Application Scientist - Raman Forensics

Job Description

Job DescriptionAbout Pendar Technologies

Pendar Technologies designs and manufactures advanced chemical analysis instruments for mission-critical applications, delivering reliable answers in challenging environments. Our products are trusted by public safety professionals, forensic scientists, and defense agencies to provide rapid and accurate chemical intelligence in the field and in the lab. We are a small, multidisciplinary team driven by scientific rigor, engineering excellence, and the desire to make a tangible impact in safety and forensic science.

You:

• Have experience with forensic workflows, particularly seized drug analysis.
• Are deeply familiar with Raman spectroscopy, ideally including SERS.
• Have strong general chemistry knowledge, and are comfortable managing the purchase, handling, storage, and disposal of laboratory chemicals in compliance with safety regulations.
• Are motivated by real-world problems faced by forensic chemists and public safety users.
• Thrive in a hands-on role developing, testing, and refining analytical methods.
• Value pragmatic experimentation, iterative development, and cross-functional collaboration.
• Communicate clearly and effectively in both scientific writing and technical discussions.
• ·Are reliable, self-directed, and excited to build technology that matters.

The Role

As an Application Scientist reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, you will lead scientific and technical efforts to support the use of our Raman platforms in forensic science, with a focus on drug chemistry and trace evidence. You will help shape analytical methods, support product development, and engage directly with the forensic science community.

• Today, you will…
  • Design and run experiments using Pendar's Raman platforms.
  • Explore and evaluate sample prep techniques, substrates, and field-relevant workflows.
  • Collaborate with R&D and software teams to align product features with specific use cases.
  • Draft technical notes and user-facing materials based on experimental results.
  • Support customer-facing efforts with your subject-matter expertise.
• In six months, you will have…
  • Taken ownership of method development and validation for at least one application area.
  • Built working relationships with external collaborators.
  • Co-authored application notes or white papers.
  • Delivered a presentation at a leading scientific conference.
• In one year, you will have…
  • Established yourself as a key scientific contributor within the applications team.
  • Led validation studies or collaborative pilots with outside labs on Raman-based workflows.
  • Contributed to technical requirements definition for future instrument features.
  • Helped define best practices for field and laboratory use of Raman in forensic drug analysis.

Location and Additional information

• This is a full-time position, fully on-site in Cambridge, MA, accessible by car, bike, and bus.
• Competitive benefits include healthcare, dental, vision, and matching 401k.
• Salary range: $110,000–$140,000, commensurate with experience and capabilities.

Join our Team

Join a growing technology company developing cutting-edge optomechanical and spectroscopy instruments, where you'll take projects from concept to deployment and collaborate with a top-notch multidisciplinary engineering team.

We welcome applicants who are excited to build world-class hardware that makes a real impact.