Application Scientist / Spectroscopist (FTIR / Raman / FT NIR) – Middle East and Africa

Job Description :

Work Schedule

Standard (Mon-Fri)

Environmental Conditions

Adherence to all Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) Safety Standards, Laboratory Setting, Office, Some degree of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) required (safety glasses, gowning, gloves, lab coat, ear plugs etc.), Will work with hazardous/toxic materials

As part of the Thermo Fisher Scientific team, you'll discover meaningful work that makes a positive impact on a global scale. Join our colleagues in bringing our Mission to life every single day to enable our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer. We provide our global teams with the resources needed to achieve individual career goals while helping to take science a step beyond by developing solutions for some of the world's toughest challenges, like protecting the environment, making sure our food is safe or helping find cures for cancer.

Application Scientist / Spectroscopist (FTIR / Raman / FT‑NIR) - Middle East and Africa

Primary Location: UAE - Dubai
Note: You will have to travel regularly to Sharjah for equipment demonstration duties.

Primary Territory / Coverage

Middle East and Africa (customer-facing regional coverage partnership with ME and Africa sales team and EMEA Sales team

Travel

50% travel required. Travel is predominantly within ME and Africa, with additional EMEA travel as needed to support customers and business priorities.

Position Summary

The Application Scientist/Spectroscopist provides expert technical leadership for industrial micro- and macro-sample analysis using FTIR, FT‑NIR and Raman, including FTIR microscopy. The role delivers high-impact pre‑sales and post‑sales applications support, customer trainings, sample/data interpretation, and on-site technical problem solving across the Middle East and Africa territory, while also maintaining strong readiness for wider EMEA needs.

This position also has direct accountability for applications lab management (instrument readiness, workflow, safety, and customer demo/training execution) and serves as a key technical partner to commercial teams to protect and grow the regional opportunity.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

A) Field & Customer Applications Support (Pre‑Sales / Post‑Sales)

• Serve as the subject matter expert for spectroscopy-based industrial applications using FTIR, FT‑NIR, Raman and FTIR microscopy.
• Lead discovery with customers to understand requirements and recommend fit-for-purpose solutions (technique selection, sampling approach, workflows, and best practices).

• Execute customer-facing activities including:
  • feasibility discussions and application qualification
  • in-lab and on-site demonstrations
  • method guidance and troubleshooting support
  • customer onboarding and technical trainings (including paid trainings where applicable)
• Deliver expert spectral/data interpretation and provide clear conclusions aligned to customer goals (FTIR/FT‑NIR/Raman/FTIR microscopy).
• Produce high-quality customer reports aligned to customer requirements and clearly communicating technical outcomes and ROI/value.

B) Technical Expertise & Instrument Troubleshooting

• Provide hands-on instrument troubleshooting (initial diagnostics, root-cause thinking, and coordination with service as required).
• Maintain deep working knowledge of spectroscopy workflows relevant to industrial sample matrices and customer use cases.

C) Lab Ownership & Management (Required)

• Own day-to-day applications lab management, including:
  • instrument/demo readiness and scheduling
  • sample intake, handling, preparation and storage
  • lab workflow planning to meet customer deadlines
  • consumables tracking and inventory coordination
  • documentation, good lab practices, and EHS compliance
  • continuous improvement of lab processes and customer experience

D) Stakeholder & Territory Collaboration

• Partner closely with ME and Africa commercial teams and the wider EMEA network to support opportunity development and improve win probability through strong technical engagement.

• Collaborate cross-functionally (applications, service, product management, sales leadership) to ensure consistent customer outcomes and internal alignment.

Minimum Qualifications (Required)

• Education: BSc required MSc/PhD preferred in Physical Chemistry, Materials Science, Analytical Chemistry, or equivalent experience.
• Experience: Minimum 2 years hands-on experience operating FTIR instruments, including FTIR microscope experience.
• Demonstrated experience handling and preparing a wide variety of sample matrices (industrial/real-world samples).
• Proven capability in spectral/data interpretation across FTIR / FT‑NIR / Raman / FTIR microscopy.
• Hands-on capability and confidence in instrument troubleshooting.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to produce clear customer reports tied to requirements and outcomes/ROI.
• Strong time management and ability to deliver high-quality work efficiently, meeting deadlines, and working with limited supervision.
• Location requirement: Must live in Dubai and travel regularly in ME and Africa
• Travel requirement: Willing and able to travel 50%, mainly within Middle East and Africa region, with EMEA travel as required.

Preferred Qualifications (Nice to Have)

• Experience with Raman spectroscopy and/or FT‑NIR spectroscopy in industrial applications.
• Experience delivering customer trainings, method development, feasibility/demos, and supporting commercial teams in a customer-facing applications role.
• Additional local languages relevant to the territory , in addition to professional English.

Knowledge, Skills & Competencies

• Deep spectroscopy competence (FTIR/FT‑NIR/Raman microscopy workflows) and strong analytical problem solving.
• Customer-first mindset: ability to translate needs into practical solutions and communicate trade-offs clearly.
• Strong documentation/reporting discipline communicates clearly with internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to prioritize and execute in a high-demand environment (multiple opportunities, deadlines, and travel).