Mass Spectrometry Scientist LCMSMS HRMS GCMS

Job type: Full-time

Location: Olympia, Washington Work setting: On-site laboratory position

Who We Are: Vanguard Laboratory is a small, family-owned analytical chemistry and microbiology laboratory in Olympia, Washington. We test food and beverage products, pharmaceuticals, supplements, peptides, SARMs/SERMs, nootropics, agricultural products, drinking water, and environmental samples. We operate under an ISO/IEC 17025 quality-management system and maintain accreditations through A2LA and Washington State agencies. We are expanding our mass spectrometry, pharmaceutical, peptide, supplement, and small-molecule testing capabilities.

Position Overview: We are seeking a well-rounded Mass Spectrometry Scientist with strong hands-on experience in instrument operation, method development, troubleshooting, data interpretation, and technical documentation. Experience analyzing peptides, pharmaceuticals, dietary supplements, or related small molecules is strongly preferred. This is not a narrowly defined production-testing position. The successful candidate will work with LC-MS/MS, Orbitrap HRMS, GC-MS, HPLC, and UHPLC. Responsibilities include developing and validating methods, performing routine testing, investigating unexpected results, reviewing data, maintaining instruments, and training other analysts. Our instrumentation includes a SCIEX 4500 QTRAP LC-MS/MS, Thermo Scientific Orbitrap Exploris 120, GC-MS systems, and HPLC/UHPLC systems with UV/DAD and other detectors. Experience with comparable platforms is welcome.

What You Will Do: Mass Spectrometry and Chromatography Operate, maintain, and troubleshoot LC-MS/MS, HRMS, GC-MS, HPLC, and UHPLC systems. Develop targeted LC-MS/MS methods using MRM and other appropriate acquisition modes. Perform HRMS analysis for accurate-mass confirmation, isotope-pattern evaluation, charge-state analysis, spectral deconvolution, and impurity characterization. Perform qualitative and quantitative GC-MS analysis where appropriate. Optimize sample preparation, extraction, cleanup, columns, mobile phases, gradients, source conditions, collision energies, acquisition parameters, and processing settings. Establish efficient, high-throughput workflows without compromising traceability, system suitability, or data quality. Perform routine analyses when needed to support client turnaround times. Peptide, Pharmaceutical and Supplement Testing Analyze synthetic peptides, pharmaceutical ingredients, finished products, dietary supplements, research compounds, and related materials. Confirm identity using reference standards, retention time, accurate mass, isotope pattern, and MS/MS fragmentation. Evaluate peptide charge states, adducts, fragments, degradation products, and sequence-related impurities. Investigate oxidation, deamidation, truncations, deletion sequences, hydrolysis products, synthesis byproducts, and other modifications. Develop quantitative methods for active ingredients, impurities, adulterants, degradation products, and contaminants. Address matrix effects, ion suppression or enhancement, extraction recovery, analyte adsorption, solubility, carryover, and stability. Support screening and confirmation methods for supplement actives, undeclared adulterants, SARMs/SERMs, nootropics, and other small molecules. Provide defensible interpretations without overstating what the data demonstrate. Method Development and Validation Develop, optimize, verify, validate, and implement analytical methods. Review scientific literature, compendial procedures, regulatory references, and manufacturer information. Design validation studies addressing specificity, selectivity, linearity, range, accuracy, recovery, precision, LOD/LOQ, carryover, matrix effects, dilution integrity, stability, robustness, and measurement uncertainty where applicable. Document development trials, including unsuccessful approaches and troubleshooting decisions. Prepare validation protocols and reports, SOPs, worksheets, instrument procedures, review checklists, and training records. Transition validated methods into routine use and train analysts before independent testing. Data Review, Troubleshooting and Quality Review chromatograms, mass spectra, calibration models, system-suitability results, controls, blanks, calculations, technical data packages, and Certificates of Analysis. Evaluate integration, retention time, ion ratios, mass accuracy, isotope fit, spectral quality, calibration performance, and QC acceptance. Distinguish legitimate signals from background ions, fragments, adducts, carryover, contamination, and processing artifacts. Investigate atypical, inconsistent, out-of-specification, or out-of-trend results. Troubleshoot sensitivity loss, mass drift, calibration failure, unstable spray, poor chromatography, contamination, carryover, ion suppression, vacuum problems, leaks, and inconsistent fragmentation. Perform source cleaning, tuning, calibration, preventative maintenance, and consumable replacement. Track instrument performance and coordinate vendor service when needed. Work within our ISO/IEC 17025 quality system and maintain complete, traceable, defensible records. Participate in investigations, root-cause analysis, corrective actions, proficiency testing, audits, and accreditation activities. Mentor analysts and provide technical guidance regarding methods, sample requirements, limitations, and result interpretation.

Required Qualifications: Bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree in analytical chemistry, chemistry, biochemistry, pharmaceutical science, or a related field, or equivalent directly relevant experience. Significant hands-on experience operating and troubleshooting mass spectrometry systems. Experience with LC-MS/MS, HRMS, GC-MS, or a combination of these platforms. Demonstrated method-development or validation experience, not only operation of established methods. Strong understanding of chromatography, ionization, fragmentation, calibration, quantitation, spectral interpretation, and sample preparation. Ability to independently evaluate data and recognize technically questionable results. Experience preparing SOPs, validation records, technical reports, or controlled documents. Systematic troubleshooting and problem-solving skills. Ability to balance development work with routine testing and turnaround requirements. Strong communication skills and ownership of projects through completion.

Preferred Qualifications: Experience analyzing peptides, pharmaceuticals, dietary supplements, SARMs/SERMs, nootropics, or related small molecules. Experience with QTRAP, Orbitrap, QTOF, triple-quadrupole, ion-trap, or comparable systems. Experience with accurate-mass analysis, deconvolution, and MS/MS interpretation. Experience with peptide characterization, impurity investigation, quantitative pharmaceutical methods, or supplement adulterant screening. Experience with Analyst, Xcalibur, Chromeleon, Trace Finder, Bio Pharma Finder, or comparable software. Experience in an ISO/IEC 17025, GMP, GLP, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, supplement, or contract-testing laboratory. Experience with high-throughput testing, technical review, or analyst training. Schedule Our standard operating hours are 8:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Alternate schedules may be arranged when they meet laboratory needs.

Compensation and Benefits: The anticipated salary is $64,000–$80,000 per year, depending on education, directly relevant experience, instrumentation knowledge, method-development ability, and technical independence.

Benefits include: Employer-matched 401(k)Health, dental, vision, and life-insurance options Paid vacation and parental leave Flexible scheduling within operational needs Professional-development assistance and technical training Merit-based raises Opportunities for increased technical leadership Employees may also earn $500–$2,000 for each new method successfully implemented, depending on complexity, individual contribution, completion of required validation and quality documentation, and addition to the laboratory’s approved scope or routine capabilities.