Mass Spectrometry Scientist LCMSMS HRMS GCMS

Pay: $64,000–$88,000 per year

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 DoMass 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, TraceFinder, BioPharma 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.