Scientist, FTIR Analysis

Eurofins • Sunnyvale, CA

18h • $105,000 - $125,000

About The Position

Join EAG Laboratories as a Scientist specializing in FTIR analysis. In this role, you will perform hands‑on materials characterization, interpret and report high‑quality analytical data, and work directly with clients to support real‑world technical investigations. You will discuss FTIR data and experimental design with clients, connecting analytical methods and results to broader materials and product development challenges, supported by a strong foundation in organic chemistry and materials science.
Our clients include leading technology companies, consumer product manufacturers, and aerospace suppliers working in the early phases of product development. Scientists in our Materials Characterization group operate advanced analytical instrumentation—including FTIR, Raman, and GCMS—and collaborate closely with peers to define problems, develop analytical approaches, and execute high‑impact analyses.
We are particularly interested in people with extensive (multi-year) hands-on experience with: FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy - particularly Thermo/Nicolet, or any type) and GC-MS (Gas Chromatography - Mass Spectrometry).
We are looking for scientists who are very comfortable with all stages of the analytical process: experimental design, preparing samples, acquiring data, interpreting spectra, writing reports and showing true insight into the meaning of the data acquired. This position requires a solid technical foundation in materials science and/or analytical chemistry.
A typical day in the Organic team will consist of multiple activities and interactions, including:
Writing reports and processing previously acquired data.
Planning upcoming analyses.
Setting up the instruments and acquiring new data.
In parallel with that, you may also have other activities:
Internal group meetings to plan overall use of the instruments to meet client deadlines.
Requests from customers to discuss prior reports or they may have questions about future analyses.
Meetings with the EAG commercial team (which may also include customers) to discuss analyses and how we can help solve customers’ problems.
You will also likely have longer-term projects, such as:
Developing new analysis methods for new materials.
Producing marketing materials or writing a paper.
Working with our support team or vendors on fine tuning our instruments.
Learning another adjacent technique or other training goals.
These activities require extensive communication and collaboration with your colleagues. You’ll be learning to do a lot of things at once to keep multiple projects all moving forward and keeping the team updated. It’s a fast-moving job and we all like to share the load so helping other people in the team, and also being helped by them is part of what we do, in order to collectively help our clients meet their goals. Along the way you’ll do a lot of science too!

Requirements

• All considered applicants must be U.S. Persons as defined by ITAR: U.S. Citizen, U.S. Permanent Resident (i.e. “Green Card Holder”), or Political Asylee or Refuge.
• M.S. or Ph.D. in Chemistry, Polymer Science, or Materials Science/Engineering.
• Minimum of 3 years industrial experience with 2 years of experience in running FTIR and utilizing the data to identify unknown materials and mixtures.
• Organic chemistry knowledge and practical laboratory experience working with organic materials and polymers.
• Extensive experience with solving problems involving organic or polymer materials.
• Experience in instrument troubleshooting.
• Ability to continuously operate a personal computer or lab equipment for extended periods of time (4 or more hours).
• Physical dexterity sufficient to use hands, arms, and shoulders repetitively to operate a keyboard and other lab equipment, use a telephone, access file cabinets and other items stored at various levels, including overhead.
• Must be able to remain in a stationary position 90% of the time.
• Ability to speak and hear well enough to communicate clearly and understandably with sufficient volume to ensure an accurate exchange of information in normal conversational distance, over the telephone online, and in a group setting.
• Learn new tasks, remember processes, maintain focus, complete tasks independently, make timely decisions in the context of a workflow, ability to communicate with visitors, ability to complete tasks in situations that have a speed or productivity quota.

Nice To Haves

• Prior GC-MS experience preferred.
• Additional experience with other relevant analytical techniques such as Raman spectroscopy is desirable.

Responsibilities

• perform hands‑on materials characterization
• interpret and report high‑quality analytical data
• work directly with clients to support real‑world technical investigations
• discuss FTIR data and experimental design with clients
• connecting analytical methods and results to broader materials and product development challenges
• Writing reports and processing previously acquired data.
• Planning upcoming analyses.
• Setting up the instruments and acquiring new data.
• Developing new analysis methods for new materials.
• Producing marketing materials or writing a paper.
• Working with our support team or vendors on fine tuning our instruments.
• Learning another adjacent technique or other training goals.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental and Vision Coverage
• 401k Company Matching
• Paid Time Off
• Wellness Program
• Education Assistance
• Volunteer Time Off

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level