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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$198K - $269K *

Innovate the future of AI research by leading scientists to develop and implement advanced knowledge representation and retrieval systems while fostering cutting-edge problem-solving methods and hands...

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Retail & Consumer Goods

$168K - $185K *

Unlock potential by leading clinical evidence generation, analysis, and communication. Collaborate closely with internal teams and external experts to drive product development and successful regulato...

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$102K - $150K *

Contribute to high-tempo engineering execution by coordinating activities, managing priorities, and enhancing communication across teams. Drive project success through effective planning, scheduling...

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$80K - $95K *

Advance clinical research on hydration by executing trials, recruiting participants, and ensuring ethical standards. Collaborate with a dynamic team to enhance athlete performance through innovative s...

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$110K - $141K *

Drive innovation as you lead mechanical engineering projects across diverse defense platforms. Collaborate with a multidisciplinary team, applying advanced engineering principles to design, test, and...

Reposted 6 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$95K - $115K *

Drive laboratory excellence by providing technical and logistical support across multiple research facilities, ensuring safety, compliance, and operational efficiency in a dynamic environment...

Today

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$135K - $160K *

Elevate corporate security by leading identity governance, endpoint management, and risk assessment. Collaborate cross-functionally to set standards, drive automation, and enhance security posture whi...

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Consumer Technology

$159K - $207K *

Unlock potential by leading analytical development for late-phase biologics. Drive strategic oversight of control strategies, manage CDMO interactions, and mentor junior scientists while ensuring time...

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$159K - $207K *

Advance your career by leading the Oligonucleotide & Small Molecule CMC Analytical Development team. Provide hands-on scientific leadership in method development, testing, and regulatory documentation...

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$120K - $145K *

Champion corporate security by leading identity governance, endpoint management, and risk assessment. Collaborate cross-functionally to enhance security posture, set standards, and drive automation, e...

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Consumer Technology

$195K - $215K *

Shape the future of cell therapy by leading cross-functional teams through early-phase clinical trials. Drive program strategy, manage risks, and foster collaboration to deliver innovative therapies f...

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$176K - $304K *

Drive innovation in AI-enabled protein engineering by developing ML workflows and models that enhance biomolecular design, integrating expertise across machine learning, biology, and experimental coll...

Reposted 1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$136K - $184K *

Unlock advancements in machine learning quality assurance by leading innovative auditing strategies and frameworks. Collaborate with diverse teams to design and implement quality metrics that enhance...

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Retail & Consumer Goods

$130K - $155K *

Champion corporate security by leading identity governance, endpoint management, and risk assessment. Collaborate with IT and engineering teams to establish security standards, drive automation, and e...

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Consumer Technology

$140K - $210K *

Design strategies and initiatives that empower Founders to optimize performance, drive cross-functional collaboration, and tackle high-impact challenges, ensuring clarity and urgency in achieving key...

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$150K - $180K *

Lead the charge in advancing cutting-edge language models, combining ML research and engineering to optimize methodologies and model architecture for scalable production systems with real-world impact...

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$150K - $180K *

Shape the future of AI infrastructure by building core systems and features. Collaborate with users to define needs, iterate on feedback, and ensure reliable production systems in a dynamic, early-sta...

2 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Staffing

$300K - $333K *

Join a team that's dedicated to crafting secure and compliant products. Lead cross-functional initiatives in safety, privacy, and technology, ensuring responsible design from inception to implementati...

4 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$160K - $200K *

Make your mark at the forefront of AI research, driving impactful initiatives on large language models and agentic systems while fostering innovation that transforms enterprise AI applications at scal...

1 month ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$158K - $190K *

Lead transformative research initiatives in AI, focusing on large language models and their enterprise applications, impacting product development and enhancing complex AI systems for real-world integ...

1 month ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$160K - $190K *

Drive impactful AI research on large language models and agentic systems, from hypothesis to deployment. Collaborate cross-functionally to innovate enterprise-grade solutions, shaping the future of AI...

1 month ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$88K - $105K *

Lead the charge in drug discovery as an associate scientist. Engage in target identification, biological profiling, and data generation to support internal pipelines, collaborating across teams to enr...

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$150K - $180K *

Empower innovation by supporting strategic initiatives in Quantum and AI sectors. Collaborate with industry, academia, and government to enhance New York's R&D ecosystem, manage programs, and identify...

2 weeks ago

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

$175K - $210K *

Drive innovation in New York's Quantum and AI ecosystems by supporting strategic initiatives, managing programs, and fostering partnerships across industry, academia, and government to enhance R&D and...

2 weeks ago

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

$160K - $185K *

Drive cybersecurity excellence by securing enterprise systems and technical solutions across diverse environments, collaborating with teams to implement risk management and compliance frameworks effec...

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 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.