✦ Luna Orbit — Science & Research

XRD Technical Lead - Analytical Operations

at United States Steel

📍 East Syracuse, NY Unknown 💰 $65K – $75K USD / year Posted April 11, 2026
Salary $65K – $75K USD / year
Type Not Specified
Experience lead
Exp. Years 4+ years
Education Bachelor's degree in Chemistry or a related scientific discipline, or equivalent education and experience
Category Science & Research

XRD Technical Lead - Analytical Operations supervises and grows an analytical testing team while owning day-to-day XRD laboratory operations. The role focuses on safe, compliant execution, high-quality data delivery, and continuous improvement in a production laboratory environment.

  • Lead daily XRD laboratory operations to meet turnaround time, throughput, and data quality objectives
  • Ensure accurate sample tracking, processing, and documentation within LIMS
  • Supervise, coach, and mentor analysts and technicians and support onboarding/training
  • Apply technical judgment to identify and resolve analytical or workflow challenges
  • Champion safety-first laboratory culture and implement best practices for data quality

Technical leadership for XRD laboratory workflows: coordinate sample prioritization, manage instrument utilization and staffing, ensure accurate sample tracking and documentation within LIMS, and apply technical judgment to troubleshoot analytical and workflow challenges. Includes safety and compliance oversight aligned to environmental testing protocols, regulations, and certifications.

The ideal candidate is a hands-on analytical chemist with 4+ years of experience in analytical testing laboratories and strong XRD (X-ray diffraction) background. They can lead daily XRD laboratory operations, troubleshoot analytical challenges with technical judgment, and ensure compliant, high-quality data delivery while maintaining a safety-first culture.

XRD Laboratory OperationsHands-on XRD experience in a production or analytical environment4+ years of experience in analytical testing laboratoriesStrong understanding of laboratory workflowsprocess optimizationand sample lifecycle managementExperience applying technical judgment to troubleshoot analytical challengesKnowledge of environmental testing protocolsregulationsand certificationsProficiency with Microsoft Office (ExcelWordOutlook)Advanced English language skills (written and verbal)
Prior experience supervisingleadingor mentoring laboratory staffExperience working in a high-throughput or production-driven labFamiliarity with Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS)
LIMSLaboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS)Microsoft OfficeMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft WordMicrosoft Outlook
XRDX-ray diffraction (XRD)analytical testing laboratorieslaboratory workflowsprocess optimizationsample lifecycle managementtechnical judgmenttroubleshootsample trackingsample processingLIMSsafety protocolsPPE compliancechemical handlingenvironmental testing protocolsregulationscertificationsMicrosoft Office (ExcelWordOutlook)
XRDX-ray diffraction (XRD)analytical testing laboratorieslaboratory workflowsprocess optimizationsample lifecycle managementsample trackingsample processingdocumentation within LIMSinstrument utilization monitoringsafety protocolsPPE compliancechemical handlingenvironmental testing protocolsregulationscertificationsMicrosoft OfficeMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft WordMicrosoft Outlook
team leadershipsupervisecoachand mentorhands-on leadershipmodel strong leadership behaviorstroubleshoot analytical challenges with expert technical judgmentsafety-first cultureaccountabilitycontinuous improvement culturecommunicate potential risks or issues to managementaddress issues proactively
Industry Manufacturing
Job Function Lead and operate an XRD analytical laboratory with team leadership and compliant, high-quality data delivery.
Role Subtype lead
XRD Technical Lead - Analytical OperationsXRD Technical LeadXRDX-ray diffraction (XRD)analytical testing laboratorieslaboratory operationssample prioritizationsample trackingsample processingLIMSLaboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS)instrument utilizationlaboratory workflowsprocess optimizationsample lifecycle managementtechnical judgmenttroubleshootsafety-first laboratory culturePPE compliancechemical handlingenvironmental testing protocolsregulationscertificationsMicrosoft OfficeMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft WordMicrosoft Outlookadvanced English

4+ years of experience in analytical testing laboratories, Hands-on XRD experience in a production or analytical environment, Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Outlook), Knowledge of environmental testing protocols, regulations, and certifications

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