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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$142K - $193K *

Pioneer innovative AI/ML models while optimizing systems and hardware to enhance performance. Collaborate across disciplines to address complex challenges in agentic workloads and contribute to advanc...

Reposted 3 weeks ago

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

$95K - $115K *

Explore scientific validation of product safety and efficacy claims through research and analysis, supporting development and collaboration while ensuring compliance with regulatory standards. Foster...

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Food & Beverages

$95K - $115K *

Empower your career by leading innovative research in advanced experimental systems. Collaborate across disciplines to drive impactful studies and ensure project alignment with strategic goals in a dy...

2 weeks ago

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

$150K - $180K *

Advance strategic operations by integrating AI solutions and optimizing workflows. Collaborate with executives to enhance decision-making, streamline processes, and drive measurable outcomes across di...

2 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Media

$150K - $180K *

Accelerate impactful AI integration and operational efficiency by translating CEO priorities into actionable workflows. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance decision-making and streamlin...

Miami, FLRemote

2 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Media

$64K - $133K *

Engage in complex large-molecule bioanalytical method development, leading scientific studies and collaborating with clients to deliver innovative solutions that support drug development programs...

Reposted yesterday

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$198K - $269K *

Shape the future of AI by developing next-gen neuro-symbolic systems. Collaborate with a leading team to define innovative applications, solve complex problems, and deliver high-quality scientific art...

Reposted 4 weeks ago

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

$142K - $193K *

Innovate groundbreaking AI technologies for personalization. Lead the development and launch of advanced recommendation systems, leveraging machine learning techniques and collaborating across teams t...

Reposted 4 weeks ago

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

$110K - $130K *

Lead the charge in developing digital twins to enhance clinical trial design and support evidence-based decisions. Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to translate clinical questions into quantit...

2 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$80K - $95K *

Lead the charge in technology experimentation by supporting assessments, demonstrations, and operational events. Utilize your technical expertise to troubleshoot, train participants, and enhance data...

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$101K - $126K *

Unlock potential by joining our team to automate and scale protein production workflows, leveraging your expertise in protein expression and purification to drive innovation in drug discovery and pati...

Yesterday

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$325K - $375K *

Lead transformative IT strategies that align technology with business goals, enhance operational efficiency, and develop future technology leaders through mentorship and innovative programs...

Today

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Food & Beverages

$146K - $189K *

Champion drug product process development by leading characterization studies, optimizing GMP workflows, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to enhance commercialization readiness and regula...

4 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$170K - $190K *

Join a team that's driving data-driven insights for Government clients. Leverage your expertise in data science and analytics to tackle significant challenges, develop innovative solutions, and suppor...

3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$216K - $243K *

Pioneer advancements in vaccine research and development, driving global immunization efforts. Collaborate across teams to ensure compliance and effective delivery of safe vaccines, enhancing public h...

United StatesRemote

Today

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$180K - $210K *

Engage in shaping high-quality scientific communications and materials, coordinating with cross-functional teams to enhance messaging consistency. Support various communication initiatives and manage...

Reposted 2 days ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$122K - $163K *

Unlock potential by leading biomarker and bioanalytical strategies to support clinical development. Collaborate with internal teams and CROs, ensuring scientifically rigorous approaches are aligned wi...

Reposted today

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$122K - $163K *

Empower clinical development through scientific leadership in biomarker and bioanalytical strategies, guiding assay design, CRO oversight, and regulatory submissions in a fast-paced environment...

Reposted today

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$127K - $167K *

Elevate analytical development of cell and gene therapies by leading method establishment and qualification. Drive cross-functional collaborations, mentor junior scientists, and ensure compliance with...

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$163K - $228K *

Engineer high-throughput automated workflows, translating scientific goals into scalable solutions. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to define system architectures, enhance laboratory automatio...

Reposted 1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$232K - $252K *

Transform your career by driving data insights and innovative strategies with cross-functional teams, harnessing immense datasets to influence product direction and enhance user experience on a global...

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$160K - $190K *

Optimize large-scale multimodal ML training systems for efficiency and scalability. Collaborate with researchers and engineers to enhance performance metrics and drive innovation across thousands of G...

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$110K - $165K *

Join a team that's shaping the future of computer vision by developing innovative algorithms and workflows for image processing, object detection, and scene understanding, while collaborating on techn...

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$92K - $138K *

Accelerate your career by joining our team to produce and purify therapeutic proteins. Utilize advanced robotic platforms for high-throughput workflows, ensuring quality delivery and reliability in a...

Reposted 6 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$320K - $485K *

Tackle high-risk security projects in a fast-paced environment, driving innovative solutions to complex challenges in AI security. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to prototype and test groundb...

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

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.