R&D SR. SCIENTIST, SYNTHETIC CHEMISTRY
About The Position
Moses Lake Industries, Inc. (MLI), a growing producer of ultra-pure chemical products for the semiconductor and flat-panel screen industries, is hiring an experienced R&D Senior Scientist in Synthetic Chemistry. This full-time, salaried position is onsite in Moses Lake, Washington, and follows a Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. schedule. The scientist will work independently and with teams, receiving direction from a supervisor or senior scientists, to develop new products and improve existing products in response to customer, market, and technology needs. The role involves researching, developing, and executing synthetic methods for target molecules; planning efficient experiments, including through Design of Experiments methodologies; performing hands-on laboratory work; applying advanced chemical and statistical analysis; and documenting results, procedures, and recommendations. The scientist will also troubleshoot processes, develop response-flow checklists, maintain detailed laboratory notebook records that support MLI intellectual property, and prepare project plans, proposals, and weekly activity summaries. The position requires consistent attention to laboratory, process, environmental, and personal safety, including work with hazardous chemicals and processes in a covered Process Safety Management environment. The employee must follow MLI policies and its Code of Conduct, comply with environmental and safety regulations, and meet the requirements of the MLI Quality System and ISO registration. Duties are generally performed indoors in an office, laboratory, and high-purity manufacturing environment.
Requirements
- Ph.D. in chemistry, chemical engineering, or a related discipline such as biology or physics, or equivalent experience.
- Working knowledge of computers and Microsoft Office software.
- Working knowledge of arithmetic and grammar.
- Ability to follow written and verbal instructions in English.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and projects simultaneously to meet established deadlines.
- Ability to work both as part of a team and independently.
- Attention to detail and accuracy.
- Ability to maintain regular and punctual attendance.
Nice To Haves
- Five or more years of relevant experience in an industrial or academic laboratory setting; preferred but not required.
Responsibilities
- Contribute to developing new products and enhancing existing products based on customer, market, or technology needs, working independently and within teams.
- Research, develop, and execute synthetic methods for target molecules, evaluating methods against considerations such as safety, intellectual property strategy, cost, scalability, timeline, and risk.
- Use technical expertise and Design of Experiments methodologies to design and execute efficient experiments with clear problem statements, hypotheses, controls, baselines, and data-supported conclusions.
- Perform hands-on laboratory work, including assembling, using, and maintaining laboratory equipment, and keep work areas and equipment clean and organized.
- Apply advanced chemical concepts to reaction schemes, stoichiometry, mixture composition, process variables, performance indicators, and experimental results.
- Analyze data using technical and statistical methods, including model development, graphical analysis, variation analysis, confidence intervals, and statistical process control.
- Prepare clear, concise written summaries, procedures, specifications, reports, and other documents tailored to their intended audience.
- Troubleshoot and develop response-flow checklists using methods such as Taguchi or fishbone analysis, 5-whys, PDCA, DOE, and population assessments.
- Maintain detailed and legible laboratory notebook records of data, observations, and projects to support MLI intellectual property.
- Review chemical literature, safety data sheets, and other relevant sources to identify and mitigate chemical and process hazards.
- Prioritize safety by following administrative, engineering, and personal protective equipment protocols, and properly identifying, managing, and minimizing waste.
- Collect and consolidate information from laboratory notebooks, metrology reports, and chemical literature to evaluate experimental outcomes, identify causes of problems, and find practical solutions.
- Prepare weekly summaries covering completed activities, ongoing projects and milestones, estimated completion dates, improvement opportunities, support requests, and schedule risks.
- Generate project plans and proposals with success criteria, milestones, schedules, risk assessments and mitigation strategies, and resource needs.
- Uphold MLI policies and the MLI Code of Conduct, comply with environmental and safety regulations, and follow the MLI Quality System and ISO registration requirements.
- Perform other duties as assigned to support and sustain a high-performing team.
Benefits
- Medical, vision, and dental insurance, with MLI paying the majority of premiums.
- Generous paid time off.
- Virtual medical and mental health options.
- Flexible spending account (FSA) and health savings account (HSA) options.
- Voluntary life and AD&D, accident, hospitalization, and critical illness insurance.
- Discretionary bonus program.
- 401(k) plan with employer matching contributions.
- Company-paid long-term disability insurance.
- Employee assistance program (EAP).
- Fitness club membership program.
- Education assistance program.
- Relocation assistance.
- Position-based clothing, travel expenses, training, and additional materials as needed on a case-by-case basis.
Stand Out From the Crowd
Upload your resume and get instant feedback on how well it matches this job.
What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
Education Level
Ph.D. or professional degree
