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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Senior Principal Mission Engineer
$153K - $190K *
Join a team that's empowering the U.S. Air Force's Big Safari mission by providing expert mission engineering support for advanced Electromagnetic Battle Management systems and enhancing cross-platfor...
Reposted 3 weeks ago
$120K - $150K *
Champion quality compliance initiatives and drive operational excellence by enhancing inspection readiness, regulatory strategy, and risk management programs. Lead cross-functional teams to ensure dat...
3 weeks ago
Senior Manager, Analytical Sciences
$170K - $185K *
Lead the charge in analytical research and development to drive innovation for therapeutic solutions in oncology. Collaborate with cross-functional teams, ensuring timely and efficient project deliver...
4 weeks ago
$110K - $130K *
Drive modernization efforts by managing enterprise systems and infrastructure. Collaborate with teams to ensure high availability, performance, and security while delivering innovative solutions and t...
2 days ago
$67K - $112K *
Champion advanced analytics solutions by developing predictive models and leading engagements to drive business value for financial institutions. Collaborate with stakeholders to translate insights in...
Today
Principal Technologist - AI Compute
$160K - $190K *
Join a leading tech firm to drive AI compute infrastructure innovations. As a Principal Technologist, you'll engage with industry leaders, lead complex pre-sales solutions, and mentor teams to deliver...
1 month ago
Staff + Sr. Software Engineer, Cloud Inference
$320K - $485K *
Engineer seamless cloud services for Claude, driving efficiency and scalability across major CSPs by building robust backend systems and cross-functional collaboration for optimized performance and co...
3 weeks ago
Business Operations, Product & Science
$250K - $300K *
Shape the future of scientific innovation by leading operational strategies that bridge AI and physical sciences. Drive cross-functional coordination, enhance research visibility, and partner with lea...
Reposted 3 weeks ago
$95K - $115K *
Drive your career with a dynamic role managing cross-functional teams to enhance program performance and profitability. Engage with diverse projects while ensuring adherence to schedules, budgets, and...
2 days ago
$186K - $316K *
Join us to lead the development of innovative insulin delivery fluid-path systems. Drive technical strategy, mentor talent, and collaborate across teams to enhance product performance and patient expe...
1 week ago
$186K - $316K *
Unlock potential by leading the development of innovative insulin delivery fluid-path systems. Drive technical strategy from concept to commercialization, enhancing product performance and usability w...
1 week ago
GSRS Global Destruction Program Manager
$157K - $227K *
Lead the charge in managing global secure destruction programs, ensuring the safe disposal of sensitive assets while collaborating with cross-functional teams to enhance security protocols and operati...
1 week ago
Senior Staff Applied Scientist
$159K - $324K *
Shape the future of eCommerce innovation by designing scalable ML systems to enhance counterfeit detection, optimize operations, and drive data-driven decision-making through advanced machine learning...
Reposted 3 weeks ago
Associate Director, Scientific Strategy
$110K - $130K *
Join a team that's shaping innovative scientific communication strategies. This role combines advanced content development with strategic leadership across therapeutic areas, engaging directly with cl...
3 weeks ago
Associate Director, Scientific Strategy
$125K - $150K *
Unlock your potential in advanced scientific communication and strategic leadership. Collaborate on integrated medical communications across therapeutic areas, creating impactful content and guiding i...
3 weeks ago
$204K - $272K *
Join our team as a Principal Network Engineer, where you'll lead the design and security of a multi-site network, enhancing lab operations and driving innovation in network architecture across diverse...
3 days ago
Data Scientist (Forward Deployed)
$125K - $150K *
Shape data-driven solutions by leveraging your expertise in machine learning and analytics. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver impactful insights and ensure seamless deployment in prod...
Reposted 3 weeks ago
Principal Scientist and Group Leader, Antibody Engineering
$141K - $262K *
Drive biotherapeutic innovation as a Principal Scientist, leading a lab team to develop breakthrough protein technologies and advance clinical candidates through collaborative, interdisciplinary resea...
3 weeks ago
$112K - $160K *
Lead our Geology department by providing technical guidance and strategic direction, managing exploration and resource modeling projects, and ensuring safety and performance in line with corporate obj...
4 weeks ago
Senior Manager, Resilience Engineering & Operations
$130K - $155K *
Pioneer operational excellence by leading a team focused on resilience engineering for quantum systems. Drive continuous improvement, incident response, and strategic planning to enhance performance a...
1 week ago
$100K - $120K *
Champion customer success by leading implementation projects from pre-sales to go-live. You’ll translate workflows into actionable plans, foster stakeholder alignment, and ensure seamless delivery, dr...
Reposted yesterday
$115K - $165K *
Join a team that's transforming data into actionable insights through advanced statistical methodologies and machine learning, driving innovation in media measurement and analytics across diverse busi...
Today
$150K - $180K *
Lead a dynamic team in providing systems engineering and technical advisory services for advanced space and ground architectures, ensuring mission success through effective oversight and integration o...
1 week ago
Principal Scientist, AI-Native Discovery (Large Molecules)
$117K - $201K *
Advance AI-native biologics discovery by integrating cutting-edge AI and computational methods into therapeutic programs. Collaborate across teams to enhance decision-making and accelerate the develop...
6 days ago
Principal Scientist, AI-Native Discovery (Large Molecules)
$117K - $201K *
Engage in AI-native biologics discovery by integrating advanced AI and computational design into therapeutic programs. Collaborate across teams to enhance decision-making and accelerate drug discovery...
6 days ago
What does a Chief Scientist do?
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?
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?
Chief Scientists work in fields including biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, artificial intelligence, aerospace, energy, government, and advanced manufacturing.
How much do Chief Scientists earn?
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?
Browse Chief Scientist listings on Ladders and review each role’s salary information, responsibilities, location, and qualifications to find opportunities suited to your background.