SlipstreamJobs tracks this role from the company's public career site. Apply directly on the employer's site.
Salary: USD 95,000 - 115,000 / annual
Alta Resource Technologies is a synthetic biology mining company founded in 2023, using protein-based chemistry to extract rare earth elements and critical minerals from conventional, unconventional, and e-waste sources. The company is scaling operations in Boulder, CO, addressing urgent U.S. competitiveness and national security challenges around mineral supply.
You will join the Analytical Chemistry group as Analytical Chemist III – Protein, reporting to the Associate Director of Analytical Chemistry. This is a technical leadership role focused on developing, qualifying, and executing analytical methods for protein and biomolecule characterization that support Alta's separation processes and innovation pipeline.
Key responsibilities include:
**Analytical Method Development & Execution**
- Develop, optimize, qualify, and execute analytical methods for protein and biomolecule characterization, with HPLC as a primary area of ownership
- Establish robust, reproducible workflows using HPLC-DAD, UV-Vis, plate-based assays, SDS-PAGE, and other protein analytical methods
- Develop scalable, high-throughput analytical approaches to support increasing sample volume and rapid experimental iteration
- Troubleshoot method performance, resolve analytical challenges, and improve assay reliability, throughput, and data quality
- Support interpretation and integration of data from third-party laboratories, including LC-MS and specialized protein characterization techniques
**High-Throughput Workflow Development**
- Design and implement high-throughput protein analytical workflows to handle increased sample volume and rapid experimental cycles
- Optimize sample preparation, assay design, and analytical workflows to reduce manual handling and improve operational efficiency
- Partner with cross-functional teams to identify bottlenecks and build scalable analytical solutions
**Collaboration & Technical Leadership**
- Serve as the technical lead for protein analytics, providing guidance on method selection, data interpretation, and analytical strategy
- Support method standardization, tech transfer, and adoption of best practices across protein analytical workflows
- Partner closely with Biology, Chemistry, and Process Engineering teams to define analytical needs and translate them into effective testing strategies
- Communicate analytical results, limitations, and recommendations to technical and cross-functional stakeholders
- Coordinate with external laboratories and vendors for specialized protein characterization
**Requirements**
- B.S. or M.S. in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Analytical Chemistry, or related scientific discipline
- 7+ years of relevant analytical laboratory experience
- Hands-on experience developing, optimizing, and executing HPLC methods for proteins, peptides, or other biomolecules
- Experience with complementary protein analytical techniques such as UV-Vis, plate-based assays, SDS-PAGE, or similar methods
- Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot analytical methods, interpret data, and communicate results across technical teams
**Preferred Qualifications**
- Experience with LC-MS for protein, peptide, or biomolecule characterization (TOF, QTOF, or Orbitrap platforms)
- Prior experience scaling protein analytics into higher-throughput laboratory environments or supporting development programs with increasing sample demand
- Familiarity with protein quantification, purity, aggregation, or stability assays
- Experience qualifying or validating analytical methods in research or process-development environments
- Experience working with external laboratories, instrument vendors, or contract testing partners
