Chemist 2 - DOH8954

Chemist 2

This is a full-time onsite position located at our Public Health Laboratories located in Shoreline, WA.

The Opportunity

As the Newborn Screening Laboratory Scientist, you will perform specialized laboratory testing that helps identify serious but treatable disorders in newborns across Washington State. Working onsite in the Public Health Laboratory's Newborn Screening Program, you will analyze a high volume of blood specimens using advanced laboratory instrumentation, evaluate quality control data, troubleshoot equipment, and ensure accurate, timely test results. Your work also includes preparing specimens and reagents, maintaining laboratory records, and contributing to continuous improvements in laboratory methods and processes.

Every test performed in this role has the potential to identify a life-threatening condition before symptoms appear, allowing infants to receive treatment as early as possible. By producing reliable laboratory results, you play a direct role in supporting healthcare providers and helping Washington's newborns get the best possible start in life.

Key Responsibilities Include:

• Perform biochemical and molecular testing on newborn blood specimens using advanced laboratory instrumentation and analytical methods.
• Evaluate quality control and quality assurance data, investigate abnormal or questionable results, and ensure testing meets established laboratory standards.
• Operate, troubleshoot, and maintain laboratory instruments to support accurate and efficient testing.
• Prepare, sort, evaluate, and process newborn specimens to ensure they are suitable for testing and analysis.
• Prepare laboratory reagents, standards, and quality control materials while maintaining testing records, laboratory documentation, and supply inventories.
• Provide cross-training and backup support for additional newborn screening tests to maintain laboratory operations and timely reporting.
• Contribute to laboratory quality improvement initiatives by assisting with method validation, new technologies, equipment implementation, and process improvements.

Why You'll Love This Role:

• Work with advanced laboratory technologies in a fast-paced, highly specialized public health laboratory.
• Build expertise across biochemical, molecular, and clinical laboratory testing while contributing to continuous quality improvement.
• Produce laboratory results that allow healthcare providers to diagnose and treat serious conditions before newborns develop symptoms.
• Make a measurable difference for families across Washington by supporting one of the state's most important public health screening programs.

What You Bring:

You are passionate about laboratory science and understand the importance of producing accurate, high-quality results. You enjoy working in a fast-paced environment where precision, attention to detail, and strong organizational skills are essential. You approach problems methodically, use data to guide your decisions, and take pride in maintaining quality and safety standards.

You work well both independently and as part of a collaborative laboratory team. You value continuous learning, embrace opportunities to improve processes, and understand that every specimen represents an infant and family depending on timely, reliable results. Your commitment to scientific excellence and public service helps ensure newborns across Washington receive the screening they need for the healthiest possible start in life.

Minimum Qualifications

There are multiple pathways to qualify for this position. You must meet one of the options provided and any additional criteria listed. Experience may have been gained through paid or unpaid activities. Please ensure any relevant experience defined below is outlined in your cover letter, resume, and/or applicant profile.

Option 1:
Five (5) or more years of experience performing chemical, biochemical, molecular analysis, or clinical laboratory testing in an analytical laboratory.

Option 2:
Bachelor's degree in chemistry, microbiology, or a health-related field which includes 30 semester hours (45 quarter hours) of chemistry and at least one course and one lab in molecular biology; AND two years of experience performing chemical, biochemical, molecular analysis, or clinical laboratory testing in an analytical laboratory.

Option 3:
Master's degree or higher in chemistry, microbiology; AND six (6) or more months of experience performing chemical, biochemical, molecular analysis, or clinical laboratory testing in an analytical laboratory

And the following experience, skills, and knowledge:

• Experience operating and troubleshooting scientific laboratory instrumentation.
• Experience following laboratory quality control (QC) and quality assurance (QA) procedures.
• Experience maintaining laboratory records and documenting analytical test results.
• Proficient in using standard computer applications, including word processing, spreadsheets, databases, and shared network file systems to support laboratory operations and…