Technician – Mass Spectrometry / Analytics

About the role

You strongly support our mass spectrometry facilities in the day-to-day operation of our MS facility, with a particular focus on hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry (HDX-MS) but also intact mass and other standard LC-MS analyses. With your fast, accurate and well-organized way of working you ensure and substantially increase the throughput of our analytical pipeline. You prepare samples, execute MS analyses on LC-MS and HDX-MS workflows under the guidance of our Principal Scientist Mass Spectrometry, and contribute your experience in organizing and maintaining laboratory workflows to ensure smoothly running lab operations. Candidates should bring prior experience in mass spectrometry; however, not all activities described must already have been performed in a previous role. We value a strong foundation and the motivation to learn, with opportunities to grow and build further expertise on the job. You work in a fast-paced, highly collaborative and team-oriented startup environment with a strong commitment to delivering results in innovative ways that transcend traditional industry boundaries. 

What you’ll do

• Support in setting up, maintaining, and running the Mass Spectrometry facility, ensuring instruments, consumables, and shared resources are kept in optimal working condition. 
• Support the design, planning, and execution of HDX-MS experiments on single proteins and protein–protein or protein–ligand complexes related to cancer, neurodegenerative, and other diseases. 
• Perform sample preparation and execution of MS analyses under the guidance of our Principal Scientist, with a particular focus on HDX-MS experiments, but also intact mass, ion mobility, and standard LC-MS analyses. 
• Operate instrumentation in the mass spec facility, including handling of the LC system, stopped-flow, robotic HDX devices and the mass spectrometer. 
• Perform basic data processing and quality control of HDX-MS, intact mass, and other LC-MS dataset, and report results to our Principal Scientist. 
• Ensure that experimental data, protocols, and observations are accurately documented in the electronic lab notebook (ELN) daily. 
• Keep the lab inventory updated: order, receive, and track consumables, reagents, columns, solvents, and spare parts for the MS facility, and manage stocks to avoid downtime. 
• Participate in the preparation, revision and maintenance of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for sample preparation, instrument operation, and routine analytical workflows. 
• Perform routine instrument maintenance, basic troubleshooting and scheduled calibration; coordinate with engineers and vendors for preventive maintenance and repairs. 
• Contribute to the general operation, organization, cleanliness, and safety of the MS laboratory facilities, including handling of chemicals, solvents, and biological samples. 
• Operate and maintain auxiliary lab equipment such as pipetting robots, centrifuges, balances, pH meters, and -80 °C freezers. 
• Help in establishing and maintaining good laboratory practices and ensure compliance with health, safety, and environmental standards. 
• Share responsibility within the team in terms of defining objectives and meeting pre-set deadlines, and manage multiple time-dependent operations in parallel. 
• Carry out any other relevant duties as may reasonably be associated with the position, and which may be required from time to time. 

What you bring to the team

• Previous experience with Mass Spectrometry applications is a must. 
• Solid understanding of chromatographic principles and of the handling of biological samples and buffers.
• Demonstrated hands-on experience in a mass spectrometry laboratory, with practical knowledge of sample preparation for protein MS analyses.
• Experience with LC-MS instrumentation and MS-related software for operating the instruments and for basic data processing and evaluation. 
• Hands-on experience with HDX-MS workflows (e.g., automated HDX systems, peptic digestion, low-temperature/low-pH handling) is a strong plus. 
• Experience with ELN systems and proficiency in standard office software (MS Office) for data evaluation, reporting and presentation.
• Experience with intact mass analyses is a plus. 
• Vocational education as a laboratory technician
• A bachelor’s and master’s degree in biochemistry, chemistry, biotechnology, biology or a related science is required.
• At least two years of experience in a similar role or related laboratory experience is required, ideally in an industry or core facility setting.

Who you are: 

• Highly proactive mindset to solve technical problems and to support instrument troubleshooting and maintenance. 
• Strong scientific and organizational skills with great attention to detail, accuracy, and reproducibility. 
• You work independently 
• You are a great team player with excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• You are driven by integrity, enthusiasm, motivation, flexibility, confidence, and excellent collaboration skills. 
• You’re open-minded and eager to learn new techniques and instruments. 
• Fluency in spoken and written English is mandatory. Fluency in Italian is a plus. 

