Analytic Chemist

Peraton•Chantilly, VA

18h

About The Position

Peraton is looking for an analytical chemist / subject matter expert to join their team in supporting the mission-critical needs of their customer. In this role, the individual will step away from the bench to act as a strategic technical advisor to the Contracting Officer’s Technical Representatives (COTRs), ensuring that third-party laboratories and device developers are meeting the standards for chemical detection, sample analysis, and remote sensing. Peraton is a next-generation national security company that drives missions of consequence spanning the globe and extending to the farthest reaches of the galaxy. As the world’s leading mission capability integrator and transformative enterprise IT provider, Peraton delivers trusted, highly differentiated solutions and technologies to protect the nation and allies. Peraton operates at the critical nexus between traditional and nontraditional threats across all domains: land, sea, space, air, and cyberspace. The company serves as a valued partner to essential government agencies and supports every branch of the U.S. armed forces. Each day, employees solve the most daunting challenges facing their customers.

Requirements

Active TS/SCI security clearance with relevant polygraph
Master’s or PhD in Analytical Chemistry, Forensic Science, or closely related physical science
A minimum of 2 years of hands-on experience performing analytical chemistry techniques (e.g., GC/MS, LC/MS) in a professional laboratory environment

Nice To Haves

Subject matter expertise in environmental fate (how chemical signatures degrade); chemical detection technologies (mass spectrometry, spectroscopy, etc.); and CWA (chemical warfare agent) signatures, precursors, and dual-use chemicals
Experience navigating the Intelligence Community or Department of Defense (DoD) ecosystems, with an understanding of the intelligence cycle
Experience in project management (from requirements gathering to field testing)
Familiarity with integrating chemical sensors into unmanned platforms (UAVs, UGVs)

Responsibilities

Act as a strategic technical advisor to the Contracting Officer’s Technical Representatives (COTRs), ensuring that third-party laboratories and device developers are meeting the standards for chemical detection, sample analysis, and remote sensing
Perform rigorous technical reviews of laboratory analytical data to ensure accuracy, precision, and adherence to established protocols
Translate chemical findings into actionable insights
Collaborate with the customer to define and document sample analysis requirements, specifying chemical target lists tailored to mission-specific threats
Advise on sampling techniques and preservation strategies for various media (soil, air, water, surfaces), ensuring the integrity of chemical signatures from the point of collection to the laboratory bench