Explore Chief Scientist Jobs

Chief Scientists guide an organization’s scientific vision, research strategy, and technical innovation. These senior leaders help turn complex research into meaningful products, services, and discoveries while advising executives on scientific opportunities and risks. Explore vetted Chief Scientist opportunities paying $100,000 or more on Ladders.

What Does a Chief Scientist Do?

Responsibilities vary by organization and industry, but commonly include setting research priorities, leading multidisciplinary teams, overseeing experiments and development programs, evaluating emerging technologies, and communicating findings to business and government leaders. Chief Scientists may also shape research budgets, build partnerships with universities or laboratories, and ensure that work meets ethical, regulatory, and quality standards.

Common Skills and Qualifications

Employers often seek a strong record of scientific achievement, deep expertise in a relevant discipline, and experience leading research teams or complex programs. A doctoral degree is common in many fields, though requirements depend on the role. Strategic thinking, clear communication, collaboration, and the ability to connect scientific evidence with organizational goals are valuable across industries.

Industries and Career Opportunities

Chief Scientist roles are available in areas such as biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, artificial intelligence, aerospace, energy, government, and advanced manufacturing. Titles and reporting structures differ: some positions focus on fundamental research, while others lead applied science, product development, or enterprise-wide innovation.

Find Chief Scientist Roles on Ladders

Use Ladders to explore vetted professional opportunities with salaries of $100,000 or more. Review each listing’s responsibilities, qualifications, location, and compensation details to identify roles that fit your expertise and leadership goals.

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$160K - $190K *

Empower your career by partnering with the Science Leadership Team to drive strategic initiatives, enhance operational effectiveness, and translate scientific vision into impactful outcomes across div...

United StatesRemote

3 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$140K - $155K *

Pioneer your career in cell therapy innovation by leading method transfers and validations. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure compliance and drive quality in late-stage clinical develo...

RemoteRemote

6 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$120K - $145K *

Join a dynamic team as you bridge scientific R&D and digital strategy, guiding customers to realize value through complex solutions tailored to their unique challenges. Drive transformation and ensure...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$100K - $120K *

Transform your career by guiding scientific innovation for research leaders, leveraging Cradle's cutting-edge platform. Partner with sales to enhance customer strategies while shaping product evolutio...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$150K - $180K *

Engineer advanced protein design models and collaborate with experts to innovate in AI Drug Discovery, driving the development of candidate antibody therapeutics through deep learning and systems biol...

United StatesRemote

Reposted yesterday

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$125K - $150K *

Optimize the AI core systems transforming public records into actionable data. Collaborate with research and engineering to enhance scalability, efficiency, and accuracy across national applications...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Real Estate & Construction

$200K - $280K *

Accelerate progress at the forefront of AI in biology by leading a team to design benchmarks and enhance model performance. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive innovation and ensure quali...

San Francisco, CARemote

4 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$150K - $180K *

Join a team that's redefining scientific data management in drug discovery. Lead the scientific data team, bridging scientists and engineers to ensure data integrity, quality, and innovative solutions...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$144K - $189K *

Unlock potential by leading product innovation in clinical genomics. Shape tools for case management and data workflows, ensuring efficiency and quality while collaborating with lab directors and engi...

United StatesRemote

3 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$164K - $184K *

Lead the charge in driving impactful research studies from conception through publication, combining unique data sources to provide actionable insights for executives. Engage with senior stakeholders...

United StatesRemote

4 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$150K - $350K *

Transform the landscape of reinforcement learning by designing evaluations and environments that enhance model training and performance. Collaborate with researchers to identify and address model fail...

San Francisco, CARemote

4 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$150K - $180K *

Shape the future of oncology by leading biologics process development and manufacturing. Collaborate across teams to ensure compliance and quality in clinical-stage products, while mentoring scientist...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$150K - $180K *

Transform innovative protein design through advanced AI techniques, enhancing antibody drug discovery. Collaborate across disciplines to maximize efficiency and impact, while leading research that set...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$110K - $130K *

Empower clinical research by leading studies in infectious diseases, ensuring scientific integrity and collaboration with stakeholders. Drive trial design, monitor data, and support medical activities...

RemoteRemote

2 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$155K - $170K *

Lead complex research initiatives by transforming business questions into actionable insights. Collaborate with clients to design robust studies, ensuring methodological integrity and advancing resear...

RemoteRemote

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Media

$110K - $130K *

Unlock potential by developing machine-learning solutions for biological datasets, integrating protein structures with phenotypic data, and communicating insights to diverse stakeholders. Drive innova...

New Jersey, USRemote

5 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$162K - $188K *

Accelerate progress at a pivotal organization by leading revenue strategies, managing key relationships, and enhancing brand visibility. Drive fundraising efforts to meet ambitious goals while fosteri...

Oakland, CARemote

5 days ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Education, Government & Non-Profit

$150K - $180K *

Lead groundbreaking research in AI safety and evaluation, bridging academic rigor with real-world challenges. Drive innovative methodologies and collaborate with top-tier institutions to enhance respo...

United StatesRemote

2 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$150K - $180K *

Lead the charge in developing and overseeing scientific content across multiple therapeutic areas, ensuring high-quality contributions and strategic client interactions to drive growth and innovation...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$120K *

Lead the charge in tropical cyclone research, utilizing advanced satellite data to enhance forecasting and decision support systems. Collaborate with experts to develop innovative methodologies and se...

Madison, WIRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Education, Government & Non-Profit

$93K - $124K *

Lead investigations into employee conduct and integrity issues, ensuring compliance and accountability. Collaborate with key stakeholders to deliver fact-based outcomes, while managing sensitive situa...

United StatesRemote

Reposted today

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Telecommunications & Hardware

$150K - $220K *

Transform diverse big data into actionable insights by designing, developing, and deploying cutting-edge AI-driven applications. Collaborate with teams to optimize models and create robust ML pipeline...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$110K - $130K *

Join us to lead the development and execution of clinical study designs, ensuring effective project management and collaboration across teams. Your expertise will drive the success of clinical trials...

United StatesRemote

6 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Staffing

$150K - $180K *

Shape innovative AI/ML initiatives to enhance student engagement and retention. Lead cross-functional teams to develop predictive models and data pipelines, driving measurable outcomes for thousands o...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Education, Government & Non-Profit

$95K - $115K *

Support the transition of JEDI data assimilation to operations, collaborating on research and development for atmospheric data assimilation, focusing on innovative methods in numerical weather predict...

College Park, MDRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Technical Services

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

  • What does a Chief Scientist do?question toggle

    A Chief Scientist leads or advises an organization’s research and scientific strategy. The role may include setting priorities, managing research teams, evaluating new technologies, overseeing development programs, and communicating scientific findings to senior leaders.

  • What qualifications are typically required for Chief Scientist jobs?question toggle

    Requirements depend on the field and employer. Many positions call for advanced expertise, a strong record of research or innovation, and experience leading teams or programs. A Ph.D. is common in some scientific disciplines, while other roles may value equivalent industry experience.

  • Which industries hire Chief Scientists?question toggle

    Chief Scientists work in fields including biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, artificial intelligence, aerospace, energy, government, and advanced manufacturing.

  • How much do Chief Scientists earn?question toggle

    Compensation varies by industry, location, organization, and scope of responsibility. Ladders focuses on vetted professional jobs paying $100,000 or more; check individual listings for available salary information.

  • How can I find Chief Scientist jobs paying $100,000 or more?question toggle

    Browse Chief Scientist listings on Ladders and review each role’s salary information, responsibilities, location, and qualifications to find opportunities suited to your background.