Staff Chemist

About the role

Are you passionate about making the world better? Are you looking for an organization that aligns with your values? MRIGlobal solves challenging problems through science, engineering, and program management. We are an independent scientific research organization dedicated to benefiting society and fostering a safe, healthy, and sustainable environment. When you embark on a career with MRIGlobal, you are joining a crew of world-class talent and problem solvers. Established in 1944, MRIGlobal is headquartered in Kansas City, MO, working in several states including Virginia and Maryland. The Staff Chemist – Analytical Chemistry/Materials Science position is located in Charlottesville, VA and supports chemical forensics and analytical research using elemental analysis, chromatography, and mass spectrometry. The successful candidate will bring strong technical expertise, sound scientific judgment, and the ability to work effectively within a collaborative laboratory team.

Responsibilities

The Staff Chemist will support and lead research and development laboratory activities while ensuring compliance with applicable federal program requirements, quality assurance practices, safety requirements, and standard operating procedures. The role requires a strong understanding of spectroscopy and chromatography theory, practical experience operating analytical instrumentation, and the ability to apply scientific judgment to solve complex problems and meet client expectations.

• Direct or perform standard preparation, sample preparation, and sample analysis tasks.
• Operate, maintain, and troubleshoot a variety of analytical instrumentations.
• Develop and validate analytical methods.
• Prepare Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• Perform technical reviews of analytical data and reports.
• Write or contribute to technical proposals, reports, and papers for publication or presenting clear results and concise, well‑supported conclusions.
• Communicate with clients to provide updates and summarize testing results.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Chemistry or related field; M.S. in Chemistry or a related field with a minimum 3 years of related experience; B.S. in Chemistry or a related field with 6‑8 years of related experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Strong organizational skills, problem‑solving ability, and adaptability to changing priorities.
• Ability to maintain complete, legible, and logically organized laboratory records documentation.
• PC skills (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, Project, and Outlook) and ability to learn new software and systems.
• U.S. citizenship required and eligibility to obtain a Department of Defense security clearance.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with advanced elemental analysis techniques and instrumentation such as ICP‑OES and FIB‑SEM.
• Prior experience with GC‑MS and LC‑MS instrumentation including high‑resolution mass spectrometry and tandem mass spectrometry.
• Experience maintaining laboratory compliance with applicable safety and security requirements.
• Prior experience leading laboratory activities, technical projects, or scientific teams.
• Experience reviewing laboratory records for completeness, accuracy, and compliance with applicable procedures.

Benefits

• Comprehensive health and life insurance.
• Disability coverage.
• Gym reimbursement.
• Mental health support.
• Paid holidays and PTO.
• Wellness benefits: virtual coaching, no‑cost counseling, onsite health screenings, gym reimbursement, and more.
• Award‑winning employer retirement matches and no‑cost financial education benefits.
• Paid parental leave.