Staff Scientist-LCMS

Job Title

Company Description Guardant Health is a leading precision oncology company focused on guarding wellness and giving every person more time free from cancer. Founded in 2012, Guardant® is transforming patient care and accelerating new cancer therapies by providing critical insights into what drives disease through its advanced blood and tissue tests, real-world data and AI analytics. Guardant tests help improve outcomes across all stages of care, including screening to find cancer early, monitoring for recurrence in early-stage cancer, and treatment selection for patients with advanced cancer.

• Develop and optimize targeted LC–MS methods (MRM/PRM) for small molecules, lipids, and/or peptides
• Design and refine LC gradients to achieve optimal separation, sensitivity, and throughput
• Optimize MS/MS parameters (collision energy, resolution, scan speed, dwell time)
• Establish and implement quantification strategies (internal standards, calibration curves, QC normalization)
• Evaluate assay performance: precision, accuracy, linearity, dynamic range, LLOQ/ULOQ
• Assess and mitigate matrix effects and ion suppression
• Operate and troubleshoot high-resolution MS systems (e.g., Orbitrap) and/or triple quadrupole platforms
• Support method transfer across instruments and sites
• Integrate workflows with automated sample preparation systems
• Document methods and support CLIA/FDA-aligned validation and SOP development

PhD (or MSc with strong experience) in Analytical Chemistry, Biochemistry, or related field

5+ years of experience in targeted LC–MS method development

Hands-on expertise with PRM (HRMS)

Strong understanding of quantitative LC–MS workflows in biological matrices

Preferred:
Experience in lipidomics, proteomics, or clinical assays

Familiarity with regulated environments (CLIA/FDA/ISO)

Experience with high-throughput or automated workflows

Experience with biological specimens

Experience with high resolution mass spectrometry

AI & Digital Fluency:
Demonstrate curiosity, sound judgment, and the ability to critically evaluate and responsibly leverage AI-enabled tools in accordance with company policies, ethical standards, and regulatory requirements to improve the efficiency, effectiveness, and quality of work.

Hybrid Work Model:
This section is applicable to onsite employees who are eligible for hybrid work location as specified by management and related policies. Guardant has defined days for in-person/onsite collaboration and work-from-home days for individual-focused time. All U.S. employees who live within 50 miles of a Guardant facility will be required to be onsite on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays. We have found aligning our scheduled in-office days allows our teams to do the best work and creates the focused thinking time our innovative work requires.

At Guardant, our work model has created flexibility for better work-life balance while keeping teams connected to advance our science for our patients.

The annualized base salary ranges for the primary location and any additional locations are listed below. This range does not include benefits or, if applicable, bonus, commission, or equity. Each candidate's compensation offer will be based on multiple factors including, but not limited to, geography, experience, education, job-related skills, job duties, and business need.

Primary

Location:

Palo Alto, CA

Primary Location Base Pay Range: $150,100 - $206,400

Other US Location(s) Base Pay Range: $127,585 - $175,440

If the role is performed in Colorado, the pay range for this job is: $135,090 - $185,760

Employee may be required to lift routine office supplies and use office equipment. Majority of the work is performed in a desk/office environment; however, there may be exposure to high noise levels, fumes, and biohazard material in the laboratory environment. Ability to sit for extended periods of time.

Guardant Health is committed to providing reasonable accommodations in our hiring processes for candidates with disabilities, long-term conditions, mental health conditions, or sincerely held religious beliefs. If you need…