Field Applications Specialist - West Region

Becton Dickinson; Milpitas (CA); Hybrid; USD 96,000 - 153,000; Full time

Job summary

Waters is seeking a Field Applications Specialist to enable science and drive customer outcomes across life sciences applications. You will guide onboarding, deliver application-focused training, and optimize workflows to ensure customers realize value from Waters technologies.

The role requires strong scientific communication, hands-on cytometry expertise, and willingness to travel extensively. Field-based engagement and cross-functional collaboration are essential to success.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in life sciences or related field; hands-on flow cytometry experience.
• Experience with flow cytometry applications and cell sorting.
• Strong troubleshooting abilities across complex workflows and training skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead customer onboarding and training to ensure smooth adoption of Waters solutions.
• Provide advanced application support and troubleshooting across instruments and workflows.
• Partner with customers to optimize workflows and drive utilization.
• Collaborate with sales, service and marketing teams to ensure customer success.

Skills

Bachelor's degree in life sciences

Flow cytometry applications

Cell sorting

Troubleshooting complex workflows

Training, communication & presentation

Valid driver’s license

Ability to travel 60-70%

Education

Bachelor’s degree in life sciences or related field

Advanced degree preferred

Job description

Job Description

As a result of the combination of the BD Biosciences and Diagnostic Solutions business with Waters Corporation (NYSE: WAT), by applying to this role, you will be applying for a position with Waters. Waters is a global leader in life sciences, dedicated to accelerating the benefits of pioneering science through analytical technologies, informatics, and service. With a focus on regulated, high-volume testing environments, Waters’s innovative portfolio harnesses deep scientific expertise across biology, chemistry, and physics. Waters collaborates with analytical laboratories around the world to advance the release of effective, high-quality medicines, assure the safety of food and water, and drive better patient outcomes by detecting diseases earlier, managing routine infections, and combatting growing antibiotic resistance. Through a shared culture of relentless innovation, Waters’s passionate team of approximately 16,000 colleagues partner with customers to turn scientific challenges into breakthroughs that improve lives worldwide. We are the people who give possibilities purpose BD is one of the largest global medical technology companies in the world. Advancing the world of health™ is our Purpose, and it’s no small feat. It takes the imagination and passion of all of us—from design and engineering to the manufacturing and marketing of our billions of MedTech products per year—to look at the impossible and find transformative solutions that turn dreams into possibilities.

Location

Field-Based - West Region

Reporting To

Field Applications Specialist Manager, U.S. Region

Position Summary

Enable science. Drive adoption. Deliver customer outcomes. At Waters, Field Applications Specialists are critical to ensuring customers realize the full value of their investment through expert scientific engagement, application guidance, and workflow optimization. Operating at the intersection of science and customer success, you guide users from onboarding through long-term adoption—translating complex technologies into meaningful scientific and operational outcomes. This role goes beyond troubleshooting. It requires the ability to understand customer workflows, deliver impactful training, and proactively drive utilization and adoption. You will partner closely with commercial, service, and marketing teams to strengthen customer outcomes, increase product adoption, and uncover opportunities for growth. This is a high-impact role where scientific expertise, customer engagement, and execution directly influence utilization, customer retention, and long-term value creation.

Role Purpose

As part of the Waters Biosciences division, ensure successful customer onboarding, product adoption, and sustained success by providing high-impact technical training, workflow optimization, and application expertise that enables customers to achieve their desired outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

Customer Engagement & Training

• Lead customer onboarding to ensure a seamless transition from purchase to implementation
• Deliver high-quality, application-focused training tailored to customer workflows and expertise levels
• Educate customers on best practices to maximize instrument and application performance
• Support initial setup, validation, and readiness of customer workflows

Post-Sale Technical Support & Expertise

• Provide advanced application support and troubleshooting across instruments and workflows
• Partner with customers to resolve complex technical challenges efficiently
• Serve as a trusted scientific advisor for ongoing application needs
• Escalate and coordinate resolution of complex issues with internal teams

Workflow Optimization & Adoption

• Drive utilization through proactive engagement and scientific consultation
• Advise customers on optimizing workflows and improving outcomes
• Identify gaps and recommend best-practice solutions
• Enable customers to achieve measurable success with technologies and reagents

Customer Success & Retention

• Strengthen customer satisfaction and long-term retention through consistent engagement
• Reinforce value realization and ensure achievement of intended outcomes
• Build strong, trusted relationships with scientific stakeholders
• Support broader customer success initiatives aligned to business objectives

Expansion & Opportunity Identification

• Identify opportunities to expand application usage and workflow breadth

  Cross-Functional Collaboration

  • Partner closely with commercial, technical sales, service, and marketing teams
  • Support coordinated, account-based customer engagement strategies
  • Provide field insights to inform product development and training programs
  • Contribute to a collaborative, team-based customer success model

  What Success Looks Like

  • Enables customers to achieve meaningful scientific and operational outcomes
  • Accelerates onboarding and reduces time to productivity
  • Minimizes technical barriers and improves implementation success
  • Increases product utilization and application adoption
  • Improves customer satisfaction, retention, and loyalty
  • Identifies and supports account expansion opportunities

