Senior Chemist

Senior Chemist Orem, UT 84057 $100,000

• $130,000 a year
• Full-time $100,000
• $130,000 a year
• Full-time Senior Chemist Role Overview We're hiring a founding Senior Chemist to build and own heavy metals testing at our new Salt Lake City lab, with a primary focus on ICP-MS.

This is not a narrow bench role. You are the first hire for this function at this location, responsible for standing up and scaling high-throughput metals testing from day one. The core of this role is operational excellence at scale. We already have validated internal methods.

The focus is on:

Executing them reliably at high throughput Building systems that maintain quality under volume Designing workflows that scale cleanly from hundreds to thousands of samples per week You will also contribute to method optimization and targeted method development, especially as new matrices, analytes, and customer requirements emerge. This lab is being built to support high-throughput testing for some of the largest manufacturers and brands in the United States. Your work will support products distributed at national scale. Results must be accurate, consistent, and defensible, even under heavy volume and tight turnaround times. Maintaining low variability, strong sensitivity, and consistent performance at this throughput is non-trivial. This role requires strong technical judgment across sample preparation, digestion, instrument performance, and data quality. You will operate with high agency and autonomy. There will be no one managing your day-to-day work in this function.

You are expected to:

Own ICP-MS operations end-to-end Design systems that scale under real commercial demand Identify and eliminate bottlenecks proactively Maintain a high bar for precision, throughput, and reliability You will work closely with leadership, but you are the owner of this function in this lab. This role is ideal for someone who: Has deep ICP-MS experience and strong fundamentals in metals analysis Understands matrix effects, interferences, and internal standard behavior across diverse samples Thrives in high-throughput environments where speed and accuracy both matter Thinks in systems, not just individual runs Wants to build something from zero to one This role is not a fit for someone who prefers narrowly defined responsibilities or low-volume, research-focused environments. You will be expected to create structure where it does not yet exist. This is a full-time, in-person role in Salt Lake City. What success looks like in the first 90 days Stand up ICP-MS workflows for routine heavy metals testing Successfully process and release customer samples with consistent turnaround times Establish sample prep and digestion workflows that support hundreds of samples per week Identify and resolve early bottlenecks in throughput, instrument utilization, or prep workflows Implement calibration, QC standards, and verification procedures Create SOPs that are clear, repeatable, and ready to scale with additional hires Responsibilities Own heavy metals testing end-to-end Lead ICP-MS operations, including sample prep, digestion, analysis, and reporting Execute validated internal methods with high consistency and reliability Ensure testing output meets internal standards and customer expectations High-throughput operations Design and operate workflows that scale from hundreds to thousands of samples per week Optimize digestion, batching, and instrument utilization for throughput and efficiency Reduce retests, minimize downtime, and improve overall lab productivity Build systems that maintain data quality under heavy sample volume ICP-MS performance and data quality Manage matrix effects, interferences, and internal standard performance across diverse sample types Ensure calibration strategies, QC standards, and drift correction approaches are robust Monitor instrument performance and proactively address sensitivity, drift, and contamination issues Method optimization and development Optimize existing ICP-MS methods to improve throughput, robustness, and limits of detection Support targeted method development for new analytes, matrices, and regulatory needs Ensure methods are transferable, repeatable, and aligned with business goals Instrument performance and troubleshooting Perform maintenance, calibration, and verification testing Troubleshoot instrument and method issues quickly to minimize downtime Improve system reliability through proactive monitoring and process improvements Data integrity and quality systems Ensure all data is accurate, traceable, and audit-ready Maintain compliance with ISO 17025 and relevant regulatory frameworks Build and enforce strong documentation and reporting practices Cross-functional collaboration Work with operations and software teams to improve workflow efficiency and data flow Partner with leadership to identify bottlenecks and prioritize improvements Contribute to broader lab system design and scaling strategy Build for scale Help hire and train future chemists and technicians Turn workflows into scalable systems and SOPs Contribute to building a high-performance analytical chemistry function from the ground up Qualifications Bachelor's, Master's, or PhD in Chemistry or a closely related field 3 to 7+ years of experience in analytical chemistry, with a strong focus on ICP-MS Deep hands-on experience with heavy metals testing in food, supplements, or similar matrices Strong understanding of digestion methods and sample preparation workflows Experience with method validation, optimization, and troubleshooting Familiarity with ISO 17025 and relevant regulatory or quality frameworks Strong analytical and problem-solving skills Ability to operate independently and take full ownership of a function Strong plus Experience scaling ICP-MS workflows in a high-throughput commercial lab Experience improving throughput, reducing turnaround time, or lowering cost per sample Familiarity with LIMS or QMS systems Assessment To apply, complete the following assessment. This reflects the level of thinking and ownership required for this role. Step 1: Throughput and Bottleneck Analysis You are running ICP-MS for heavy metals and processing 300 samples per week. Turnaround time has slipped from 3 days to 5 days over the past two weeks.

You have:

1 ICP-MS instrument 1 digestion system 2 technicians supporting sample prep In 250 words or less: Identify the single most likely constraint and why Describe how you would confirm that constraint within 1 day Outline the first two changes you would implement and how you would measure success Step 2: Variability and Data Quality You observe that replicate measurements for arsenic and cadmium are showing higher variability than expected across multiple matrices. In 200 words or less: What do you check first, second, and third What signals would tell you this is an instrument issue vs sample prep vs matrix effects What is one intervention you would try immediately that does not reduce throughput Step 3: ICP-MS Tradeoffs Answer each in 2 to 4 sentences. You can increase throughput by running longer sequences, but you observe increased drift toward the end of runs. What do you do? A subset of samples shows matrix suppression that affects sensitivity. Do you solve this universally or selectively? Why? You are asked to lower limits of detection for lead and cadmium, but doing so increases runtime and reduces throughput. How do you approach this decision? Step 4: Systems Thinking In 200 words or less: What are the first five systems you would put in place to ensure high-throughput ICP-MS testing remains reliable, scalable, and audit-ready? Step 5: Mission and Ownership In 150 words or less: Why do you want to own heavy metals testing as a founding chemist in a new lab? What does ownership mean to you in a role where throughput, data quality, and customer trust are tightly coupled? Benefits and Compensation Top decile salary Meaningful equity ownership Health, dental, and vision insurance Paid time off and holidays Clear path to leadership as the lab scales About Light Labs Light Labs is building the modern lab testing platform. Faster, cheaper, and built for transparency. We help brands test for purity, safety, and accuracy, then turn that data into a competitive advantage. Our platform connects testing, compliance, and customer-facing transparency into one system. We believe consumers deserve to know exactly what is in the products they use. We are building the infrastructure to make that possible. We have raised $32M from leading venture firms including 8VC and Valor, along with top CPG founders and operators. We are still early and building a category-defining company. Who We Are We are a team of founders and operators building the future of lab testing. Backed by leading venture firms Trusted by leading CPG brands Focused on speed, rigor, and transparency We are building a small, high-agency team of founder-minded individuals. This role is not for everyone. But if you want to build something from zero and own it, this is the seat.

Pay:

$100,000.00

• $130,000.

00 per year

Benefits:

Dental insurance Health insurance Paid time off Relocation assistance Vision insurance

Work Location:

In person