Laboratory Instrumentation Manager Jobs in Pittsburgh, PA

JOIN OUR TEAM

Are you a food chemist who enjoys working with chromatography, solving analytical problems, and applying science to real-world food and nutrition testing?

Microbac Laboratories, Inc., is seeking a Analyst II - Food Chemistry Scientist - GC/LC to join our analytical laboratory team. This position is an excellent opportunity for a scientist with hands-on experience in GC, GC/MS, HPLC/LC, and/or LC/MS who wants to apply their technical expertise to food chemistry and analytical testing.

The ideal candidate will bring a strong foundation in food chemistry, analytical chemistry, or a related scientific discipline and will be comfortable working with laboratory instrumentation, interpreting analytical data, troubleshooting methods, and investigating unexpected results. Candidates with strong chromatography experience who are interested in expanding their expertise in food chemistry are encouraged to apply.

This position may also service as a technical subject matter expert (SME) for food chemistry methods and instrumentation and provides an opportunity to grow technical expertise within a commercial laboratory environment.

ABOUT MICROBAC

Microbac Laboratories, Inc. is a premier commercial laboratory testing firm that partners with clients nationwide, offering laboratory solutions to life science, food and nutrition, and environmental industries and serves our clients with the utmost expertise and respect for their market requirements, constraints, and challenges. We embody a company-wide commitment to exceptional customer experience, which has been refined by over 50 years of trusted, analytical and measurement experience.

As a privately held third-party testing company, Microbac operates with a commitment to our workforce, safety, quality, and compliance. Our diverse work portfolio includes broad accreditation offerings and tested insights across the environmental, food and nutrition and life science markets.

JOB SUMMARY

The Analyst II - Food Chemistry Scientist - GC/LC, working in an accredited commercial laboratory, performs a variety of scientific and analytical laboratory activities with minimal supervision. This position is specifically focused on food chemistry and food analysis, with an emphasis on chromatographic techniques and instrumentation.

The Food Chemistry Scientist prepares and analyzes food and related samples, operates specialized laboratory instrumentation, evaluates analytical data, maintains accurate laboratory records, and supports the laboratory's quality and operational objectives.

The successful candidate will demonstrate sound technical judgement, attention to detail, and the ability to independently execute established analytical methods while recognizing and communicating analytical issues.

As technical expertise develops, this position may serve as a food chemistry technical resource or SME, assisting with method troubleshooting, instrumentation, data interpretation, training, method development, and other technical activities.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Follow established SOPs and adhere to applicable state, federal, client, and accrediting-body requirements.
• Prepare and process food and related samples for chemical and instrumental analysis.
• Perform sample preparation, extraction, dilution, filtration, and other applicable preparation techniques.
• Prepare and use standards, solutions, reagents, and quality-control materials required for analytical testing.
• Operate specialized laboratory instrumentation, including GC, GC/MS, HPLC/LC, LC/MS, and related analytical equipment, as applicable to assigned methods.
• Perform instrument setup, calibration, routine maintenance, and basic troubleshooting.
• Analyze chromatographic data and evaluate analytical results for accuracy, quality, and consistency.
• Recognize unusual results, instrument issues, method problems, or other conditions that may affect data quality and appropriately escalate or investigate them.
• Perform analytical testing in accordance with established methods and laboratory quality requirements.
• Maintain the integrity of analytical procedures and document professional activity for peer review.
• Support method verification, validation, implementation, troubleshooting, and continuous improvement activities as assigned.
• Assist with investigations of atypical, unexpected, or out-of-specification analytical results.
• Maintain accurate, complete, and up-to-date laboratory notebooks, worksheets, logs, equipment records, and other required documentation.
• Accurately enter and review analytical data in the laboratory information management system (LIMS).
• Monitor assigned workload and communicate sample backlog, turnaround-time concerns, or other operational issues.
• Participate in laboratory quality initiatives, audits, proficiency testing, and other activities as assigned.
• Provide technical assistance and knowledge-sharing to other laboratory personnel as appropriate.
• May serve as a technical resource of SME for assigned food chemistry methods, instrumentation, or processes.
• May assist with training and mentoring analysts in applicable analytical procedures and instrumentation.
• Comply with and promote all Safety and Quality programs.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor's degree or higher in Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, Food Science, Food Chemistry, or a related scientific discipline.
• Minimum of 2 years of hands-on laboratory experience in a commercial, industrial, food testing, manufacturing, environmental or other professional laboratory setting, operating and/or analyzing data from GC, GC/MS, HPLC/LC, LC/MS, or comparable chromatographic instrumentation. Academic laboratory experience alone does not satisfy this requirement.
• Working knowledge of laboratory analytical principles, terminology, practices, techniques, and instrumentation.
• Experience with sample preparation, standards, calibration, quality control practices, and laboratory documentation.
• Ability to accurately interpret analytical data and recognize potential analytical or instrumentation issues.
• Ability to effectively prioritize work and manage time to meet established deadlines and rush orders.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to data integrity.
• Computer literacy and ability to work effectively with laboratory information systems and other computerized systems.
• Ability to work safely with laboratory chemicals, instrumentation, and equipment.
• Ability to communicate effectively in both written and verbal formats.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience working in a food chemistry, food testing, food manufacturing, or analytical chemistry laboratory. 
• Hands-on experience with both GC and LC/HPLC platforms.
• Experience with GC/MS and/or LC/MS.
• Experience analyzing complex food matrices.
• Experience with chromatographic method troubleshooting and optimization.
• Experience with analytical method development, verification, or validation.
• Experience interpreting chromatographic data and investigating unexpected analytical results.
• Experience working within an ISO/IEC 17025-accredited laboratory or another regulated/accredited analytical laboratory environment.
• Familiarity with FDA, AOAC, or other applicable food testing requirements and analytical methodologies.
• Previous experience serving as a technical resource, trainer, lead analyst, or SME.
• Food chemistry expertise with a strong understanding of food composition and analytical testing.

WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE

The successful candidate will be able to:

• Independently perform assigned food chemistry analyses with a high degree of accuracy.
• Confidently operate applicable GC and LC instrumentation.
• Recognize and troubleshoot common analytical and instrumentation issues.
• Interpret chromatographic data and identify results requiring additional investigation.
• Maintain strong documentation and data-integrity practices.
• Effectively manage competing priorities and laboratory workload.
• Serve as a reliable technical resource for colleagues as expertise develops.
• Contribute to the continued development and technical capabilities of the food chemistry laboratory.
• Communicate analytical findings and concerns clearly to laboratory leadership and team members.

WORKING CONDITIONS AND PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS 

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

 Physical Requirements:  

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; talk or hear; and taste or smell. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, and sit.
• The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, and depth perception.

Working Conditions:  

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee frequently works near moving mechanical parts and is frequently exposed to fumes or airborne particles and toxic or caustic chemicals.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

 As a privately held third-party testing company, Microbac operates with a commitment to safety, quality, and compliance. Our diverse work portfolio includes broad accreditation offerings and tested insights across the environmental, food and life science markets.

OTHER:

This job description is not an exhaustive list of all duties an employee may be required to perform.  Microbac reserves the right to revise the job description at any time. 

Employment is at-will. Microbac, promotes a drug-free, alcohol-free workplace. Applicants considered for hire must pass a drug test before beginning work. Refusal to submit to testing will result in disqualification of further employment consideration. 

Microbac is an Equal Opportunity Employer – We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment.