Sr. Applications Scientist

Rigaku Americas Corp.; Research Forest (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 155,000; Full time

Job summary

Rigaku Americas Corp. in The Woodlands, TX, seeks a Senior XRF Applications Scientist to lead hands-on XRF applications work for customer projects, method development, demonstrations, and training.

The role includes post-sales support and mentoring other XRF scientists to ensure high-quality project execution. You will develop WD‑XRF/ED‑XRF methods for diverse materials, support pre-sales activities, and collaborate with the XRF Applications Manager.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher in chemistry, materials science, geology, physics, engineering, or a related scientific discipline.
• Hands-on XRF experience including method development, calibration, sample prep, data interpretation, and customer-facing support.
• Knowledge of WD‑XRF and/or ED‑XRF instrumentation and workflows; experience with both preferred.
• Experience with XRF sample prep techniques: pressed pellets, fused beads, powders, liquids, solids, metals.
• Experience leading complex technical projects and delivering clear recommendations to customers or internal stakeholders.
• Ability to coach, mentor, and raise the technical quality of team members without direct line management.
• Strong communication and presentation skills for technical and non-technical audiences.
• Experience supporting pre-sales demonstrations, post-sales training, method implementation, calibration, or customer success.
• Willingness to travel up to ~50% for customer opportunities and events.

Responsibilities

• Lead hands-on execution of XRF applications projects, including sample testing, feasibility studies, preparation, instrument operation, calibration, method development, data analysis, and reporting.
• Support pre-sales opportunities by demonstrating analytical performance, methods, and ease of use, and presenting findings with the commercial team.
• Develop, optimize, and document WD‑XRF and ED‑XRF methods for diverse samples and industrial applications.
• Provide post-sales applications support including training, calibration, and method commissioning.
• Review project scope, execution plans, and deliverables to ensure quality and technical rigor.
• Mentor and develop other XRF team members in fundamentals, method development, data interpretation, and customer communication.
• Coordinate readiness and operation of XRF instruments with the XRF Applications Manager.
• Support sample prep workflows and equipment, including grinders, pellets, fusion equipment, reference materials, standards, and consumables.
• Contribute technical proof points, demonstrations, and best practices for growth of XRF business and key accounts.
• Participate in strategic growth areas including AI-driven lab concepts integrating XRF with XRD and Thermal Analysis.

Skills

XRF spectroscopy

Method development

Customer-facing

Mentoring

Project management

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher in chemistry or related field

Tools

WD‑XRF

ED‑XRF

Job description

Join Rigaku in shaping a better world through new perspectives!

Summary

Rigaku Americas is seeking a Senior XRF Applications Scientist to serve as a hands‑on technical lead for customer‑facing XRF applications work in The Woodlands, TX. This role will lead the technical execution of pre‑sales sample projects, method development, demonstrations, customer presentations, post‑sales training, calibration support, and method implementation. The Senior XRF Applications Scientist will help execute those objectives by providing deep XRF expertise, ensuring high‑quality project execution, and mentoring other XRF Applications Scientists and Applications Specialists on the team.

Responsibilities

• Lead hands‑on execution of XRF applications projects, including customer sample testing, feasibility studies, sample preparation, instrument operation, calibration, method development, data analysis, and reporting.
• Support pre‑sales opportunities by proving analytical performance, demonstrating methods and ease of use, preparing results, and presenting findings with the commercial team in person or online.
• Develop, optimize, and document WD‑XRF and ED‑XRF methods for diverse sample types and industrial applications, including cement, mining, batteries, pharma, petrochemicals, metals, ceramics, semiconductors, and advanced materials.
• Provide post‑sales applications support, including customer training, calibration and method commissioning, troubleshooting, how‑to guidance, and ad hoc technical support.
• Review project scope, execution plans, analytical results, data reports, and customer deliverables prepared by Applications Scientists and Applications Specialists to strengthen quality, consistency, and technical rigor.
• Mentor and develop other XRF technical team members in XRF fundamentals, sample preparation, method development, data interpretation, customer communication, and project discipline.
• Support readiness and proper operation of XRF instruments while coordinating needs and priorities with the XRF Applications Manager.
• Support sample preparation workflows and equipment, including grinders, pellet presses, fusion equipment, reference materials, standards, lab supplies, and consumables.
• Contribute technical proof points, application notes, demonstration workflows, and best practices that support growth of Rigaku's XRF business and key account relationships.
• Participate in strategic growth areas, automation‑ready XRF workflows, and AI‑driven autonomous lab concepts integrating XRF with XRD, Thermal Analysis, and other analytical technologies.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher in chemistry, materials science, geology, physics, engineering, or a related scientific discipline.
• Strong hands‑on experience with XRF spectroscopy, including method development, calibration, sample preparation, data interpretation, instrument operation, and customer‑facing applications support.
• Working knowledge of WD‑XRF and/or ED‑XRF instrumentation and analytical workflows; experience with both is preferred.
• Practical experience with XRF sample preparation techniques such as pressed pellets, fused beads, powders, liquids, solids, metals, and application‑specific workflows.
• Experience leading complex technical projects, reviewing analytical results, and delivering clear recommendations to customers or internal stakeholders.
• Ability to coach, mentor, and raise the technical quality of other applications team members without requiring direct line‑management responsibility.
• Strong communication and presentation skills, with the ability to explain methods, assumptions, limitations, results, and next steps to technical and non‑technical audiences.
• Experience supporting pre‑sales demonstrations, post‑sales training, method implementation, calibration support, troubleshooting, or customer success activities.
• Ability to manage multiple projects, maintain high standards of laboratory work, work regularly on‑site in The Woodlands, TX, and travel as needed, estimated at approximately up to 50% annually, for customer sales opportunities, consulting, training, trade shows/conferences, factory coordination, and product planning/development activities.
• Preferred experience includes Rigaku or comparable XRF platforms, industrial XRF applications, MicroXRF, TXRF, XRD, Thermal Analysis, automated laboratories, robotics‑enabled sample handling, LIMS connectivity, or AI‑driven lab workflows.