Position Summary: We are seeking a detail-oriented Technician to join our Analytical and Purification group. In this role you will support synthetic chemistry programs by identifying, purifying, and characterizing small-molecule compounds using chromatographic and mass spectrometry techniques. You will help operate an open-access / walk-up purification service, deliver high-purity compounds and analytical data back to requestors, and maintain the instrumentation and workflows that keep the discovery pipeline moving.
Technical operations (80%) – Part of analytical and purification chemistry efforts involving instrument operation and maintenance, sample handling and tracking, and delivering on upstream requestor demands on fast and flexible timelines.
Continuous Improvement/Ad-Hoc Projects (20%) – R&D efforts to improve internal capabilities as opportunities and business needs dictates and arises.
The core responsibilities of this position are:
- Develop and optimize analytical and preparative methods to assess and purify compounds on LC/SFC-MS platforms for the separation, identification, and isolation of compounds submitted by client chemists using reversed-phase and normal-phase prep-HPLC, mass-directed prep-HPLC, and flash chromatography.
- Run high-throughput analysis and characterization of crude reaction mixtures and purified compounds, confirming identity and purity by UPLC/HPLC-UV, LC-MS, and (as needed) NMR.
- Support a walk-up / open-access LC-MS and purification service, assessing incoming samples and returning purified material and data with quick turnaround.
- Accurately track sample identity, recovery, and yield through analytical and purification workflows.
- Perform routine preventive maintenance, calibration, and troubleshooting of analytical and preparative instrumentation and associated software, escalating and coordinating service with vendors as needed.
- Maintain accurate, current, and well-organized records of all work either on paper or digitally in accordance with laboratory data integrity and safety standards.
- Follow all safe laboratory practices and contribute to a clean, well-run shared instrument environment including following all SOP, safety procedures and training, and proper waste management and disposal.
Assuming the completion of laboratory technical operations as listed above as priority above all other tasks, additional opportunities may include:
- Directly assist in, or provide constructive feedback to improve workflow efficiency, throughput, and chemistry performance, and help implement best practices.
- Engage in cross-team projects and deliverables.
Experience and Qualifications: Part of Terray's success is nurtured by a hands-on work environment where everyone is accountable, vested in a vision of excellence, and actively taking part in the success of the business. Terray supports a positive work environment where employees can feel engaged, recognized, and empowered to be creative.
Required Qualifications:
- B.S. in Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Biochemistry, or a related discipline.
- Hands-on experience with analytical and preparative scale chromatography — HPLC/UPLC and prep-HPLC
- Working knowledge of chromatographic principles such as reverse and normal phase chromatography, mobile/stationary phase selection, and related chemical knowledge
- Very strong attention to detail, sample tracking discipline, and data integrity habits.
- Ability to manage a high sample throughput and competing priorities in a high-throughput, deadline-driven environment.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills; works effectively both independently and as part of a collaborative, cross-functional team.
Preferred Qualifications:
- B.S. with 1–3+ years of relevant industry experience preferred for this level, or M.S. with 0+ years of experience.
- Ability to operate and troubleshoot chromatography and MS hardware and software (e.g., Agilent 1100/1200/1260/1290 series with ChemStation/OpenLab, Waters systems with MassLynx/FractionLynx, ThermoFisher XCalibur/Chromeleon, or comparable).
- Experience with mass spectrometry/gas phase chemistry and other hyphenated techniques (LC-MS, GC-MS, MS-MS) for compound identification.
- Knowledge of small molecule and general synthetic chemistry.
- Experience with MS-directed / mass-triggered preparative purification and automated open-access purification platforms.
- NMR interpretation for structure confirmation and purity assessment.
- Experience supporting medicinal chemistry or small-molecule drug discovery programs in a pharma or CRO setting.
- Familiarity with instrument automation, electronic lab notebooks, and chromatography data systems.
Work Environment & Physical Requirements:
- Laboratory-based role requiring routine work with solvents and reagents under appropriate engineering controls and PPE.
- Ability to stand for extended periods and lift laboratory items (typically up to ~40 lbs, e.g., solvent containers, plastic consumables).
Schedule: The person hired in this role will complete a 30-day training period with the existing Terray Purification team on a Monday-Friday 9AM-5PM schedule before switching over to a permanent Saturday to Wednesday or Wednesday to Saturday 4-day, 10-hour schedule, depending on the employee's choice prior to training.
Compensation Details: $70,500–$78,000 annually, depending on experience. Terray’s salary ranges are designed to be competitive and are benchmarked against market base salary plus bonus within our industry and market. We align pay to role scope, skill level, and impact.
We invest heavily in benefits because taking care of our people matters. Our programs are benchmarked at the top of the Southern California market and designed to provide meaningful support across every stage of life. Benefits include participation in the Company’s stock option plan, a 3% retirement safe harbor contribution, fully paid health, dental, vision insurance for our employees, spouse, partner and families as well as above-market life insurance, disability coverage, and much more to explore during the offer process.
Company Overview: Terray Therapeutics is a venture-backed biotechnology company where scientists and engineers build together to transform how small-molecule drugs are discovered and developed. By combining our nanotechnology, experimental science, machine learning, and automation, we leverage Terray’s ability to generate and learn from scale proprietary chemical data to discover novel medicines for patients in need.
At Terray, you will work alongside pioneers and experts in artificial intelligence, chemistry, drug discovery, automation, and nanotechnology in deeply interconnected workflows where computational and experimental teams continuously learn from one another. Our platform, EMMI (Experimentation Meets Machine Intelligence), powers iterative cycles of molecular design and wet-lab experimentation that rapidly improve our understanding of biochemical interactions and guide the next generation of discoveries.
Our teams support both an internal immunology pipeline and partnerships across a broad range of therapeutic areas. The work here is highly collaborative, fast-moving, and grounded in the belief that breakthroughs happen when strong science, thoughtful technology, and great people work closely together.