How to hire a spectroscopist

How to hire a spectroscopist, step by step

Here's a step-by-step spectroscopist hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a spectroscopist job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new spectroscopist
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the spectroscopist you need to hire. Certain spectroscopist roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a spectroscopist to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a spectroscopist that fits the bill.

   This list shows salaries for various types of spectroscopists.

   Type of Spectroscopist	Description	Hourly rate
   Spectroscopist	Chemical technicians use special instruments and techniques to help chemists and chemical engineers research, develop, produce, and test chemical products and processes.	$18-56
   Analytical Laboratory Technician	An analytical laboratory technician is responsible for operating various equipment to perform laboratory research and investigations under a professional scientist's supervision. Analytical laboratory technicians ensure the laboratory and machinery's safety and cleanliness to avoid potential hazards and keep accurate laboratory results... Show more	$15-25
   Chemistry Laboratory Technician	A chemical laboratory technician is a professional who works in a designated laboratory to conduct analytical or lab-based tests on a variety of chemicals, materials, or products. Chemical laboratory technicians receive and test samples for quality assurance, safety inspection, or environmental impact... Show more	$15-23

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Nmr Spectroscopy
   • NMR
   • Chemistry
   • FTIR
   • Hazardous Materials
   • IR
   • Instrument Maintenance
   • HPLC
   • Analytical Methods
   • Data Collection
   • ICP

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage the QC program for custom synthesize DNA (oligomer) using laser base mass spectroscopy (MALDI-TOF).
   • Manage QC of molecular beacons by fluorescence spectroscopy.
   • Perform routine NMR maintenance, including liquid nitrogen and liquid helium fills.
   • Decrease sample evaluation times from days to hours by performing in-house IR analysis on submit samples.
   • Perform large-scale purification using FPLC, HPLC, immuno-affinity chromatography.
   • Establish the pharmaceutical testing laboratory and transition the laboratory to being fully functional in GMP compliance.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your spectroscopist job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A spectroscopist salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, spectroscopists' average salary in north dakota is 49% less than in west virginia.
   • Seniority. Entry-level spectroscopists earn 68% less than senior-level spectroscopists.
   • Certifications. A spectroscopist with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a spectroscopist's salary.

   Average spectroscopist salary

   $67,733yearly

   $32.56 hourly rate

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   Entry-level spectroscopist salary

   $38,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 1, 2026

4. Writing a spectroscopist job description

   A job description for a spectroscopist role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a spectroscopist job description:

   Spectroscopist job description example

   Conduct and lead spectroscopy-based method development and testing to support product/packaging development, process analytical technology, engineering, and regulatory affairs for a Fortune 200 company with some of the most iconic brands! Have a bachelor's degree in Spectroscopy, Analytical Chemistry, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering or Materials Science? Have experience in the area of Molecular/Structural Spectroscopy? If so, we want to speak with you!
   We are actively recruiting an Analytical Spectroscopist to join our Analytical Science team in Richmond, VA.
   
   As an Analytical Spectroscopist you will provide scientific expertise for product and materials testing supporting business-critical projects, with applications that will span the entire product development process, from feasibility, development, manufacturing, to regulatory reporting.
   
   What you'll be doing:
   •Conduct analyses of prototypes and products using an array of state of the art spectroscopic instrumentations and approaches
   •Expand existing spectroscopy methods to include new matrices for which little to no precedent exists
   •Develop spectroscopic analyses that can be combined with other analytical characterization techniques (i.e., hyphenated spectroscopy strategies)
   •Engage directly with product developers, engineers, and regulatory affairs teams to guide measurement strategies, problem solving, and quickly translate data into useful information
   •Identify gaps in current testing capabilities (including both laboratory and inline/online/at-line assessments), researching options to address those gaps, and making recommendations for new technologies
   •Correlate results from various analyses to create impactful sample insights
   •Draft test method procedures and work instructions
   •Provide regular reports and presentations on work outputs to customers and management
   •Cross-train other team members and lab personnel on test methodologies, as well as directing the work of others
   •Transfer methods to contract labs and manufacturing sites
   
   What we want you to have:
   •Bachelor of Science with major in Analytical Chemistry, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, or related field
   •5+ years of demonstrated experience and expertise in the field of Spectroscopy, with proven capability working with a wide range of sample formats (e.g., solids, liquids, gasses, complex mixtures, natural products)
   •Required experience in vibrational spectroscopy, including Mid-IR spectral interpretation, FTIR applications, and reflectance techniques (ATR, specular and diffuse)
   •Preferred experience in evolved gas analysis (EGA), FT-IR microspectroscopy, near infrared (NIR), time-resolved (TRS), and TGA-IR
   •Prefer working knowledge of one or more of the following: Oral dosage forms/aerosol/blend characterization, pharmaceutical-related testing approaches, process analysis and control, release testing, quality by design (QbD), chemometrics (principal component analysis)
   •Ability to work independently with minimal supervision, multi-task, and be a strong team player
   •Proficiency in laboratory skills, and operating / maintaining spectroscopy-based testing equipment
   •Experienced in method development, data interpretation, and methods validation
   •Experienced in crafting reports and delivering results in cross-functional group settings
   •Excellent attention to detail, verbal and written communication skills, team building, and a commitment to quality
   
   In addition to the opportunity to apply and develop your skills toward key business objectives, we offer an excellent compensation package including a competitive base salary, comprehensive health/vision/dental insurance, participation in our incentive compensation and deferred profit-sharing programs as well as a relocation assistance.
   
   Company Overview
   
   Altria has a leading portfolio of tobacco products for U.S. tobacco consumers age 21+.Altria's Vision through 2030 is to responsibly lead the transition of adult smokers to a non-combustible future.Altria is Moving Beyond Smoking™,leading the way in moving adult smokers away from cigarettes by taking action to transition millions to potentially less harmful choices -believing it is a substantial opportunity for adult tobacco consumers, Altria's businesses and society.Altria's wholly owned subsidiaries include the most profitable tobacco companies in their categories:Philip Morris USA Inc. (PM USA), U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company LLC (USSTC),and John Middleton Co. (Middleton).Altria's smoke-free portfolio includes Helix Innovations LLC (Helix), the maker of on! oral nicotine pouches,exclusive U.S. commercialization rights to the IQOS Tobacco Heating System®* and Marlboro HeatSticks®*,and an equity investment in JUUL Labs, Inc. (JUUL).Altria also owns equity investments in Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (ABI),the world's largest brewer, and Cronos Group Inc. (Cronos), a leading Canadian cannabinoid company.At Altria, we celebrate the power of diverse teams working together to shape our future.We are inspired to bring our best because our unique strengths are valued.We believe our personal success and progress should be guided by Our Cultural Aspiration, a new articulation of what we value and who we aspire to be, collectively.Our Cultural Aspiration respects and complements individual identity,embracing each other's unique strengths, welcoming newcomers and developing the best, most inclusive and diverse teams.Join us as we work together to shape a better future for adult tobacco consumers, our employees, and our shareholders.Each Altria company is an equal opportunity employer.Learn more about Altria at www.altria.com and follow us on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. *IQOS Devices and HeatSticks® are currently unavailable for sale in the United States.

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5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find spectroscopists for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your spectroscopist job on Zippia to find and recruit spectroscopist candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit spectroscopists, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new spectroscopist

   Once you've found the spectroscopist candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new spectroscopist. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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