Senior Chemist - Environmental Laboratory

SPL; Plano (TX); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

401(k) with company match

Employer-paid life, AD&D, and disableI

Job summary

SPL's environmental laboratory in Plano, TX is seeking a Senior Chemist to lead analytical work on complex methods and data quality. You will mentor staff, own method development, and ensure regulatory compliance while delivering high-volume results.

This hands-on role requires deep instrumentation expertise, strong problem solving, and the ability to collaborate with the Lab Manager to improve workflow, performance, and turnaround times.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Environmental Science, or related field.
• 5+ years of progressive analytical lab experience in a regulated environment.
• Hands-on expertise with analytical instrumentation including operation, calibration, and troubleshooting.
• Experience with method development, validation, and transfer.
• Strong QA/QC, data integrity, and regulatory compliance knowledge.
• Proficient with MS Office and LIMS.
• Familiarity with EPA methods and accreditation standards.

Responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day guidance and resolve technical escalations.
• Perform advanced analytical testing and review data in LIMS.
• Develop, validate, transfer, optimize, and troubleshoot methods.
• Oversee instrument performance, calibration, maintenance, and repair.
• Lead investigations of nonconformances and CAPA actions.
• Train and mentor lab personnel on methods and QA practices.
• Develop and maintain SOPs and controlled documents.
• Support audits, data integrity, and regulatory compliance.
• Collaborate with Lab Manager to improve workflow and throughput.
• Hands-on testing and coverage as needed.

Skills

Analytical leadership

Instrumentation expertise

LIMS proficiency

QA/QC practices

EPA methods knowledge

MS Office & Excel

Education

Bachelor's degree in Chemistry

Tools

Analytical instruments

Job description

Description

At SPL, the work you do matters. Our teams provide trusted energy and environmental testing and measurement solutions that protect communities, support critical infrastructure, and safeguard the environment. With a nationwide footprint and opportunities for growth across multiple locations and disciplines, SPL is a place where you can build a career while making a real-world impact.

We are seeking an experienced and highly technical Senior Chemist to join our environmental laboratory in Plano, TX.

This is a great opportunity for a hands-on analytical expert who can lead from the bench while helping drive laboratory performance. Reporting to the Lab Manager, the Senior Chemist will serve as a key technical partner and day-to-day resource for the laboratory team, taking ownership of complex methods, instrumentation, data quality, investigations, and technical problem-solving.

The ideal candidate combines deep analytical expertise with the judgment, initiative, and communication skills needed to mentor others, resolve operational challenges, and support a fast-paced, high-volume laboratory.

What You’ll Do

• Serve as a senior technical resource, providing day-to-day guidance, resolving technical escalations, supporting workflow priorities, and ensuring timely, high-quality results
• Perform advanced analytical testing and independently review, interpret, validate, and approve analytical data and laboratory documentation in LIMS
• Develop, validate, transfer, optimize, and troubleshoot analytical methods in accordance with approved procedures and regulatory requirements
• Oversee instrument performance, calibration, preventive maintenance, troubleshooting, and repair activities to support reliability and minimize downtime
• Lead investigations involving nonconformances, method deviations, data anomalies, root cause analysis, and corrective and preventive actions
• Train and mentor laboratory personnel on analytical methods, instrumentation, laboratory procedures, quality practices, and technical problem-solving
• Develop, review, and maintain SOPs, work instructions, analytical methods, and other controlled laboratory documentation
• Support laboratory audits, quality initiatives, method assessments, data integrity, and regulatory and accreditation compliance
• Partner with the Lab Manager to improve workflow, capacity, turnaround times, productivity, and overall laboratory performance
• Remain actively involved in laboratory operations and provide hands-on testing, troubleshooting, and technical coverage as operational needs require
• Perform additional duties as assigned

Requirements

What We’re Looking For

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Environmental Science, or a related scientific field
• 5+ years of progressive analytical laboratory experience in a regulated laboratory environment, including proven ability to provide technical leadership, training, mentorship, and day-to-day guidance to laboratory personnel
• Advanced hands-on expertise with analytical instrumentation, including operation, calibration, maintenance, optimization, and complex troubleshooting
• Demonstrated experience with analytical method development, validation or verification, transfer, optimization, and implementation
• Strong knowledge of QA/QC practices, data integrity, technical documentation, root cause investigations, CAPA, audit support, and regulatory compliance
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook) and Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS)
• Knowledge of applicable EPA methods and TNI/NELAP or comparable laboratory accreditation standards

What We Offer

• Competitive compensation
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• 401(k) with company match
• Employer-paid life, AD&D, and disability insurance
• Paid time off, sick leave, and paid holidays
• Paid parental leave
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Tuition reimbursement and professional development support

Work Schedule

• Full-time, on-site position
• Flexibility to work overtime, including evenings or weekends, as needed to support operational demands

Our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

At SPL, we believe that a diverse team is a strong team. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer, committed to creating an inclusive environment where all employees can thrive. We make all employment decisions based on qualifications, merit, and business needs, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristic. We are also committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities or for sincerely held religious beliefs, in accordance with applicable laws. If you need assistance or an accommodation during the application process, please let us know.

Visa Sponsorship

At this time, SPL is unable to offer visa sponsorship for this position. We sincerely appreciate your interest and understanding, and we encourage you to explore other opportunities with us that may be a fit in the future.