Senior Staff Scientist - Chromatography Materials

Red Oak Technologies; Hercules (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading technology firm is seeking a highly experienced Sr. Staff Scientist to provide technical and people leadership in R&D. This role focuses on the design and synthesis of polymeric materials for chromatography, with emphasis on protein purification applications. The ideal candidate will have over 10 years of experience in chromatography media development, demonstrating hands-on leadership and technical expertise. Responsibilities include mentoring teams, optimizing processes, and guiding projects through commercialization.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of post-PhD industry experience in chromatography media development or separation technologies.
• Demonstrated expertise in polymer synthesis, surface modification, and materials characterization.
• Proven ability to scale laboratory processes to pilot and manufacturing environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a multidisciplinary R&D team, providing technical direction and project oversight.
• Design and synthesize polymeric and functional materials for chromatography media.
• Develop and optimize stationary phase chemistries with a focus on performance.

Skills

Polymer synthesis

Protein purification processes

Surface modification

Materials characterization

Technical leadership

Chromatographic data interpretation

Excellent communication

Education

Ph.D. in Polymer Science, Materials Science, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Biochemistry

Job description

Sr. Staff Scientist – Chromatography Materials

Location: Hercules, CA

About the Role

We are seeking a highly experienced Sr. Staff Scientist to provide technical and people leadership within our R&D organization. This role is central to the design, synthesis, and scale-up of polymeric materials used in chromatography, with a strong focus on protein purification applications.

The ideal candidate is a hands‑on scientific leader who can bridge research, manufacturing, and customer applications, guiding projects from early development through commercialization. You will serve as a chromatography subject matter expert, mentor scientists, and help drive innovation across the organization.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a multidisciplinary R&D team, providing technical direction and project oversight
• Design, synthesize, and characterize polymeric and functional materials for chromatography media
• Develop and optimize stationary phase chemistries with a focus on performance and manufacturability
• Design and execute protein purification workflows (affinity, ion exchange, SEC, HIC) to evaluate resin performance
• Scale laboratory synthesis and purification processes to pilot and manufacturing scale in partnership with Operations
• Analyze experimental data and prepare clear technical reports and presentations
• Review technical documentation and guide experimental design as a senior scientific authority
• Support internal stakeholders and customer‑facing discussions as a chromatography expert

Required Skills & Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Polymer Science, Materials Science, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Biochemistry, or a related discipline
• 10+ years of post-PhD industry experience in chromatography media development or separation technologies
• Demonstrated expertise in polymer synthesis, surface modification, and materials characterization
• Hands‑on experience with protein purification processes and interpretation of chromatographic data
• Proven ability to scale laboratory processes to pilot and manufacturing environments
• Strong technical leadership skills, including mentoring scientists and leading complex R&D projects
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills across R&D, Manufacturing, and Commercial teams

Preferred (Nice to Have)

• Experience supporting customer applications or technical field support
• Background in bioprocessing, life sciences tools, or separation science products
• Experience taking products from R&D through commercialization