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 - $200K *

Champion the legal landscape for Phase 3 and commercial activities in the Americas, providing strategic counsel across the product lifecycle while partnering closely with commercial and medical affair...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$170K - $200K *

Lead cross-functional integration of data, analytics, evaluation, and governance to enhance healthcare AI products. Drive roadmap ownership, optimize workflows, ensure data quality, and foster collabo...

Palo Alto, CARemote

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$177K - $221K *

Champion regulatory excellence by leading cross-functional teams, ensuring compliance, and driving successful oncology drug development through strategic planning and expert guidance...

United StatesRemote

3 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$165K - $269K *

Drive innovation by owning a business domain and building AI solutions end-to-end. Collaborate with leaders, prototype impactful applications, and establish reusable patterns to enhance team productiv...

United StatesRemote

3 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Consumer Technology

$100K - $120K *

Transform client relationships by driving retention and growth in a dynamic SaaS environment. Collaborate with diverse stakeholders to maximize product adoption and uncover new opportunities, ensuring...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Consumer Technology

$186K - $233K *

Pioneer innovative strategies in breast oncology, driving commercial success through collaboration and data-driven insights. Lead cross-functional teams to enhance product adoption and optimize market...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$299K - $369K *

Unlock your career potential by driving strategic medical partnerships with US health systems in oncology. Collaborate across functions to enhance evidence generation and meet healthcare priorities th...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$115K - $150K *

Join a team that's dedicated to guiding recovery efforts post-disaster. Lead a multi-disciplinary team, leveraging your expertise in FEMA programs to support local governments through complex recovery...

RemoteRemote

Today

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Business Services

$120K - $145K *

Explore the complexities of Russian and Eurasian crypto threats, owning end-to-end attribution and analysis. Collaborate with a global team to produce actionable intelligence and represent expertise i...

United StatesRemote

3 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$120K - $145K *

Unlock your potential by leading customer discovery and product definition. Drive cross-functional collaboration to translate insights into actionable requirements, manage product backlogs, and delive...

Pennsylvania, USRemote

Reposted today

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$80K - $100K *

Lead the execution of software delivery by managing internal teams and vendor partnerships. Oversee backlog management, sprint execution, and ensure alignment between business needs and engineering ca...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$130K - $160K *

Drive innovation by leading plume modeling and forecasting for aerosol injection studies. Collaborate with multi-disciplinary teams to enhance forecasting capabilities and support field experiments, e...

San Francisco, CARemote

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Energy & Utilities

$120K - $200K *

The Optomechanical Engineer at Scout Space will lead the design and development of hardware systems for on-orbit perception and autonomy capabilities. This role involves creating detailed mechanical d...

Reston, VARemote

Reposted 4 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$125K - $225K *

Elevate project success by leading multidisciplinary teams in nuclear design and program management, ensuring safety, quality, and compliance across all phases of construction and operations for compl...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Real Estate & Construction

$200K - $250K *

Innovate and shape the technical strategy for a cutting-edge exchange platform. Lead high-impact initiatives, mentor engineers, and drive architectural decisions in a regulated environment to enhance...

RemoteRemote

Yesterday

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$130K - $145K *

Oversee strategic marketing initiatives to enhance brand visibility and engagement. Collaborate across teams to execute campaigns, manage events, and promote thought leadership, driving growth and awa...

Rockville, MDRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$102K - $122K *

Join a team that crafts innovative commerce and digital strategies for premium clients across various major retail platforms, enhancing their market performance and driving impactful results through c...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$250K - $275K *

Join us to lead clinical operations for a multi-state virtual care team, ensuring high-quality, timely care. This role combines direct patient care, administrative leadership, and strategic oversight...

United StatesRemote

Today

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$150K - $180K *

Unlock advanced data science solutions as you drive entity resolution and classification, enhance AML compliance models, and lead NLP initiatives within a dynamic team focused on real-time risk assess...

California City, CARemote

1 month ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$130K - $160K *

Lead strategic sourcing initiatives and oversee subcontract administration, driving compliance and risk management while fostering collaboration across teams to optimize procurement outcomes and enhan...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

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

$120K - $150K *

Transform complex challenges into scalable AI solutions by collaborating with enterprise clients, guiding projects from concept to deployment, and delivering impactful results across the entire custom...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 4 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$110K - $130K *

Elevate project delivery by leading cross-functional teams to execute strategic initiatives. Transform complex requirements into actionable plans while ensuring alignment across stakeholders and enhan...

Atlanta, GARemote

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Technical Services

$125K - $155K *

Champion strategic initiatives by connecting breakthrough chemistry with market opportunities. Collaborate across teams to drive government partnerships, proposals, and commercial growth, transforming...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Energy & Utilities

$100K - $120K *

Unlock potential by leading a dynamic portfolio of Cybersecurity Services, ensuring timely delivery and high-quality outcomes. Collaborate with stakeholders to manage budgets, risks, and project lifec...

Texas, USRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$74K - $125K *

Lead the charge in modernizing a federal agency's data ecosystem. Collaborate with stakeholders to translate needs into actionable features, ensuring backlog readiness and supporting AI initiatives in...

RemoteRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Business 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.