Emerging Threats Chemist

NCSL International; Aberdeen (MD); On-site; USD 73,000 - 133,000; Full time

Job summary

Leidos is seeking an Emerging Threat Chemist for the DEVCOM CBC facility at Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD. The role leverages synthetic chemistry and toxicology expertise to advance threat agent sciences across environmental response and first-look applications.

The candidate should have 5+ years in chemistry-related research, experience with chromatographic/mass spectrometric techniques (GC-MS, LC-MS, LC-MS/MS), and be prepared to operate in a multidisciplinary environment with

Qualifications

• BS degree in chemistry or a related field.
• 5+ years laboratory research with hazardous materials.
• Experience with GC-MS, LC-MS, and LC-MS/MS.
• Ability to develop lab procedures and reports.
• U.S. citizen with ability to obtain DoD Secret Clearance.

Responsibilities

• Support research programs as investigator or team member to meet goals.
• Conduct chemical synthesis, analysis, and environmental exposure experiments.
• Analyze samples across matrices using GC-MS/LC-MS and related instruments.
• Prepare analytical standards and support instrument calibration/verification.
• Develop laboratory procedures, test plans, and documentation.
• Communicate progress to customers and internal teams.

Skills

Analytical chemistry

Toxicology

Environmental science

Laboratory research

Education

BS degree in chemistry or related field

MS degree in related field

Tools

GC-MS

LC-MS

LC-MS/MS

GC-FPD

Job description

The Non-Kinetic Effects Business Area, part of the Defense Sector at Leidos, currently has an opening for an Emerging Threat Chemist at the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command - Chemical Biological Center (DEVCOM CBC) facility located at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland. This is an exciting opportunity to use your synthetic chemistry and toxicology experience to advance the DEVCOM CBC Threat Agent Sciences Mission across programs in environmental response, employment characterization, and chemical agent first-look applications.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Support new and ongoing research programs within the First Look, Employment Characterization, and Environmental Response portfolios as a principal investigator, technical lead, or research team member to meet program goals and objectives.
• Routinely participate in agent operations as a primary or secondary operator. Activities may include chemical synthesis, instrumental analysis and testing, and controlled environmental-exposure experiments.
• 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)
• Prepare analytical standards from surety material to support instrument calibration and calibration-verification requirements.
• 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, 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.

Basic Qualifications:

• BS degree with 5+ years experience in a chemistry, analytical chemistry, environmental science, chemical engineering, toxicology, materials science, or a related scientific discipline.
• Experience conducting laboratory research involving hazardous materials, chemical analysis, environmental fate, chemical properties, or related technical areas.
• Working knowledge of chromatographic and mass-spectrometric analytical techniques, particularly GC-MS, LC-MS, and LC-MS/MS.
• Experience preparing analytical standards, performing instrument calibration, and supporting quality-control or calibration-verification activities.
• Ability to develop laboratory procedures, test plans, technical reports, and progress updates.
• Demonstrated attention to laboratory safety, chemical inventory control, waste-management procedures, and documentation requirements.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a multidisciplinary research environment.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate technical findings to customers and program stakeholders.
• Candidate must be a U.S Citizen.
• Candidate must obtain a U.S. Department of Defense Secret Clearance.
• Enrollment in and maintenance of DEVCOM CBC's Chemical Personnel Reliability Program (PRP) certification may be a required condition of this position.

Preferred Qualifications:

• MS degree with 2+ years experience in aforementioned technical fields.
• Prior experience working across multiple program areas under one role.
• Previous experience with/enrollment in chemical safety and monitoring programs, such as DEVCOM CBC’s Personnel Reliability Program (PRP).

If you're looking for comfort, keep scrolling. At Leidos, we outthink, outbuild, and outpace the status quo - because the mission demands it. We're not hiring followers. We're recruiting the ones who disrupt, provoke, and refuse to fail. Step 10 is ancient history. We're already at step 30 - and moving faster than anyone else dares.

Original Posting:

October 22, 2026

Pay Range:

Pay Range $73,450.00 - $132,775.00

The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.

About Leidos

Leidos is an industry and technology leader serving government and commercial customers with smarter, more efficient digital and mission innovations. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, with 47,000 global employees, Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $16.7 billion for the fiscal year ended January 3, 2025. For more information, visit www.Leidos.com.

Pay and Benefits

Pay and benefits are fundamental to any career decision. That's why we craft compensation packages that reflect the importance of the work we do for our customers. Employment benefits include competitive compensation, Health and Wellness programs, Income Protection, Paid Leave and Retirement. More details are available at www.leidos.com/careers/pay-benefits.

Commitment to Non-Discrimination

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, ethnicity, age, national origin, citizenship, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy, family structure, marital status, ancestry, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran or military status, or any other basis prohibited by law. Leidos will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with relevant laws.