Chemist

The Non-Kinetic Effects Business Area, part of the Defense Sector at Leidos, currently has an opening for an Chemist at the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command – Chemical Biological Center (DEVCOM CBC) facility located at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland. This is an exciting opportunity to use your synthetic chemistry and toxicology experience to advance the DEVCOM CBC Threat Agent Sciences Mission across basic and applied research programs.

Under this role, you will work with both Federal Government staff / officials and other Leidos personnel to perform initial hazard assessments of chemicals by evaluating synthesis routes; physical and chemical properties; stability; and preliminary toxicological considerations.  You may also be tasked with assessment of the persistence, degradation, environmental impacts, and hazards associated with threat materials following dissemination or environmental exposure.

This position joins Leidos’ portfolio of support to DEVCOM CBC, including basic and applied research, development, testing and evaluation, and training efforts to support the U.S. Warfighter and ensure our Warfighters maintain battlefield dominance during a chemical and/or biological event.

Primary Responsibilities:

Support new and ongoing basic and applied research programs as a principal investigator, technical lead, or research team member to meet program goals and objectives.

Routinely participate in agent operations as a primary or secondary operator. Activities may include chemical synthesis, instrumental analysis and testing, and controlled environmental-exposure experiments.

Analyze samples from a range of matrices—including vapor, soil, water, and tissue—for target compounds and degradation products using analytical instrumentation and methods such as:

Thermal desorption

Pyrolysis

Gas chromatography with flame photometric detection (GC-FPD)
Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS)
Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS)
Tandem liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)
Prepare analytical standards from surety material to support instrument calibration and calibration-verification requirements.

Determine and evaluate chemical physical properties, including vapor pressure, solubility, density, viscosity, surface tension, flash point, thermal stability, partition coefficient, and acid dissociation constant.

Develop, revise, and maintain laboratory procedures, test plans, research documentation, and technical reports.

Support laboratory management activities, including equipment and supply inventory, chemical tracking, waste-disposal coordination, and maintenance of laboratory procedures and records.

Prepare monthly progress reports and maintain routine communication with program customers, stakeholders, and internal technical teams.

Basic Qualifications:

BS degree with 5+ years experience in a chemistry, analytical chemistry, environmental science, chemical engineering, toxicology, materials science, or a related scientific discipline. Experience conducting laboratory research involving hazardous materials, chemical analysis, environmental fate, chemical properties, or related technical areas. Working knowledge of chromatographic and mass-spectrometric analytical techniques, particularly GC-MS, LC-MS, and LC-MS/MS.Experience preparing analytical standards, performing instrument calibration, and supporting quality-control or calibration-verification activities.

Ability to develop laboratory procedures, test plans, technical reports, and progress updates. Demonstrated attention to laboratory safety, chemical inventory control, waste-management procedures, and documentation requirements. Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a multidisciplinary…