Senior Analytical Chemist

About Atomo

Atomo is a cutting-edge, Seattle-based, food-tech startup confronting the climate crisis by reinventing coffee for tomorrow. Founded in 2019, with offices in the heart of Seattle, Atomo is a place for innovative, creative, committed people to come together, learn from one another and leave this planet better than we found it. We have already reverse-engineered the coffee bean—producing outstanding cold brew coffee with over 90% reduction in both water and carbon footprints—and have even bigger plans for the future. Join us to help shape the future of coffee!

Core Values

At Atomo we believe that everyone has a critical role to play in how we change the future. We believe in Empowering Innovation through continuous learning while also honoring coffee traditions. We believe in being Stewards to the Planet by leading through example in everything we do and putting the planet over profits. We believe in Building Community by fostering an environment of physiological safety and always striving for a team of “we”. And we are committed to delivering an exceptional product and experience, every single time.

Job Description:

Atomo is currently seeking an experienced Analytical Chemist to support continued innovation in our bean-less coffee. We have created our flagship flavor profiles, but the world of coffee is vast! The person in this role will help Atomo offer more coffee to more people by supporting the creation of new flavor profiles matching coffee flavors that are enjoyed worldwide.

As a core member of the Innovation team, you will leverage your deep expertise in analytical chemistry to drive Atomo's alchemy: upcycling. This is a hands-on role where your work will support creation of the most sustainable coffee on the planet. You will also be a key team member in Atomo's raw material discovery program, helping farmers and processors to find new revenue streams and reduce waste in the global food system. The Analytical Chemist will report to the Head of Innovation.

What will you be doing:

• Establishing and running in-house analytical methods that will help drive the creation of our beanless coffee technology

• Working closely with other departments (Innovation, Microbiology, Product and, Ops) to ensure that the analytical chemistry results are most effectively used to improve our processes and products

• Purchasing and setting up laboratory instruments and equipment required for analyses

• Establishing systems for the curation and interpretation of analytical results

• Training junior scientists and research associates so that they can perform these methods with a high degree of accuracy and precision

• Performing routine sample analysis on prototypes and production finished products

• Helping to hire additional analytical chemists and being heavily involved in the growth of the analytical department

Skills and Qualifications:

• PhD or MS in Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, Food Science, Biochemistry or a related field with a focus on gas chromatography

• 4+ (MS) or 2+ (PhD) years of relevant industry experience working in Analytical Methods Development

• You are highly organized with a strong attention to detail and that you uphold a high degree of rigor

• A great amount of learning agility with exceptional problem-solving skills and the ability to manage several projects simultaneously

• Deep understanding of chemistry concepts, QA/QC, and product quality and safety requirements especially as they pertain to food

• In-depth understanding of a variety of relevant techniques, in particular GC-MS

• Extensive experience in developing analytical methods

• Extensive people and project management experience across a portfolio of projects

• Ability to deliver high-quality work under constraints of time and budget

• Ability to work closely in an interdisciplinary and multicultural team

Even better if you had:

• Experience with GRAS applications or working with the FDA

• Formal sensory training in food/beverage

• Worked with flavors, extracts and/or fermentation processes

• Familiarity with advanced data processing techniques and fluency in Python/R or other statistical software packages

• Have worked in an startup environment

Additional Details:

Pay Range: $110,000- $140,000

Benefits: Full medical, dental, vision and life insurance. Unlimited PTO, Personal + Professional Development Stipend, and equity