep, extraction, dilution, filtration, and other prep techniques.
• Prepare standards, solutions, reagents, and QC materials for testing.
• Operate GC, GC/MS, HPLC/LC, LC/MS and related equipment.
• Perform instrument setup, calibration, maintenance, and troubleshooting.
• Analyze chromatographic data and evaluate results for accuracy and consistency.
• Recognize unusual results or instrument issues and escalate appropriately.
• Maintain laboratory notebooks, logs, and equipment records.
• Enter and review data in LIMS and monitor workload and turnaround times.
• Support method verification, validation and continuous improvement activities.
• Provide SME support for food chemistry methods and instrumentation.

Skills

Analytical chemistry

Data interpretation

Attention to detail

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher in Chemistry/Analytical Chemistry/Food Science

Tools

GC

GC/MS

HPLC/LC

LC/MS

Job description

JOIN OUR TEAM

Are you a food chemist who enjoys working with chromatography, solving analytical problems, and applying science to real-world food and nutrition testing?

Microbac Laboratories, Inc., is seeking a Analytical Chemist, Food Department to join our analytical laboratory team. This position is an excellent opportunity for a scientist with hands‑on experience in GC, GC/MS, HPLC/LC, and/or LC/MS who wants to apply their technical expertise to food chemistry and analytical testing.

The ideal candidate will bring a strong foundation in food chemistry, analytical chemistry, or a related scientific discipline and will be comfortable working with laboratory instrumentation, interpreting analytical data, troubleshooting methods, and investigating unexpected results. Candidates with strong chromatography experience who are interested in expanding their expertise in food chemistry are encouraged to apply.

This position may also service as a technical subject matter expert (SME) for food chemistry methods and instrumentation and provides an opportunity to grow technical expertise within a commercial laboratory environment.

ABOUT MICROBAC

Microbac Laboratories, Inc. is a premier commercial laboratory testing firm that partners with clients nationwide, offering laboratory solutions to life science, food and nutrition, and environmental industries and serves our clients with the utmost expertise and respect for their market requirements, constraints, and challenges. We embody a company‑wide commitment to exceptional customer experience, which has been refined by over 50 years of trusted, analytical and measurement experience.

As a privately held third‑party testing company, Microbac operates with a commitment to our workforce, safety, quality, and compliance. Our diverse work portfolio includes broad accreditation offerings and tested insights across the environmental, food and nutrition and life science markets.

JOB SUMMARY

Analytical Chemist, Food Department, working in an accredited commercial laboratory, performs a variety of scientific and analytical laboratory activities with minimal supervision. This position is specifically focused on food chemistry and food analysis, with an emphasis on chromatographic techniques and instrumentation.

The Food Chemistry Scientist prepares and analyzes food and related samples, operates specialized laboratory instrumentation, evaluates analytical data, maintains accurate laboratory records, and supports the laboratory's quality and operational objectives.

The successful candidate will demonstrate sound technical judgement, attention to detail, and the ability to independently execute established analytical methods while recognizing and communicating analytical issues.

As technical expertise develops, this position may serve as a food chemistry technical resource or SME, assisting with method troubleshooting, instrumentation, data interpretation, training, method development, and other technical activities.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Follow established SOPs and adhere to applicable state, federal, client, and accrediting‑body requirements.
• Prepare and process food and related samples for chemical and instrumental analysis.
• Perform sample preparation, extraction, dilution, filtration, and other applicable preparation techniques.
• Prepare and use standards, solutions, reagents, and quality‑control materials required for analytical testing.
• Operate specialized laboratory instrumentation, including GC, GC/MS, HPLC/LC, LC/MS, and related analytical equipment, as applicable to assigned methods.
• Perform instrument setup, calibration, routine maintenance, and basic troubleshooting.
• Analyze chromatographic data and evaluate analytical results for accuracy, quality, and consistency.
• Recognize unusual results, instrument issues, method problems, or other conditions that may affect data quality and appropriately elevate or investigate them.
• Perform analytical testing in accordance with established methods and laboratory quality requirements.
• Maintain the integrity of analytical procedures and document professional activity for peer review.
• Support method verification, validation, implementation, troubleshooting, and continuous improvement activities as assigned.
• Assist with investigations of atypical, unexpected, or out‑of‑specification analytical results.
• Maintain accurate, complete, and up‑to‑date laboratory notebooks, worksheets, logs, equipment records, and other required documentation.
• Accurately enter and review analytical data in the laboratory information management system (LIMS).
• Monitor assigned workload and communicate sample backlog, turnaround‑time concerns, or other operational issues.
• Participate in laboratory quality initiatives, audits, proficiency testing, and other activities as assigned.
• Provide technical assistance and knowledge‑sharing to other laboratory personnel as appropriate.
• May serve as a technical resource of SME for assigned food chemistry methods, instrumentation, or processes.
• May assist with training and mentoring analysts in applicable analytical procedures and instrumentation.
• Comply with and promote all Safety and Quality programs.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor's degree or higher in Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, Food Science, Food Chemistry, or a related scientific discipline.
• Minimum of 2 years of hands‑on laboratory experience in a commercial, industrial, food testing, manufacturing, environmental or other professional laboratory setting, operating and/or analyzing data from GC, GC/MS, HPLC/LC, LC/MS, or comparable chromatographic instrumentation. Academic laboratory experience alone does not satisfy this requirement.
• Working knowledge of laboratory analytical principles, terminology, practices, techniques, and instrumentation.
• Experience with sample preparation, standards, calibration, quality control practices, and laboratory documentation.
• Ability to accurately interpret analytical data and recognize potential analytical or instrumentation issues.
• Ability to effectively prioritize work and manage time to meet established deadlines and rush orders.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to data integrity.
• Computer literacy and ability to work effectively with laboratory information systems and other computerized systems.
• Ability to work safely with laboratory chemicals, instrumentation, and equipment.
• Ability to communicate effectively in both written and verbal formats.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS