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Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md). --- # Sr. Applications Scientist - **Company:** Rigaku Americas Corp - **Location:** Spring, TX, United States - **Experience:** Expert - **Contract:** Permanent contract - **Skills:** Artificial Intelligence, Data Analysis, Application Notes, Laboratory Information Management Systems - **Published:** July 18, 2026 - **Apply:** https://diversityjobs.com/main/sendform/8/8/28176/1/17627690?backUrl=%2Fcareer%2F17627690%2FSr-Applications-Scientist-Texas-The-Woodlands ## About the Role * Bachelor's degree or higher in chemistry, materials science, geology, physics, engineering, or a related scientific discipline. * Strong hands-on experience with XRF spectroscopy, including method development, calibration, sample preparation, data interpretation, instrument operation, and customer-facing applications support. * Working knowledge of WD-XRF and/or ED-XRF instrumentation and analytical workflows; experience with both is preferred. * Practical experience with XRF sample preparation techniques such as pressed pellets, fused beads, powders, liquids, solids, metals, and application-specific workflows. * Experience leading complex technical projects, reviewing analytical results, and delivering clear recommendations to customers or internal stakeholders. * Ability to coach, mentor, and raise the technical quality of other applications team members without requiring direct line-management responsibility. * Strong communication and presentation skills, with the ability to explain methods, assumptions, limitations, results, and next steps to technical and non-technical audiences. * Experience supporting pre-sales demonstrations, post-sales training, method implementation, calibration support, troubleshooting, or customer success activities. * Ability to manage multiple projects, maintain high standards of laboratory work, work regularly on-site in The Woodlands, TX, and travel as needed, estimated at approximately up to 50% annually, for customer sales opportunities, consulting, training, trade shows/conferences, factory coordination, and product planning/development activities. * Preferred experience includes Rigaku or comparable XRF platforms, industrial XRF applications, MicroXRF, TXRF, XRD, Thermal Analysis, automated laboratories, robotics-enabled sample handling, LIMS connectivity, or AI-driven lab workflows. ## Description Rigaku Americas is seeking a Senior XRF Applications Scientist to serve as a hands-on technical lead for customer-facing XRF applications work in The Woodlands, TX. This role will lead the technical execution of pre-sales sample projects, method development, demonstrations, customer presentations, post-sales training, calibration support, and method implementation. The Senior XRF Applications Scientist will help execute those objectives by providing deep XRF expertise, ensuring high-quality project execution, and mentoring other XRF Applications Scientists and Applications Specialists on the team., * Lead hands-on execution of XRF applications projects, including customer sample testing, feasibility studies, sample preparation, instrument operation, calibration, method development, data analysis, and reporting. * Support pre-sales opportunities by proving analytical performance, demonstrating methods and ease of use, preparing results, and presenting findings with the commercial team in person or online. * Develop, optimize, and document WD-XRF and ED-XRF methods for diverse sample types and industrial applications, including cement, mining, batteries, pharma, petrochemicals, metals, ceramics, semiconductors, and advanced materials. * Provide post-sales applications support, including customer training, calibration and method commissioning, troubleshooting, how-to guidance, and ad hoc technical support. * Review project scope, execution plans, analytical results, data reports, and customer deliverables prepared by Applications Scientists and Applications Specialists to strengthen quality, consistency, and technical rigor. * Mentor and develop other XRF technical team members in XRF fundamentals, sample preparation, method development, data interpretation, customer communication, and project discipline. * Support readiness and proper operation of XRF instruments while coordinating needs and priorities with the XRF Applications Manager. * Support sample preparation workflows and equipment, including grinders, pellet presses, fusion equipment, reference materials, standards, lab supplies, and consumables. * Contribute technical proof points, application notes, demonstration workflows, and best practices that support growth of Rigaku's XRF business and key account relationships. * Participate in strategic growth areas, automation-ready XRF workflows, and AI-driven autonomous lab concepts integrating XRF with XRD, Thermal Analysis, and other analytical technologies. ## Related Videos - [Edit Your Future: Queerverse Radical AI](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/909-edit-your-future-queerverse-radical-ai) - [Data Science, ML & AI in the Oil and Gas Industry at NDT Global - Dr. Katja Träumner](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1308-data-science-ml-ai-in-the-oil-and-gas-industry-at-ndt-global-dr-katja-traumner) - [Developing the Backend with Stefan Lingler, CTO at Shpock](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/100360-developing-the-backend-with-stefan-lingler-cto-at-shpock) - [Data Science in Retail](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/586-data-science-in-retail) - [Geometric deep learning for drug discovery](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/264-geometric-deep-learning-for-drug-discovery) - [Hiring Talent in Tech without Unconscious Bias](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1057-hiring-talent-in-tech-without-unconscious-bias) ## Related Articles - [Why Attend a Developer Event in 2026?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/688-why-attend-a-developer-event-in-2026) - [Dev Digest 121 - AI goes offline](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/456-dev-digest-121-ai-goes-offline) - [Fully Remote Software Engineer Jobs](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/447-fully-remote-software-engineer-jobs) - [Top HR Tech Conferences in 2024](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/303-top-hr-tech-conferences-in-2024) - [Résumé-Driven Development: How IT trends affect the job market for software developers](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/59-resume-driven-development-how-it-trends-affect-the-job-market-for-software-developers) - [5 Reasons Why Attending Conferences in 2026 Matters More Than You Think](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/692-5-reasons-why-attending-conferences-in-2026-matters-more-than-you-think)