Senior Technical Support Specialist

Waters; Wood Dale (IL); On-site; USD 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Waters Corporation is seeking a Senior Technical Support Specialist in the greater Chicago area, based at our Wood Dale, IL office. You will provide advanced LC/LC-MS expertise, develop and demonstrate application solutions, and support sales opportunities across pharmaceutical, environmental, and academic sectors.

You will oversee the District Demo Laboratory and collaborate with sales, service, and product teams to ensure instrument readiness and customer success.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Biology, Engineering, or a related scientific discipline.
• 5+ years hands-on experience with LC and/or LC-MS instrumentation, including method development, optimization, and troubleshooting.
• Strong working knowledge of chromatography technologies, including HPLC and UHPLC.
• Experience with chromatography data systems and scientific software, such as Empower, MassLynx, waters_connect, or equivalent platforms.
• Understanding of scientific laboratory workflows, including instrument control, data acquisition, processing, and data management.
• Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot complex analytical challenges, develop effective solutions, and work independently with minimal supervision.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present scientific and technical information clearly to diverse audiences.
• Ability to prepare technical documentation, demonstration reports, scientific presentations, and application‑related materials.
• Strong organizational and time‑management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and coordinate laboratory activities.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with customers, sales teams, and technical colleagues, while sharing knowledge and supporting the development of others.
• Willingness and ability to travel approximately 10–20%, including local and overnight travel.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to achievement of sales targets by providing technical expertise and application support throughout the sales process.
• Work closely with district sales teams to identify customer requirements, develop application-based solutions, and introduce and demonstrate Waters' laboratory products to prospective customers.
• Present and demonstrate the features, capabilities, and benefits of Waters' products and application solutions to diverse audiences.
• Develop, optimize, and document chromatographic and LC-MS applications to address customer needs and support sales opportunities.
• Troubleshoot complex LC and LC-MS application issues and provide technical guidance to customers and internal teams.
• Coordinate with customers and internal stakeholders to ensure successful implementation of application solutions and customer satisfaction.
• Manage the District Demo Laboratory, including instrument inventory, day-to-day laboratory operations, equipment readiness, maintenance coordination, and availability for customer demonstrations and evaluations.
• Collaborate with other Technical Support Specialists, Field Service, and internal technical teams to leverage expertise, resolve challenges, and deliver effective customer solutions.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of Waters' products, separation sciences, vertical market dynamics, emerging application trends, and relevant competitive technologies.
• Apply scientific and technical expertise in innovative ways to address customer challenges and expand market opportunities.
• Develop reusable and well-documented technical resources, including application notes, scientific posters, technical presentations as appropriate.
• Provide feedback to Product Management and Marketing teams to support business development initiatives, product launches, and continuous product improvement.
• Share technical knowledge with other team members to strengthen the overall capabilities of the TSS organization.
• Independently manage technical priorities and customer engagements, demonstrating strong problem-solving skills and sound judgment.
• Actively participate in district strategic business planning, contributing technical insights and identifying opportunities for business growth.

Skills

LC/LC-MS expertise

HPLC/UHPLC knowledge

Analytical troubleshooting

Excellent communication

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Biology, Engineering, or related

Tools

Empower

MassLynx

waters_connect

Job description

Overview

Job Overview:

Waters Corporation's Field Sales Organization is comprised of highly skilled, motivated, and customer-focused professionals who partner with Territory Account Managers to support customer success and drive the adoption of Waters' products and solutions.

We are currently seeking a Senior Technical Support Specialist based at our Wood Dale, IL office in the greater Chicago area to provide advanced scientific and technical expertise in liquid chromatography, mass spectrometry, and informatics software, primarily supporting pre-sales activities, with occasional post-sales support. Working closely with Territory Account Managers and customers, you will identify technical requirements, develop application-based solutions, and deliver effective product demonstrations to support customer needs and business opportunities.

As a Senior Technical Support Specialist working for an industry leader, you will help customers maximize the value of Waters' innovative instrumentation and software solutions. In this role, you will provide technical guidance and application support to laboratories across a broad range of industries, including Pharmaceutical & Life Sciences, Chemical Materials, Food, Environmental, Academia, and Government.

In addition, you will be responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the District Demo Laboratory, ensuring that instrumentation remains operational, properly maintained, and ready to support customer demonstrations, evaluations, and other technical activities. This position requires a high level of technical proficiency, independence, and problem-solving ability, along with strong collaboration and communication skills to effectively support customers and the broader commercial organization.

Responsibilities

Responsibilities:

• Contribute to the achievement sales targets by providing technical expertise and application support throughout the sales process.

• Work closely with district sales teams to identify customer requirements, develop application-based solutions, and introduce and demonstrate Waters' laboratory products to prospective customers.

• Present and demonstrate the features, capabilities, and benefits of Waters' products and application solutions to diverse audiences.

• Develop, optimize, and document chromatographic and LC-MS applications to address customer needs and support sales opportunities.

• Troubleshoot complex LC and LC-MS application issues and provide technical guidance to customers and internal teams.

• Coordinate with customers and internal stakeholders to ensure successful implementation of application solutions and customer satisfaction.

• Manage the District Demo Laboratory, including instrument inventory, day-to-day laboratory operations, equipment readiness, maintenance coordination, and availability for customer demonstrations and evaluations.

• Collaborate with other Technical Support Specialists, Field Service, and internal technical teams to leverage expertise, resolve challenges, and deliver effective customer solutions.

• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of Waters' products, separation sciences, vertical market dynamics, emerging application trends, and relevant competitive technologies.

• Apply scientific and technical expertise in innovative ways to address customer challenges and expand market opportunities.

• Develop reusable and well-documented technical resources, including application notes, scientific posters, technical presentations as appropriate.

• Provide feedback to Product Management and Marketing teams to support business development initiatives, product launches, and continuous product improvement.

• Share technical knowledge with other team members to strengthen the overall capabilities of the TSS organization.

• Independently manage technical priorities and customer engagements, demonstrating strong problem-solving skills and sound judgment.

• Actively participate in district strategic business planning, contributing technical insights and identifying opportunities for business growth.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Biology, Engineering, or a related scientific discipline.

• Minimum of 5 years of hands‑on experience with liquid chromatography (LC) and/or liquid chromatography‑mass spectrometry (LC‑MS) instrumentation, including method development, optimization, and troubleshooting.

• Strong working knowledge of chromatography technologies, including HPLC and UHPLC, with experience in mass spectrometry and other separation techniques considered an asset.

• Experience with chromatography data systems and scientific software, such as Empower, MassLynx, waters_connect, or equivalent platforms.

• Understanding of scientific laboratory workflows, including instrument control, data acquisition, processing, and data management.

• Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot complex analytical challenges, develop effective solutions, and work independently with minimal supervision.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present scientific and technical information clearly to diverse audiences.

• Ability to prepare technical documentation, demonstration reports, scientific presentations, and application‑related materials.

• Strong organizational and time‑management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and coordinate laboratory activities.

• Ability to collaborate effectively with customers, sales teams, and technical colleagues, while sharing knowledge and supporting the development of others.

• Willingness and ability to travel approximately 10–20%, including local and overnight travel.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with Waters instrumentation and software, including ACQUITY UPLC, Mass Spectrometers, Empower, MassLynx, and waters_connect.

• Working knowledge of advanced separation and mass spectrometry technologies, such as SFC, Preparative LC, QDa, single quadrupole, tandem quadrupole, and time‑of‑flight mass spectrometry.

• Experience conducting customer demonstrations, delivering technical presentations, or providing applications support in a commercial environment.

• Experience managing or coordinating laboratory operations, including instrumentation maintenance, inventory management, and equipment readiness.

• Familiarity with scientific informatics systems, including CDS, SDMS, LIMS, and ELN.

• Knowledge of regulated laboratory environments, including GLP, GMP, GxP, FDA 21 CFR Part 11, and computerized system validation.

Company Description

Waters Corporation (NYSE:WAT) is a global leader in life sciences and diagnostics, dedicated to accelerating the benefits of pioneering science through analytical technologies, informatics, and service. With a focus on regulated, high-volume testing environments, our innovative portfolio harnesses deep scientific expertise across chemistry, physics, and biology. We collaborate with customers around the world to advance the release of effective, high-quality medicines, ensure the safety of food and water, and drive better patient outcomes by detecting diseases earlier, managing routine infections, and combating antibiotic resistance. Through a shared culture of relentless innovation, our passionate team of ~16,000 colleagues turn scientific challenges into breakthroughs that improve lives worldwide.

Diversity and inclusion are fundamental to our core values at Waters Corporation. It benefits our employees, our products, our customers and our community. Waters complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws. Qualified applicants are considered without regard to sex, race, color, ancestry, national origin, citizenship status, religion, age, marital status (including civil unions), military service, veteran status, pregnancy (including childbirth and related medical conditions), genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, legally recognized disability, domestic violence victim status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Waters is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. All hiring decisions are based solely on qualifications, merit, and business needs at the time.

Key Words

Technical Support, HPLC, UPLC, LCMS,