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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$130K - $160K *

Elevate the role of Solutions Engineer by defining and executing the technical pre-sales strategy, partnering with sales and product teams to create innovative solutions and demos that resonate with k...

Reposted 4 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$80K - $95K *

Champion the future of science support services by managing faculty needs, overseeing equipment maintenance, and leading a dedicated team to enhance research and teaching environments across multiple...

2 days ago

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

$167K - $226K *

Innovate data-driven models and analytical solutions for machine learning applications. Collaborate on research, mentor junior staff, and identify opportunities to enhance business value through advan...

1 week ago

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

$150K - $250K *

Champion engineering excellence by leading technical strategy and talent development across a diverse portfolio. Drive innovation, enhance product delivery, and establish a strong technical presence i...

Kitchener, ONIn-Person

2 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$126K - $160K *

Drive impactful software solutions by collaborating with sales teams, leading demos, and managing technical inquiries. Leverage your expertise to enhance customer experiences and support enterprise tr...

San Diego, CARemote

Today

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Transportation

$126K - $160K *

Champion innovative software solutions by collaborating with sales teams, leading demos, and managing technical inquiries. Drive enterprise transactions while ensuring exceptional customer experiences...

Today

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Transportation

$280K - $320K *

Engineer innovative AI solutions for life sciences startups, guiding them from concept to scale. Collaborate with teams to bridge AI capabilities and scientific needs, developing architectures and res...

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$110K - $130K *

Optimize healthcare innovation by leading human factors research for medical devices. Drive usability studies, mentor teams, and ensure compliance with regulatory standards while enhancing user experi...

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$110K - $130K *

Join a mission-driven team as a Senior Data Scientist, enhancing intelligence production through advanced analytics. Develop Python-based solutions, integrate diverse data sources, and modernize workf...

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$94K - $147K *

Drive innovative product development in healthy beverages and snacks, leveraging your food science expertise to enhance our dairy offerings. Collaborate across teams to transform concepts into market...

3 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Food & Beverages

$130K - $140K *

Transform your career by leading IT strategy and innovation for USMC aviation logistics. Oversee software development, manage resources, and ensure cybersecurity compliance while advising on emerging...

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$254K - $381K *

Contribute to enterprise-wide AI adoption by leading technical initiatives, evaluating technologies, and building frameworks to enable impactful AI solutions across the organization while shaping the...

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Hospitals & Medical Centers

$254K - $381K *

Empower enterprise AI adoption by designing solutions, evaluating vendors, and developing robust frameworks, while driving collaboration across teams to implement high-impact AI strategies for busines...

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Hospitals & Medical Centers

$254K - $381K *

Accelerate enterprise AI adoption by leading technical initiatives, assessing emerging technologies, and collaborating across business units to develop scalable AI solutions and frameworks that transf...

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Hospitals & Medical Centers

$254K - $381K *

Empower enterprise AI growth by evaluating emerging technologies and designing frameworks, while driving safe adoption across business units. Lead technical initiatives and collaborate with teams to i...

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Hospitals & Medical Centers

$142K - $193K *

Empower innovation in AI research by designing tools for deep learning compilers, enhancing program analysis and code quality. Collaborate with a skilled team to push the boundaries of ML technology a...

Reposted 3 days ago

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

$110K - $130K *

Champion process engineering excellence by leading project portfolios and driving innovation. Balance technical direction with strategic execution to enhance capacity, yield, and cost-effectiveness wh...

Today

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$82K - $110K *

Champion grant proposal excellence by collaborating with clients to enhance competitiveness in scientific research funding. Drive impactful outcomes through expert consulting, training, and proposal d...

United StatesRemote

5 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Business Services

$89K - $102K *

Unlock potential by leading advanced molecular detection training initiatives, enhancing workforce capabilities in infectious disease genomics, and collaborating with state and federal partners to dri...

Today

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

$142K - $193K *

Unlock your potential by designing and implementing innovative models for Natural Language Understanding and Large Language Processing, collaborating with engineering teams to enhance model integratio...

Reposted 2 weeks ago

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

$104K - $143K *

Drive innovation in analytical chemistry by leading complex studies and collaborating with cross-functional teams to enhance product safety and quality, ultimately improving patient outcomes globally...

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$96K - $132K *

Join a team that's dedicated to improving patient outcomes through innovative research. As a key contributor, you'll perform critical analyses, mentor peers, and drive solutions in a collaborative env...

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$172K - $223K *

Join a team that's redefining advertising science through innovative models and experiments. Lead high-impact projects in computer vision and AI, collaborating with cross-functional teams to enhance s...

Reposted 3 weeks ago

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

$300K - $370K *

Unlock transformative health solutions by leading initiatives in High-Burden Diseases. Collaborate across scientific domains to shape strategy, evaluate funding opportunities, and engage with global e...

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$130K - $155K *

Join us to advance cutting-edge technology in autonomous driving and robotics. Collaborate with experts while conducting innovative research on world-action models and contribute to impactful publicat...

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

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.