  Qualifications & Experience

  Required

  • Bachelor’s degree in life sciences or related field
  • Hands‑on experience with flow cytometry applications and cell sorting
  • Strong troubleshooting capabilities across complex workflows
  • Ability to translate scientific concepts into practical application
  • Strong training, communication, and presentation skills
  • Valid driver’s license with at least 3 years of driving history
  • Ability and willingness to travel extensively (60‑70%), including multi‑day overnight travel

  Preferred

  • Advanced degree in life sciences or related field
  • Experience with spectral flow cytometry
  • Experience operating and troubleshooting cell sorters
  • Prior customer‑facing application support or training experience
  • Familiarity with FlowJo, Infinicyt, OMIQ, or FCS Express
  • Experience in workflow optimization and method development
  • Experience working cross‑functionally in commercial or field environments

  Work Environment & Travel

  Field-based role with frequent on‑site and remote customer engagement. Travel driven by customer and business needs.

  Why Waters

  Waters plays a critical role in advancing scientific discovery and improving human health. Our teams partner with leading organizations across Pharma, Biotech, Academic, and Government sectors to solve complex scientific challenges. As part of Waters, you will: Enable customers to achieve meaningful scientific outcomes Work with innovative technologies and applications Collaborate across scientific and commercial teams Directly contribute to customer success and long-term value creation.

  Who Thrives in This Role

  Scientists passionate about training, teaching, and enabling others Customer‑centric professionals who build long‑term scientific partnerships Problem‑solvers who enjoy optimizing workflows and applications Collaborative partners who work effectively across teams Self‑driven individuals committed to delivering high‑impact field engagement.

  Who This Role Is Not For

  Individuals seeking non‑customer‑facing or purely transactional roles Those uncomfortable with travel and field‑based engagement Candidates who prefer reactive rather than proactive customer interaction.

  Equal Opportunity

  Waters is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to building an inclusive workplace where all employees can thrive. At BD, we prioritize on‑site collaboration because we believe it fosters creativity, innovation, and effective problem‑solving, which are essential in the fast‑paced healthcare industry. For most roles, we require a minimum of 4 days of in‑office presence per week to maintain our culture of excellence and ensure smooth operations, while also recognizing the importance of flexibility and work‑life balance. Remote or field‑based positions will have different workplace arrangements which will be indicated in the job posting. For certain roles at BD, employment is contingent upon the Company’s receipt of sufficient proof that you are fully vaccinated against COVID‑19. In some locations, testing for COVID‑19 may be available and/or required. Consistent with BD’s Workplace Accommodations Policy, requests for accommodation will be considered pursuant to applicable law.

  Compensation

  The expected Base Pay Range for this role is $95,600 - $153,000 USD Annually plus incentives. Final compensation will be determined based on experience, skills, and geographic location. Candidates whose job duties will be physically performed within unincorporated Los Angeles County limits: All qualified Applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act. BD abides by any and all laws or regulations that impose restrictions or prohibitions for hiring applicants with criminal histories for posted positions.

  Why Join Us?

  To find purpose in the possibilities, we need people who can see the bigger picture, who understand the human story that underpins everything we do. We welcome people with the imagination and drive to help us reinvent the future of healthcare. At BD, you’ll discover a culture in which you can learn, grow and thrive. We believe that when people connect in person, we learn faster, collaborate more deeply, and build a stronger culture. Join us and enjoy a culture where face‑to‑face collaboration supports your learning, your progress, and your success. Becton, Dickinson, and Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We evaluate applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, creed, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, marital or domestic or civil union status, familial status, affectional or sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetics, disability, military eligibility or veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics.

  Required Skills & Optional Skills

  Primary Work Location USA CA - Milpitas 155 Additional Locations Work Shift

  Benefits & Pay

  At BD, we reward, support and develop our associates through our comprehensive Total Rewards program. We are committed to attracting and retaining high quality talent by providing reward and recognition opportunities that promote a performance‑based culture, as well as a competitive package of compensation and benefits programs. You can learn more on our career site under "Our Commitment to You." Our salary or hourly rate ranges reward associates fairly and competitively. We regularly review these ranges and factors, such as location, contribute to the range displayed. Our pay is based on the role and the necessary skills and education to perform it successfully. The salary or hourly rate offered is determined by the role's specific requirements, including any applicable step rate pay system at the work location. Salary or hourly pay ranges are influenced by labor laws and Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) requirements applicable to the work location which may also affect the workplace arrangement of the role. Salary Range Information We are the #MakersofPossible Working together, we make products that patients, families and their healthcare professionals rely on. We do this because we are committed to advancing the world of health™. But it takes the imagination and passion of all of us at BD, from manufacturing to marketing, to look at the impossible and find solutions that turn dreams into possibilities with real‑life health benefits for people today, tomorrow and beyond. We make this happen, together. We are the makers of possible. Becton, Dickinson and Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We evaluate applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, creed, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, marital or domestic or civil union status, familial status, affectional or sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetics, disability, military eligibility or veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics.