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Spectroscopy Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

SPECTRUM

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El Segundo, CA · On-site

$55K/yr

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Spectroscopy information

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$35.7K

$90K

$170.4K

How much do spectroscopy jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 28, 2026, the average yearly pay for spectroscopy in California is $90,047.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $49,940.00 and $129,747.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are typical daily responsibilities for someone working in spectroscopy?

Daily responsibilities for a spectroscopy professional often include preparing and analyzing samples, calibrating and maintaining spectroscopic instruments, recording and interpreting data, and reporting findings to supervisors or project teams. You may also be involved in developing new analytical methods, troubleshooting equipment issues, and ensuring compliance with laboratory safety standards. Collaboration with colleagues from research, quality control, or engineering departments is common, fostering a multidisciplinary environment. This variety of tasks keeps the work engaging and provides ample opportunities to expand technical expertise and problem-solving skills.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Spectroscopy position, and why are they important?

To thrive in a spectroscopy role, you need a strong background in chemistry or physics, excellent analytical skills, and experience with quantitative analysis methods. Familiarity with spectroscopic instruments like FTIR, NMR, or mass spectrometers, as well as proficiency in data analysis software and possibly relevant certifications, is essential. Attention to detail, critical thinking, and effective communication elevate performance in this position. These skills enable accurate data interpretation, reliable experiment execution, and collaboration in research or industrial settings.

What is a Spectroscopy job?

A Spectroscopy job involves the study and analysis of how matter interacts with electromagnetic radiation. Professionals in this field use various spectroscopic techniques, such as UV-Vis, infrared (IR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and mass spectrometry, to identify and characterize chemical substances. These roles are common in industries like pharmaceuticals, environmental science, forensics, and material research. Responsibilities may include operating and maintaining spectroscopic instruments, interpreting spectral data, and developing new analytical methods.

What are the most commonly searched types of Spectroscopy jobs in California? The most popular types of Spectroscopy jobs in California are:
What are popular job titles related to Spectroscopy jobs in California? For Spectroscopy jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Spectroscopy jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Spectroscopy jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Spectroscopy jobs? Cities in California with the most Spectroscopy job openings:
Spectroscopy jobs near you
Infographic showing various Spectroscopy job openings in California as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 54% Full Time, 42% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 60% Physical, and 40% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $90,047 per year, or $43.3 per hour.
X-ray Spectroscopy Support Engineer

X-ray Spectroscopy Support Engineer

SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory

Menlo Park, CA • On-site

Full-time

Posted 29 days ago

Job description

Position overview:
Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource (SSRL), is a Department of Energy national scientific user facility. SSRL operates ~30 experimental stations (beam lines) that enable research in areas such as chemistry, catalysis, biology, medical, environmental, and materials sciences. Each beam line is tailored to specific techniques, spanning a specific x-ray energy range, to study materials from atomic to mm size level and over different time scales, necessitating a highly varied approach to instrumentation, sample environment and data acquisition. The beam line facilities are made available to an international scientific user community, with SSRL staff providing scientific and technical support in their use.
SSRL is seeking a Science and Engineering Associate to be part of a dynamic scientific research environment. In this position, you will provide technical support and operational oversight for the X-ray spectroscopy beam lines and associated experimental equipment. You will provide support for visiting scientific users as well as scientific and engineering staff.
Your specific responsibilities include:
  • Assist with the installation, testing, operation and troubleshooting of X-ray spectroscopy end station instrumentation (mechanical, cryogenic-vacuum and control systems).
  • Assist with user and staff technical support on X-ray spectroscopy beam lines.
  • Participate in the development, design, prototyping, procurement and commissioning of scientific equipment.
  • Modify, repair, and troubleshoot complex equipment.
  • Prepare and review drawings, material lists, requisitions, job orders, engineering change requests, and other documents associated with development, fabrication, assembly, installations, and testing with supervision from scientific staff.
  • Support scientific or engineering installations; plan and execute various phases of an operation, oversee schedule of equipment operations, and perform routine maintenance.
  • Acquire and maintain tools, equipment, and chemicals associated with experimental or engineering projects.
  • Maintain documentation related to instrumentation and protocols.
  • Liaise between researchers, students, technical staff, scientists, vendors, and other university staff; serve as a resource, providing training and practical guidance.
  • Other duties may also be assigned

Note: The position requires working extended or unusual work schedule nine months of the year.
To be successful in this position you will bring:
  • Associate degree or certificate of completion in engineering or scientific discipline, or three years of equivalent work experience or combination of education and relevant experience.
  • Experience applying scientific and engineering principles and practices to perform technical services and support.
  • Experience with design, and development of prototypes, equipment, and/or systems related to area of specialization.
  • Ability to evaluate and troubleshoot electro-mechanical, cryogenic or vacuum systems.
  • Experience in mechanical design and fabrication drawing creation using computer solids modeling software such as SolidWorks or SolidEdge is a bonus. Understanding of machining and other fabrication techniques as they relate to mechanical systems design.
  • Experience applying scientific and engineering principles and practices to perform technical services and support.
  • Ability to write clear documentation, perform administrative duties, and research protocol maintenance related to research studies and/or scientific/engineering projects.
  • Ability to work in a team environment as well as work unsupervised within strict procedural guidelines.
  • Must have excellent verbal and written communication skills.
  • Ability to interpret and determine validity of data and check own work.
  • Ability to communicate, liaise, and work with staff, students, faculty, and outside vendors.

In addition, preferred requirements include:
  • Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, electrical engineer, physics, chemistry or other closely related field is highly desired, or extensive and relevant experience in one of these fields or with scientific instrumentation.
  • Machine shop experience is highly desirable.
  • Experience with 3-D printing.

SLAC employee competencies:
  • Effective Decisions: Uses job knowledge and solid judgment to make quality decisions in a timely manner.
  • Self-Development: Pursues a variety of venues and opportunities to continue learning and developing.
  • Dependability: Can be counted on to deliver results with a sense of personal responsibility for expected outcomes.
  • Initiative: Pursues work and interactions proactively with optimism, positive energy, and motivation to move things forward.
  • Adaptability: Flexes as needed when change occurs, maintains an open outlook while adjusting and accommodating changes.
  • Communication: Ensures effective information flow to various audiences and creates and delivers clear, appropriate written, spoken, presented messages.
  • Relationships: Builds relationships to foster trust, collaboration, and a positive climate to achieve common goals.

Job-Specific Competencies
  • Customer Focus: Builds strong customer relationships and deliver customer-centric solutions.
  • Tech Savvy: Anticipates and adopts innovations in technology applications.
  • Manage Complexity: Makes sense of complex, high quality and sometimes contradictory information to effectively solve problems.
  • Action Oriented: Takes on new opportunities and tough challenges with a sense of urgency, high energy and enthusiasm.

Physical requirements and working conditions:
  • Consistent with its obligations under the law, the University will provide reasonable accommodation to any employee with a disability who requires accommodation to perform the essential functions of his or her job.

Work standards:
  • Interpersonal Skills: Demonstrates the ability to work well with Stanford colleagues and clients and with external organizations.
  • Promote Culture of Safety: Demonstrates commitment to personal responsibility and value for environment, safety and security; communicates related concerns; uses and promotes safe behaviors based on training and lessons learned. Meets the applicable roles and responsibilities as described in the ESH Manual, Chapter 1General Policy and Responsibilities: http://www-group.slac.stanford.edu/esh/eshmanual/pdfs/ESHch01.pdf
  • Subject to and expected to comply with all applicable University policies and procedures, including but not limited to the personnel policies and other policies found in the University's Administrative Guide, http://adminguide.stanford.edu
  • As a national laboratory, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory is responsible for adhering to the Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12) and Department of Energy (DOE) Order 473.1A, which require employees to obtain and maintain a HSPD-12 Personal Identity Verification (PIV) Credential. To obtain this credential, employees must successfully complete the applicable tier of federal background investigation post hire and receive a favorable federal adjudication. The tier of federal background investigation will be determined by job duties and national security or public trust responsibilities associated with the job. All tiers of investigation include a declaration of illegal drug activities, including use, supply, possession, or manufacture within the last 1 to 7 years (depending on the applicable tier of investigation). Illegal drug activities include marijuana and cannabis derivatives, which are still considered illegal under federal law, regardless of state laws.

  • Classification Title: Science and Engineering Associate 1
  • Job code: 4991 Grade: I
  • Duration: Regular continuing

The expected pay range for this position is $91,339 - $119,362 per annum
SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory/Stanford University provides pay ranges representing its good faith estimate of the salary or hourly wage the university reasonably expects to pay for a position upon hire. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal equity, geographic location, and external market pay for comparable jobs.
At SLAC/Stanford, base pay represents only one aspect of the comprehensive rewards package.

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