About Us 

Peptone is a category-defining translational biophysics company focusing on the intersection of physics, biology and supercomputing. 

Our interdisciplinary team consists of physicists, biologists, computational chemists, software engineers and mathematicians. We have created a company culture that is based on scientific and personal integrity and a highly supportive, inclusive attitude. Our curiosity and drive stem from the shared passion to contribute to our scientific understanding of proteins and to translate these insights into reality by developing drugs that make people’s lives better. 

Corporate Culture 

Default to transparency. As individuals, we view transparency as a lifestyle of authenticity, respect, and honesty. As a team, we view transparency as an effective way to work remotely and establish a culture of trust. 

Cultivate positivity. We strive to approach things in a positive way while realizing all emotions are valid. We encourage constructive feedback from team members and business partners to foster positive collaborations. 

Show gratitude. We regularly stop and demonstrate gratitude for our circumstances. We are reverent to our team, investors, advisors, and commercial partners who believed in us from the beginning and will always use this as a guiding light to growth. 

Practice reflection. We believe the act of introspection is where true learning and life-changing adjustments originate. We approach discussions intentionally and think through all angles. 

Improve consistently. We are biased toward action and have a higher expectation of ourselves and of our technology than others have of us. We aim to be fully engaged in our work and activities, and fully disconnected when we’re not working. 

Act beyond yourself. We consider the bigger picture, knowing our work goes beyond ourselves. We are not afraid of the less-traveled path if it holds true to our values and betters the world. 

Build Sustainably. Sustainability is at the core of our technology, research, and team values. Oppenheimer’s supercomputer runs on 100% renewable energy and mitigates the need for traditional high-throughput experiments in our Swiss lab. Our team is incentivized and committed to growing a sustainable future and corporate culture. 

Diversify. Diversity at all levels is paramount in translating biophysics to first in-class medicines while embracing the serendipity of science. Diversity in mindsets, gender, skills, backgrounds, and — because we are geeks, protein sequences — are key to building an impactful future for our patients. 

Patient Passion. Our team is interwoven with a passion for understanding the “why” of protein drug failures to avoid them. The integration of the Oppenheimer platform with our Swiss pre-clinical laboratory is an unwavering commitment to developing first-in-class protein therapeutics for our patients. 

Reverence to the giants. We embrace the fortitude and ingenuity of all the great minds and teams who advanced the field of protein biophysics to enable cutting-edge therapeutics. It is our honor to collaborate in this arena to pay homage to scientists who laid the very foundation. 

Committed to our Corporate Culture to embrace diversity, Peptone Ltd and affiliates are Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action employers building a culturally diverse workforce. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race; color; creed; religion; national origin; age; ancestry; nationality; marital, domestic partnership or civil union status; sex, gender, gender identity or expression; affectional or sexual orientation; disability; veteran or military status or liability for military status; domestic violence victim status; atypical cellular or blood trait; genetic information (including the refusal to submit to genetic testing) or any other characteristic protected by law. We believe in an agile working culture for all our roles. If flexibility is important to you, we encourage you to explore with our hiring team what the opportunities are. 

Our Mission 

Delivering first-in-class medicines for better patient outcomes is our obsession. Translating biophysics of intrinsic protein disorder to generate de novo protein therapeutics is our passion. 

What we bring

• A non-hierarchical environment where everyone has a voice to influence and shape the company’s future direction 
• An appreciative atmosphere with fair salaries, company benefits and top class working equipment. A highly dynamic environment with plenty of opportunities for career development 
• A highly skilled and interdisciplinary team that is passionate about proteins, science and business 
• A unique company giving you the opportunity to push the boundaries of biopharmaceutical drug development 
• A fast-paced company with novel science and academic rigor at its core 
• A company that values your contribution to scientific endeavor and supports presentation and publication of your novel discoveries 
• A flexible working setup to ensure a work-life balance