Senior Scientist / Associate Scientific Director – LC-MS/MS & HPLC

Senior Scientist / Associate Scientific Director – LC-MS/MS & HPLC (with Growth Potential)

Location: Pasadena, CA (On-site)

Compensation: $85,000 – $140,000/year (DOE)

Opportunity: Potential promotion to leadership role based on performance

About Us

Harken Research is a rapidly growing ISO 17025-accredited analytical laboratory serving the dietary supplement, food, and cosmetic industries. Our lab is fast-paced, scientifically rigorous, and committed to delivering high-quality results. We deliver high-integrity analytical data with fast turnaround times, responsive customer service ,and exceptional scientific support.

As we scale, we are hiring a high-caliber analytical chemist to drive method innovation, take a lead role as a problem solver, support clients, and help develop junior scientists within the lab.

Summary

We are seeking a deeply analytical, curious problem-solver who loves chromatography and mass spectrometry.

This role is perfect for:

·      A PhD excited to take on broader responsibility and mentor others

·      A postdoc ready to make a tangible impact and grow quickly into leadership

·      A scientific problem-solver who thrives on complex analytical challenges

Key responsibilities:

·      Develop advanced LC-MS/MS & HPLC methods

·      Review and approve data for release

·      Train and support junior scientists

·      Communicate results to clients

·      Help improve the scalability of a high-functioning laboratory

This position offers a path to senior leadership for exceptional performance.

Responsibilities

Method Development & Troubleshooting

·      Design, optimize, and validate LC-MS/MS & HPLC methods for challenging matrices such as finished product dietary supplements, botanical extracts, and foods

·      Troubleshoot issues such as ion suppression, matrix interference, analyte degradation, extraction inefficiencies, and analyte binding to other matrix components for a wide range of analytes in a variety of complex matrices

·      Carefully select appropriate extraction solvents and sample preparation methods to ensure analyte recovery and minimize matrix interference in complex matrices

·      Maintain up-to-date expertise on analyte properties, including stability considerations such as light sensitivity, solution half-life, and degradation pathways

·      Analyze samples by LC-MS/MS, HPLC, and other analytical techniques using quantitative methods for vitamins, polyphenols, amino acids, sugars, botanical actives, and many other analytes

Data Integrity & Technical Review

·      Perform high-level scientific review and result justification

·      Apply rigorous quantitation to assess uncertainty, recovery, and repeatability

·      Conduct root-cause analysis for OOS investigations

Mentorship & Scientific Communication

·      Train scientists in analytical fundamentals and troubleshooting

·      Communicate technical findings clearly to both customers and internal stakeholders

Quality & Continuous Improvement

·      Write SOPs

·      Write validation protocols and perform method validations

·      Improve lab workflows

Required Qualifications

·      PhD in Analytical Chemistry or closely related field (exceptional MS considered with strong method-development track record)

·      5 years of hands-on LC-MS/MS and HPLC experience through industry or academic research

·      Proven skill in method development, validation, and troubleshooting

·      Experience with a broad range of analytes and complex sample matrices

·      Experience with extraction workflows and analytical challenges in real-world samples

·      Ability to troubleshoot HPLC hardware failures and perform instrument maintenance

·      Strong quantitative skills (you can do calculations quickly and enjoy reviewing quantitative data and finding errors)

·      Clear, concise communication skills

·      Excellent organization, attention to detail, and communication skills

·      Eager to contribute to team growth and open to leadership responsibilities

Preferred Experience

·      Method validation under ICH and FDA guidelines

·      Experience working within an ISO 17025, GLP, or GMP quality system

·      Authoring SOPs, validation reports, or regulatory documentation

·      Experience in commercial testing or regulated environments

·      Familiarity with botanical, nutraceutical, or food chemistry

·      Experience with GC-MS or ICP-MS instrumentation

Industry experience is not required. We will welcome candidates with strong analytical chemistry fundamentals and problem-solving capability.

Who Thrives Here

You will love this role if you are:

·      Scientifically rigorous: you care deeply about accuracy and data integrity

·      Curious and creative: you like untangling complex challenges

·      A supportive mentor: you enjoy helping others succeed

·      A builder: you want to shape the evolution of a growing lab

And you’re motivated by the idea of becoming a lab leader, rather than strictly a bench scientist.

Compensation & Benefits

·      Salary Range:

o  Senior Scientist: $85,000 – $120,000/year DOE

o  Associate Scientific Director: $110,000 – $140,000/year DOE

·      Location: Los Angeles area (Pasadena, CA)

·      Full-time on-site

·      Health, dental, and vision insurance

·      Paid holidays and PTO

·      Opportunity for advancement into a management role

To Apply

Please send your resume and a brief cover letter highlighting:

·      Your hands-on LC-MS/MS and/or HPLC experience

·      Any mentoring, project ownership, or leadership responsibilities

·      What excites you about this role