Senior Scientist

Overview

Waters Corporation is seeking an innovative, highly motivated Senior Scientist to join the Core Separation Team within the Chemistry and Lab Automation Business Unit. This materials-synthesis role is designed for an influential individual contributor who will collaborate across scientific and engineering disciplines to advance next-generation chromatographic technologies. The successful candidate will synthesize silica, polymeric, and hybrid materials; tailor their surface chemistry; and translate promising materials into robust chromatographic products.

Responsibilities

Materials Innovation

• Lead the research and development of novel inorganic, polymeric, and hybrid materials for liquid chromatographic applications.
• Design and execute surface-functionalization strategies for silica- and polymer-based materials used in liquid chromatography separations and quantitative analyses.
• Monitor scientific advances and industry trends; identify opportunities for innovation, differentiated technology, and intellectual property.

Collaboration and Process Transfer

• Plan and conduct experiments; analyze, interpret, document, and communicate results to guide materials and product development decisions.
• Collaborate with engineers, analytical scientists, manufacturing partners, and other cross-functional stakeholders to meet product-performance requirements and development milestones.
• Develop standard operating procedures (SOPs) and partner with Manufacturing to transfer, scale, and sustain synthesis processes.

Quality, Safety, and Laboratory Excellence

• Maintain laboratory equipment and uphold rigorous standards for experimental documentation, data integrity, and laboratory organization.
• Comply with all applicable environmental, health, safety, quality, and regulatory requirements.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Materials Science, or a related discipline required; master’s degree or PhD preferred. Typical experience: PhD with 0–3 years, MS with 5+ years, or BS with 10+ years, including demonstrated project leadership.
• Hands-on laboratory expertise in inorganic, organic, or polymer synthesis.
• Skilled in running glassware reactions at different scales and handling moisture- or air-sensitive reagents.
• Deep understanding of reaction mechanisms, with the ability to achieve synthesis goals based on mechanistic insight.
• Experience with analytical techniques used to characterize materials, together with the ability to interpret data and communicate conclusions clearly.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently with high-level guidance, establish priorities, and manage multiple projects and deadlines.
• Curiosity, learning agility, and a constructive, collaborative approach to solving complex technical problems.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Synthesis and characterization of porous materials.
• Surface-modification strategies and associated characterization methods.
• Understanding of HPLC separation mechanisms.
• Stationary-phase development experience.

Company Description

Waters Corporation (NYSE:WAT)  is a global leader in life sciences and diagnostics, dedicated to accelerating the benefits of pioneering science through analytical technologies, informatics, and service. With a focus on regulated, high-volume testing environments, our innovative portfolio harnesses deep scientific expertise across chemistry, physics, and biology. We collaborate with customers around the world to advance the release of effective, high-quality medicines, ensure the safety of food and water, and drive better patient outcomes by detecting diseases earlier, managing routine infections, and combating antibiotic resistance. Through a shared culture of relentless innovation, our passionate team of ~16,000 colleagues turn scientific challenges into breakthroughs that improve lives worldwide.  

Diversity and inclusion are fundamental to our core values at Waters Corporation. It benefits our employees, our products, our customers and our community. Waters complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws. Qualified applicants are considered without regard to sex, race, color, ancestry, national origin, citizenship status, religion, age, marital status (including civil unions), military service, veteran status, pregnancy (including childbirth and related medical conditions), genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, legally recognized disability, domestic violence victim status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Waters is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. All hiring decisions are based solely on qualifications, merit, and business needs at the time.

Key Words

Materials synthesis • Organic synthesis • Polymer synthesis • Surface modification • Materials characterization • Porous materials • HPLC separations • Stationary phases