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AMERICAN SYSTEMS

IT and engineering services for government

Forensic Chemist - Explosive

Physical SciencesConfirmed live in the last 24 hours
Full-timeIndian Head, MD, USA$100k - $120k /yrIn-person

About the Job

Requirements

  • Ten years of experience working in an accredited laboratory with explosive compounds.
  • A degree from an accredited college or university in physical or life sciences, with a minimum of 24 semester hours of chemistry coursework.
  • Proficiency in Excel, spreadsheets, and other databases.
  • Ability to explain technical subject matter to a non-technical audience.
  • Completion of a formalized training program and subsequent performance as a certified examiner within drug chemistry, trace analysis, explosives chemistry, or a related discipline.
  • A current Secret security clearance and the ability to obtain a Top Secret security clearance.

Responsibilities

  • Perform chemical analysis of recovered materials to detect and identify compounds, including explosives, homemade explosive precursors, solvents, acids, bases, drugs, and other hazardous materials.
  • Differentiate trace explosive signatures from contamination and background.
  • Provide information to assist in profiling and signature analysis.
  • Perform appropriate presumptive and confirmatory analyses using colorimetric tests, thin-layer chromatography, infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman spectroscopy, gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS), and other available instrumentation or techniques.
  • Evaluate samples to determine appropriate preparation techniques, including solvent extraction/filtration, liquid-liquid extraction, solid-phase extraction, solid-phase microextraction, and headspace extraction.
  • Understand and strive to implement data quality and reporting guidelines established within the professional forensic community, and properly use reference standards when available to support confidence in reported results.
  • Troubleshoot and maintain instruments.
  • Develop and validate analytical techniques to accommodate emerging chemical analysis requirements.
  • Interact and collaborate with group/team members and other forensic staff to ensure a high-quality and accurate product.

Desired Qualifications

  • Experience working within a CEXC, WTI, C-IED Team, DTK Lab, JEFF, TEDAC facility, other NGIC, DIA or ATF Lab, or an interagency or state/local law enforcement environment.

About the Company

AMERICAN SYSTEMS

IT and engineering services for government

AMERICAN SYSTEMS delivers information technology and engineering services to U.S. government clients as an employee-owned government contractor. It focuses on IT and enterprise services, software development, and systems engineering, with offerings such as legacy systems migration, mobile app development, and user experience design. The company operates primarily for federal agencies, including the Intelligence Community, by winning government contracts to support national security initiatives and mission-critical programs. Its employee-owned structure aligns workforce interests with company success, differentiating it from typical contractor firms by giving employees a stake in outcomes and accountability in delivering technical and engineering solutions to national security and IT needs.

Company size
1,001-5,000
Company stage
Not listed
Total funding
Not listed
Headquarters
Chantilly, VA
Founded
1975

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