Associate Scientist - Purification

Department: Chemistry 

Location: San Diego, CA

Type: Full Time 

Reports To: Senior Principal Scientist - Purification

About Satomic

Satomic’s mission is to close the gap from idea to molecule with faster navigation of chemical space. We are building an automated chemistry platform that integrates laboratory robotics, software and AI to transform small-molecule synthesis and drug discovery.

Purification is central to that mission. By isolating and delivering pure compounds quickly and reliably, this role makes more of chemical space reachable, so our partners can focus on the hardest challenges in drug discovery and human health.

Role Overview

We are seeking a hands-on analytical chemist to run Satomic's chromatography-based purification fleet day to day. Our instrument stack includes SFC and reverse-phase LC instrumentation, with mass spectrometry driven detection and fraction collection. Purification is a vital function of Satomic’s platform, and our throughput targets depend on a fleet that runs reliably and consistently as one integrated system

Working with the Purification team, you will execute high-throughput, mass-directed purifications, help standardize methods and workflows, and keep instruments running through preventive maintenance and fast troubleshooting. You will keep the sample queue moving, be the first line of defense for routine troubleshooting, and handle post-purification sample management, such as fraction analysis, evaporation, consolidation, and reporting. This is a lab-based role for someone who thrives in a fast paced, high-throughput environment and cares about data quality and sample integrity. Experience with reversed-phase LC purification is expected; experience with SFC purification is a plus.

Expected Outcomes

By 30 days, you will have:

• Completed onboarding, safety training and lab operations orientation.
• Become proficient at the current SFC and reverse-phase LC systems, and run 10  analytical screens and preparative purifications using standard methods with guidance.
• Started running daily system suitability checks and following sample tracking and documentation procedures.

By 90 days, you will have:

• Independently run routine purifications on the preparative fleet, contributing to a sustained throughput of 50 samples per instrument per day, independently, including mass-directed fraction collection and data review.
• Handled routine maintenance and first-line troubleshooting, including when to escalate.
• Taken on post-purification steps: fraction analysis, evaporation, consolidation and reporting.
• Written or updated at least one SOP for instrument operation, fraction collection or maintenance.

By 1 year, you will have:

• Become a reliable operator who consistently meets the throughput and turnaround targets set by the Purification team.
• Resolved most common instrument issues without escalation, reducing unplanned downtime.
• Helped refine standard methods and post-purification steps based on what you’ve seen in daily runs.
• Supported software and automation teams in testing and rolling out purification workflows.

By 5 years, you will have:

• Built deep expertise in high-throughput, mass-directed SFC and LC purification.
• Taken on method development and workflow improvements with growing independence.
• Trained new team members on instruments, methods and SOPs.

What you will own

This is a new team with new instrumentation, so you will help establish how the purification instrumentation runs day to day. 

• Daily execution of preparative SFC and reverse-phase LC purifications from the standing sample queue, including run setup, mass-directed fraction collection and data review.
• Analytical SFC and LC/MS screening of crude samples to select conditions from Satomic's standardized method set.
• Preventive maintenance, daily system suitability checks and first-line troubleshooting across SFC/MS, LC and LC/MS systems; coordinating vendor service visits with Laboratory Operations team
• Post-purification handling: fraction consolidation, evaporation, QC analysis of outgoing products and accurate sample tracking.
• Solvent, waste, column and consumable management for the purification fleet with Laboratory Operations team
• Writing and maintaining SOPs for instrument operation, fraction collection and routine maintenance.
• Accurate documentation, sample tracking, and data analysis to keep data quality and sample integrity high
• Raising workflow issues and proposing improvements to Purification team
• Partner with chemists and technicians to understand incoming samples and meet purity and quantity targets; support software and automation teams during workflow testing and rollout.

Qualifications

• M.S. in Analytical Chemistry, Chemistry or a related field with 0-2+ years of relevant industry experience; or B.S. with 4+ years of relevant industry experience.
• Hands-on experience purifying organic small molecules by preparative chromatography, with SFC experience strongly preferred and preparative LC experience expected; experience with mass-directed purification and fraction collection.
• Proficiency with analytical LC/MS and/or SFC/MS for screening and purity assessment.
• Experience operating, maintaining and troubleshooting LC, LC/MS or SFC/MS instruments; experience in a high-throughput purification or compound-library environment is a plus.
• Familiarity with Waters analytical and preparative SFC instruments and software, and with Agilent LC/MS systems, is a plus.
• Exposure to purification informatics, lab automation or liquid handlers is a plus.
• Strong record keeping, and the ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced, cross-functional team.

Overview of Satomic’s Interview Process

• Hiring Manager Call (15 minutes): The hiring manager will contact you to schedule a 15 minute call to give an overview of Satomic and the role and better understand your career goals, experience, and motivations.
• Cores Interviews (3x45 min): The hiring manager will coordinate a block for you to have four 45 minute back-to-back interviews with different members of the Satomic team, who will ask questions about your past experience and fit for the role. 
• Final round (60 minutes): Candidates that are selected for the final round will be asked to present on their past work most relevant to the open position (30 minutes) and discuss a representative scenario ("case study") live with the interview panel (30 minutes). The scenario will be given to the candidate at least one week prior to the final interview.

Compensation

This role offers a base salary of $80,000-$115,000, along with meaningful equity ownership and competitive benefits.

We are an early-stage company and design offers to balance cash compensation and equity ownership. The salary range above reflects base pay only, and we work with candidates to build a package that aligns with their preferences. Final offers are based on a candidate's experience and expected impact. For candidates exceptionally aligned with the role we are comfortable positioning offers toward the top of this range and beyond.

Diversity & Inclusion

We know there’s a serious lack of diversity in our industry, and that needs to change. At Satomic, we’re committed to helping drive that change. Our culture is built on inclusion, humility, humanity, and ingenuity: values that guide how we work with one another and how we approach the challenges of scaling science. We believe that bringing together people with diverse perspectives, experiences, and ways of thinking is not just the right thing to do, but makes us stronger: we want every member of our team to feel they belong and can do the best work of their career here.

Our mission is to close the gap from idea to molecule. That mission carries responsibility: the chemistry we enable can accelerate access to life-changing medicines and technologies, but it can also pose risks if used carelessly. We’re not agnostic to how our platform is applied. We care deeply about ensuring it is used for good. Building a team of diverse and thoughtful voices gives us the best chance of delivering a platform that not only advances the future of chemistry and drug discovery, but does so responsibly and with lasting positive impact on our world.