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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$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

$147K - $274K *

Transform the future of search and information retrieval by designing and deploying large-scale systems that enhance legal, tax, and accounting content, ensuring reliable and measurable impact across...

New York, NYRemote

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Media

$110K - $130K *

Join a dynamic team to drive strategic initiatives and enhance global health outcomes. Collaborate with senior leadership to synthesize complex data, manage special projects, and prepare impactful com...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 2 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$190K - $220K *

Lead the legal function by managing commercial agreements and advising on compliance. Collaborate with business teams to ensure rapid deal execution while mitigating risks. Drive process improvements...

Johnson City, TNRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$125K - $150K *

Empower your career by leading our Quality Management System and cultivating a quality-centric culture. Collaborate across teams to define standards, manage audits, and support regulatory compliance a...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$110K - $130K *

Transform numerical capabilities by developing innovative algorithms and solutions, engaging in model building, and collaborating with software teams to enhance product performance and deliver impactf...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$110K - $130K *

Champion the development of innovative modeling capabilities to enhance our advanced simulation framework, collaborating with engineers to integrate numerical methods and apply machine learning for mo...

Seattle, WARemote

3 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Staffing

$110K - $130K *

Elevate your career by providing expert epidemiological insights into occupational exposures for military aviation and firefighter data sets, driving impactful research and analysis to enhance safety...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$150K - $180K *

Champion global physical security and resiliency initiatives by providing strategic leadership to enhance safety for employees and assets while driving compliance across all company operations and thi...

United StatesRemote

Reposted today

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$140K - $175K *

Empower scientific innovation by collaborating within product pods to develop and evaluate real-world evidence agents. Drive impactful research and ensure scientific rigor while partnering with indust...

United StatesRemote

3 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$152K - $278K *

Elevate innovation by designing and deploying advanced AI solutions, collaborating with cross-functional teams to drive business impact through cutting-edge technology and data-driven strategies in a...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Telecommunications & Hardware

$200K - $300K *

Join a team that's pioneering AI-driven biological research, developing reinforcement learning methods and generative models. Influence core strategies and work with cutting-edge tech to bridge modeli...

Emeryville, CARemote

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$140K - $175K *

Transform data into insights by designing and maintaining scalable knowledge graph solutions. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure data quality and accessibility, while optimizing perform...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$120K - $150K *

Shape the future of applied science by leading a dynamic team to develop and implement quantitative models, driving insights that enhance marketplace performance and inform strategic decisions across...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$100K - $140K *

Deliver impactful project leadership in a multi-phase AI integration program, ensuring timely execution and alignment with strategic goals while fostering collaboration across technical and leadership...

Virginia, USRemote

Yesterday

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$280K - $300K *

Pioneer innovative AI solutions in workforce management, leading product development from concept to deployment. Collaborate with engineers and executives to create impactful agentic products that enh...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$173K - $205K *

Shape the future of neurology by leading in vivo pharmacology studies, collaborating with cross-functional teams, and driving data-driven decisions for IND submissions in a dynamic biotech environment...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$120K - $180K *

Shape the future of neuroscience by leveraging AI to enhance research methodologies. Collaborate with experts to define benchmarks, analyze data, and ensure AI agents meet rigorous scientific standard...

San Francisco, CARemote

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$200K - $250K *

Make your mark at the forefront of clinical operations, driving global studies from strategy to execution while ensuring operational integration across teams and vendors for successful Phase 3 program...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   15+ years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$110K - $120K *

Lead product delivery for a major federal IT program, overseeing multiple teams and ensuring timely execution of product line deliverables. Drive strategic planning, manage dependencies, and enhance d...

Rockville, MDRemote

1 week ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$150K - $190K *

Unlock potential by leading analytical strategies for drug development, ensuring robust quality control throughout product lifecycle. Collaborate with partners to deliver exceptional insights that dri...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$82K - $87K *

Join a team that's dedicated to advancing research through technology. Lead and mentor a talented group of professionals in delivering high-performance computing solutions that support innovative rese...

Indiana, USRemote

3 weeks ago

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

$215K - $240K *

Shape the future of drug development by leading analytical strategies, ensuring compliance and optimization of processes across lifecycle stages, and collaborating with cross-functional teams and exte...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$110K - $130K *

Play a key role in transforming raw data into actionable insights by building machine-learning systems. Collaborate across teams to analyze complex datasets and create innovative models for logistics...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Transportation

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.