Chemistry Specialist, Synthetic & Analytical Chemistry

What You'll Do6

• Coach research and engineering teams on chemistry gaps that limit model performance, including reaction mechanisms, structure elucidation, and physical-chemical property reasoning.
• Create hard, non-searchable chemistry tasks, benchmarks, and training data, then write accurate solutions for multi-step route design, reaction optimization, and spectroscopic characterization.
• Review model outputs and step-by-step reasoning for chemical logic, tool use, and factual errors, then send written technical feedback.
• Write specifications, grading rubrics, and verification steps for chemistry data from external teams, and serve as the domain authority on data quality.
• Advise on experimental design, common lab failure modes, and the chemical validity of outputs that use molecular representations such as SMILES.
• Work with other subject-matter experts to keep training data consistent and accurate.

Requirements8

• PhD in chemistry with a focus on synthetic, organic, medicinal, analytical, or physical chemistry, or research experience that matches that level.
• At least 3 years of hands-on chemistry work at a pharmaceutical, biotech, chemical, materials company, contract research organization, or university research group.
• Proven small-molecule synthesis work, including multi-step route design and reaction optimization.
• Practical compound characterization with NMR, mass spectrometry, IR, and HPLC or LC-MS, plus the ability to interpret the data.
• Comfort with cheminformatics and scientific AI tools; coding is not required.
• Availability for at least 20 hours per week during weekdays.
• Clear written communication for explaining technical decisions.
• Bonus: experience with SMILES or SMARTS, grading rubrics, benchmark design, or evaluation of scientific AI models or agents.

Who Should Apply

Chemists with a PhD and at least three years of lab work fit this role, particularly people who have run multi-step small-molecule routes and interpreted NMR, MS, IR, and LC-MS data. Candidates who enjoy explaining chemical reasoning in writing and have used SMILES or built grading rubrics will stand out.

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