Senior Staff Scientist-SIMS

Physical Electronics; Chanhassen (MN); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Physical Electronics seeks a Senior Staff Scientist to lead SIMS-related activities, including demonstrations, data interpretation, and technical sales support, across advanced materials. The role combines hands-on analytics, application development, and product strategy within PHI's Analytical Laboratory.

You will mentor colleagues, contribute to marketing content, and collaborate with sales, marketing, and R&D while traveling up to ~20% for domestic and international projects.

Qualifications

• PhD in Chemistry, Physics, Materials Science or related field; 7+ years preferred.
• Hands-on dynamic SIMS and TOF-SIMS experience, data analysis and interpretation.
• Ability to clearly communicate complex technical information to customers, sales teams and engineers.
• Strong written and verbal communication; experience with reports, presentations, training materials, publications.
• Able to work independently while collaborating with sales, marketing, product development, R&D, and international teams.
• Experience supporting customer demonstrations, technical sales, application or product development.
• Willingness to travel ~20%, domestic and international.

Responsibilities

• Own PHI's technical position on the SIMS landscape and applications.
• Plan and perform customer demonstrations, data acquisition, interpretation, and reporting.
• Provide technical sales support throughout the sales cycle.
• Prepare and deliver technical training for customers and staff.
• Create marketing content highlighting SIMS capabilities and differentiation.
• Develop novel applications and analytical strategies for PHI instrumentation.
• Mentor junior staff when appropriate.

Skills

SIMS expertise

Technical leadership

Data interpretation

Communication

Education

PhD in Chemistry/Physics/Materials Science

Master’s degree considered with experience

Tools

TOF-SIMS

Dynamic SIMS

Job description

Are you the SIMS expert colleagues turn to when the data is complex, the application is challenging, or the customer needs a clear technical answer?

Do you want to influence how advanced surface analysis solutions are demonstrated, positioned, and applied across high-impact industries?

Are you excited by a role that blends hands-on analytical science, technical sales support, customer engagement, application development, and product strategy?

PHI is seeking a dynamic and technically skilled Senior Staff Scientist with experience in secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) to join our Analytical Laboratory team. In this role, the scientist will serve as a technical leader in dynamic, static, and time-of-flight (TOF) SIMS for the company, providing advanced guidance and expertise for customer demonstrations, technical sales support, training, marketing, product feedback, plus method and strategic application development. PHI is a subsidiary of ULVAC-PHI, a leading supplier of high-performance ultra-high vacuum surface analysis instrumentation, with an instrument portfolio that includes X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), Auger Electron Spectroscopy (AES), and Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (SIMS).

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Own PHI's technical position on the SIMS competitive landscape, market trends, and emerging industry applications, serving as the internal technical authority and external voice on SIMS capabilities, positioning, and differentiation.
• Take ownership of the demonstration portion of the sales process: plan and perform customer instrument demonstrations, including sample strategy, data acquisition and interpretation, plus preparation of clear technical reports that communicate both analytical results and PHI instrument advantages.
• Provide technical sales support throughout the sales cycle, including responses to product questions, application feasibility assessments, tender documentation, and customer-facing technical discussions.
• Prepare and deliver technical training for PHI customers and sales personnel, including development of training materials and application-focused content.
• Create and contribute to marketing materials, including product literature, presentations, application notes, research publications, and conference content that highlight PHI SIMS capabilities and product differentiation.
• Conduct competitive product analyses, including evaluation of technical performance, application strengths, and market trends.
• Develop novel applications and analytical strategies that demonstrate the value of PHI instrumentation across advanced materials,
• Identify emerging applications, including customer requirements that may lead to competitive advantage through internal development or external collaboration.
• Mentor and provide technical guidance to junior staff, when appropriate.

Qualifications

• PhD in Chemistry, Physics, Materials Science, or a related field preferred with 7+ years of experience; Master’s degree considered with significant relevant experience.
• Hands-on expertise in dynamic SIMS and TOF-SIMS instrumentation, applications, data analysis, and interpretation.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate complex technical information clearly to customers, sales teams, scientists, engineers, and cross-functional stakeholders.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including experience preparing technical reports, presentations, training materials, publications, or marketing content.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with sales, marketing, product development, R&D, customer service, and international teams.
• Experience supporting customer demonstrations, technical sales activities, application development, or product development is strongly preferred.
• Willingness and ability to travel approximately 20%, including domestic and international travel.

What We Offer

At PHI, our success is powered by people and technology. Employee appreciation and recognition, total employee wellness and shared celebration of company success are just a few of our top priorities. Employees enjoy paid holidays and vacation, as well as an unlimited PTO benefit to help balance work, life, and everything in between. Some of our most-loved benefits include department hosted lunches, employee-led wellness activities, on-site gym, employer contribution to H.S.A. and safe-harbor 401k contributions. Medical, dental and employer paid life insurance benefits are available. Student tuition reimbursement, ongoing education and training opportunities, and employer matched charitable contributions are also available to employees.
Physical Electronics is an equal opportunity employer.
Physical Electronics USA is an Affdenative Action employer committed to providing equal employment opportunity to all applicants and employees according to all applicable equal opportunity and affirmative action laws, directives and regulations of federal, state and local governing bodies and agencies. In keeping with this commitment, Physical Electronics USA will recruit and hire the most qualified individuals without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, membership or activity in a local commission, disability, age, sexual orientation or status as a Vietnam era, special disabled, or other covered veteran.