Chemist I

State of North Carolina•Wake County, NC

71d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Chemist I positions apply chemistry methods, chemical theory and the principles from related sciences, to develop, conduct and interpret the results of complex qualitative and quantitative chemical analyses on a wide variety of substances. The chemist operates with considerable technical independence under jointly set objectives, projects and priorities. The chemist I is recognized as a technical expert and may work with issues and factors that are largely undefined and require extensive research, analysis and frequent development of methods. The chemist I selects, arranges and modifies complex laboratory equipment and instrumentation to implement complex testing operations. Methods, procedures and tests performed include a wide ranging combination of gravimetric, volumetric, UV and visible spectroscopy, extractions and other documented methods and tests including the more complex procedures involving mass spectroscopy and flame ionization detection coupled with gas or liquid chromatography. The chemist must be able to troubleshoot complex analytical instrumentation and communicate effectively with analytical instrument manufacturers and service providers to ensure proper operation of laboratory analysis instruments. The chemist primarily works with samples that are unknown or in minute or very difficult to work with concentrations and have substances that mask, react or interfere with the reagents or with each other during analysis. Guidelines and references can be generally vague and non-specific and include laws, regulations, agency guidelines, policies, precedents and recent work in their specialty area. Work may also include providing direction and review to other laboratory employees; programming computerized test instruments; evaluating existing equipment and new developments to recommend the purchase and application of equipment; maintaining chain of custody for samples.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in chemistry from an appropriately accredited institution and two years of progressive chemistry laboratory experience; or an equivalent combination of education and directly related

Responsibilities

Knowledge of the principles, concepts, theories, reference sources and laboratory applications of analytical chemistry and other related sciences.
Experience operating and maintaining a variety of laboratory analysis equipment, support equipment and standards.
Perform routine maintenance, calibration and certification of laboratory analysis instrumentation.
Communicate effectively with laboratory instrument vendors, manufacturers, and service providers to solve complex issues.
Express technical information clearly both orally and in writing, when reporting results, or explaining procedures to others.
Document experiments, instrument maintenance, and other general laboratory activities using laboratory logbooks in written and electronic formats.
Analyze and interpret results, interpret methodology, understand and solve theoretical problems, and to provide work direction and instruction to technicians and specialists.