Job Description

MUST BE A US CITIZEN DUE TO CONTRACTUAL REQUIREMENTS

Title:

Associate Chemist

Work Location:

Largo, FL 33773 US

Travel Required:

~15%

Labor Category:

SCI 1

FLSA Status:

Exempt

Reports to:

Algorithm Lead

Save Lives by Building Next-Gen Spectral Libraries for Real-World Chemical Threat Detection

Requirements

U.S. citizen (required; must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information).

Degree: MS in Chemistry, or BS in Chemistry with 1-2 years of relevant experience

On-site in Largo, FL on a 4x10 schedule (Monday - Thursday).

Comfortable working in a laboratory environment with lasers, solvents, and PPE.

Willingness to travel occasionally (typically ~15%) for field collections or training.

The ideal candidate

Meticulous attention to detail; enforces a high bar for process quality and documentation.

Comfortable with repetitive, precise work (naming, versioning, metadata hygiene) and committed to data integrity.

Strong chemistry foundation with curiosity and a growth mindset.

Communicates clearly and professionally across multidisciplinary teams and with external partners.

Proficient with Microsoft 365 (Excel, Word, PowerPoint); familiar with Python (or similar) for basic data handling.

Confident handling chemicals, maintaining SDS references, and operating lab equipment safely.

Reliable, organized, and unflinching about enforcing process standards.

Competencies:

Strong teamwork skills in a multi-disciplinary environment

Professional and positive interaction across all levels of the organization

Flexibility to adapt in a fast-changing small-business setting

Ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks under pressure

Strong communication and organizational skills

Sound judgment in non-routine situations

Fluency in English

What you'll do

You will immediately contribute to the curation, quality control, and documentation of Alakai Defense Systems' deep-UV Raman spectral library--a critical component in identifying hazardous chemicals across defense, security, and industrial applications.
Initial tasks will include:

Supporting in-lab data collections and assisting with algorithm development. Maintaining library governance, including naming conventions, synonyms/CAS references, version control, and release documentation. Contributing to chemical safety procedures and assisting with inventory management, labeling, and segregation.

As you develop, you will:

Take increasing operational ownership of the library's ingest and QC processes. Coordinate data collections through partner organizations (occasional travel required). Research and advise on priorities for new chemical additions to the library. Enforce strict quality controls and documentation standards for all new entries. Learn the nuances of Raman spectroscopy and apply your chemistry background to analyze spectra.

What you'll learn

UV-Raman spectroscopy and associated metadata standards. Quality control concepts (repeatability, SNR, LOD/LOQ surrogates). Database schema design and interaction with internal SQL-based tools. SOP authorship, version control, and traceability for scientific data. Field-collection coordination.

Company Profile:

Alakai Defense Systems, Inc. is a defense contractor specializing in the invention, development, and production of next-generation standoff sensor and technology solutions. We focus on laser and electro-optic remote sensing and systems integration to detect trace molecules of military and forensic significance, including explosives, Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), CBRNE threats, and narcotics.

Founded in 2003, with years of success in consulting, Science and Technology (S&T), Research and Development (R&D), and prototyping for government customers, Alakai has earned international recognition. Our culture is defined by professionalism, agility, and innovation. We are a small, collaborative, and entrepreneurial team that consistently delivers breakthrough technologies to protect those who protect us--at home and abroad.

We offer a competitive benefits package that includes:

Safe Harbor 401K.

Medical, Dental, Vision and Life Insurance.

Short-term and Long-term Disability Insurance.

PTO and Holidays.

Workweek Monday - Thursday/10 hour per day.

Work Environment:

Work is primarily conducted in a laboratory setting. The role involves handling hazardous chemicals and requires strict adherence to safety protocols. Employees must wear appropriate PPE, including eye protection, gloves, masks, lab coats, respirators, and closed-toe shoes. Attention to safety, environmental, and health considerations is essential.

Physical Demands:

Regular use of laboratory equipment, analytical instruments, and standard office tools

Frequent standing, walking, sitting, and use of hands for detailed work

Occasional climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, or crawling

Frequent lifting of up to 25 lbs and occasional lifting of up to 50 lbs

Visual acuity requirements include close, distance, color, and peripheral vision, depth perception, and focus adjustment

Routine exposure to hazardous chemicals, compressed gases, explosives, and offensive odors

Work environment is generally low-noise

Other Duties:

This job description is not intended to list every responsibility, skill, or condition of employment. Duties may be modified as business needs evolve. Reasonable accommodations will be considered for qualified individuals with disabilities.

An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/D/V

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $50,000.00 - $70,000.00 per year

Benefits:

401(k) 401(k) matching Dental insurance Health insurance Health savings account Life insurance Paid time off Vision insurance
Application Question(s):

Are you a US Citizen?
Work Location: In person