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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$170K - $200K *

Unlock potential by leading advanced analytics and experimentation initiatives. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to design and deploy machine learning solutions, driving data-driven decision-ma...

San Antonio, TXRemote

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$120K - $145K *

Unlock insights by leading data-driven sales forecasting initiatives, analyzing trends, and developing robust models to influence strategic revenue decisions while collaborating with cross-functional...

United StatesRemote

4 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Food & Beverages

$150K - $180K *

Champion innovative healthcare research by leading complex evaluations and business development initiatives, fostering collaboration among diverse experts to enhance Medicare and Medicaid services and...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

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

$150K - $180K *

Pioneer innovative AI solutions by designing autonomous agents that enhance manufacturing workflows. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to optimize data pipelines and drive impactful results in a...

Idaho Falls, IDRemote

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$130K - $160K *

Lead governance initiatives in a multi-cloud environment, managing a team to secure and optimize cloud operations. Oversee compliance, develop policies, and optimize costs while ensuring alignment wit...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$110K - $130K *

Lead the charge in defining and executing critical technical programs, enhancing research infrastructure while ensuring impactful collaboration across teams. Empower researchers to translate their wor...

RemoteRemote

Reposted 3 weeks ago

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

$220K - $240K *

Drive strategic growth and operational excellence in a B2B SaaS environment, overseeing P&L, leading a diverse team, and integrating scalable subscription models with custom enterprise solutions to en...

United StatesRemote

Yesterday

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Business Services

$80K - $95K *

Join a dynamic team as a technical expert in RF systems, supporting overseas deployments for U.S. Government sponsors. Ensure mission success through installation, maintenance, and troubleshooting of...

Melbourne, FLRemote

2 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Technical Services

$172K - $202K *

Lead the charge in delivering impactful research and insights in analytics and AI. Collaborate with clients to identify needs, drive strategies, and produce high-quality content that shapes market tre...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Business Services

$169K - $200K *

Empower growth by serving as a vital HR Business Partner, collaborating with leaders across technical domains to scale high-performing teams while driving people strategies aligned with business goals...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$130K - $145K *

Empower business growth by leveraging advanced analytics to drive data-driven decision-making across Commercial, Operations, and Finance, transforming complex data into actionable insights for measura...

RemoteRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$210K - $250K *

Engage in leading Medical Affairs strategy across the Americas, overseeing operations, enhancing collaboration with KOLs, and driving patient recruitment for clinical trials while managing a high-perf...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 4 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$120K - $150K *

Champion continuous improvement initiatives by optimizing processes and products across the organization. Lead cross-functional teams to enhance operational efficiency, quality, and customer experienc...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$160K - $185K *

Lead the charge in advancing speech and audio models by defining data specifications, evaluating methodologies, and collaborating with customers and labs to enhance machine learning research in dynami...

United StatesRemote

4 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$165K *

Engage in cutting-edge AI projects by developing and deploying NLP models. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to optimize performance and scalability, utilizing frameworks like PyTorch or TensorF...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$120K - $135K *

Join a team that shapes innovative medical strategies, driving excellence in healthcare content. Collaborate with experts, cultivate client relationships, and inspire teams to elevate project outcomes...

RemoteRemote

Reposted 6 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$135K - $150K *

Develop and expand advanced orbit design processes for satellite constellations, applying expertise in orbital mechanics. Collaborate with teams to enhance modeling tools and support mission planning...

Seattle, WARemote

4 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$90K - $120K *

Drive the design and implementation of impactful data products, enhancing CREW's intelligence platform. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to translate stakeholder needs into effective solutions...

RemoteRemote

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Energy & Utilities

$122K *

Elevate your career by managing global projects in Neuroscience, ensuring compliance, budget adherence, and successful collaboration across cross-functional teams to drive milestone achievement and en...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$150K - $180K *

Lead the design and development of complex software systems, ensuring architectural consistency and best practices. Collaborate with teams to deliver scalable solutions while mentoring engineers and d...

United StatesRemote

Today

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$150K - $214K *

Join a team that's redefining healthcare product management through innovative supply chain solutions. Lead cross-functional initiatives and shape the future of resilience in healthcare with strategic...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$80K - $95K *

Lead the charge in deploying and maintaining advanced technical surveillance tools. Collaborate with investigators to support critical operations, ensuring effective evidence collection while managing...

Texas, USRemote

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Legal & Accounting

$175K - $225K *

Lead the charge in shaping strategic program management across a diverse client portfolio. Oversee a team of professionals to ensure excellence in execution, governance, and client engagement while dr...

Boston, MARemote

Yesterday

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Business Services

$141K - $234K *

Transform healthcare analytics by leveraging advanced statistics and machine learning to uncover insights from complex datasets. Collaborate with experts to innovate and develop data-driven solutions...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$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

3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

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.