Chemist

Actalent; Mission Viejo (CA); On-site; USD 34,000 - 44,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental & vision

401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and R

Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D)

Short and long-term disability

Health Spending Account (HSA)

Transportation benefits

Employee Assistance Program

Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick)

Job summary

Actalent is seeking a Chemist in Mission Viejo, CA to prepare reagent solutions and perform physical, chemical, and microbiological testing in support of QA, stability studies, and product development.

The role emphasizes GMP compliance, meticulous documentation, and collaboration with lab staff. This contract-to-hire, full-time onsite position offers a comprehensive benefits package and opportunities to contribute to continuous improvement in lab practices.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of chemistry and wet chemistry techniques in a lab.
• Experience preparing chemical reagents for testing.
• Proficiency in pH testing and related measurements.
• Hands-on with analytical instrumentation like balances, pH meters, autopipettes.
• Aseptic technique during microbiological and sensitive procedures.
• Detail-oriented and GMP-compliant documentation.
• Follow GMP procedures and review data for accuracy.
• Review and verify testing data for accuracy.

Responsibilities

• Prepare reagent solutions to support testing activities.
• Perform testing on materials and finished products for QA, stability, and development.
• Review and verify the accuracy, completeness, and documentation of testing results.
• Maintain GMP compliance and established laboratory procedures.
• Document testing activities, results, deviations, and investigations per GMP.
• Support troubleshooting and investigations related to testing and product quality.
• Participate in continuous improvement of laboratory processes and methods.
• Perform additional duties as assigned by management.

Skills

Chemistry knowledge

Wet chemistry techniques

Reagent preparation

pH testing

Analytical instruments

Aseptic technique

GMP documentation

Data review

Tools

Analytical balances

pH meters

Autopipettes

Volumetric glassware

Autoclaves

Job description

Job Title: ChemistJob Description

The Chemist prepares reagent solutions and performs physical, chemical, and microbiological testing to support quality assurance, stability studies, and product development. This role focuses on accurate laboratory analysis of raw materials, in-process samples, and finished products while maintaining strict compliance with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and established laboratory procedures. The Chemist documents all testing activities and results, supports investigations and troubleshooting, and contributes to continuous improvement of laboratory practices and product quality.

Responsibilities

• Prepare reagent solutions to support physical, chemical, and microbiological testing activities.
• Perform physical, chemical, and microbiological testing on raw materials, in-process samples, and finished products for quality assurance, stability, and product development purposes.
• Review and verify the accuracy, completeness, and documentation of testing results and related records.
• Maintain compliance with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and established laboratory procedures in all testing activities.
• Accurately document testing activities, results, deviations, and investigations in accordance with GMP requirements.
• Support troubleshooting and investigations related to laboratory testing and product quality issues.
• Participate in continuous improvement initiatives to enhance laboratory processes, testing methods, and overall product quality.
• Perform additional duties and responsibilities as assigned by management to support laboratory operations and organizational goals.

Essential Skills

• Demonstrated knowledge of chemistry and wet chemistry techniques in a laboratory setting.
• Experience preparing chemical reagents for chemical and microbiological testing.
• Proficiency in performing pH testing and related analytical measurements.
• Hands-on experience using basic analytical instrumentation in an R&D laboratory, including analytical balances, pH meters, autopipettes, volumetric glassware, and autoclaves.
• Ability to apply aseptic technique during microbiological and other sensitive laboratory procedures.
• Strong attention to detail with the ability to accurately document data, deviations, and investigations in compliance with GMP.
• Ability to follow established laboratory procedures and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP).
• Capability to review and verify testing data for accuracy and completeness.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Knowledge of High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) is a plus.
• Experience in nutraceuticals, dietary supplements, food, or pharmaceutical industries is a plus.
• Ability to support troubleshooting and continuous improvement activities in a laboratory environment.
• Strong organizational and time management skills to handle multiple testing activities and documentation requirements.
• Effective communication skills to collaborate with laboratory staff and support investigations.

Work Environment

This role operates in a research and development laboratory environment that utilizes basic analytical instrumentation such as analytical balances, pH meters, autopipettes, volumetric glassware, and autoclaves, as well as wet chemistry and aseptic techniques for chemical and microbiological testing. The position typically follows a full-time schedule, and team members work within established GMP-compliant procedures and documentation standards. Employees are eligible for yearly salary increases and may access a comprehensive benefits package that can include medical, dental, and vision coverage, as well as a 401(k) plan. Additional partner perks may be available, such as discounts on cell phones, consumer goods, and various subscriptions. Paid time off benefits include 40 hours of PTO and eligibility for California sick pay after a qualifying period. The environment emphasizes quality, accuracy, and continuous improvement in laboratory practices.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Mission Viejo, CA.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $25.00 - $32.00/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long-term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms.

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Mission Viejo,CA.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Sep 30, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email [e-mail] for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.