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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$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 4 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

$124K - $186K *

Join a dynamic team to advance cancer research through innovative experiments focused on receptor tyrosine kinases. Develop and document key findings to drive insights in oncology, contributing to pub...

Reposted today

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$80K - $95K *

Elevate analytical development by optimizing and transferring methods for protein therapeutics. Collaborate across teams to ensure project success while serving as a subject matter expert in CE and U...

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$150K - $350K *

Join a dynamic team to develop cutting-edge reinforcement learning algorithms and frameworks. Collaborate on scaling research and training systems, focusing on your strengths to enhance AI capabilitie...

San Francisco, CARemote

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$150K - $180K *

Elevate the customer experience as a Global Program Manager, spearheading post-sale strategies for major Enterprise clients. Collaborate with internal teams and leaders in Life Sciences to drive imple...

Reposted yesterday

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$150K - $200K *

Innovate your career by driving the design and development of precision mechanisms. Collaborate in a fast-paced team to create high-performance automation systems, transforming complex ideas into func...

1 month ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$250K - $365K *

Transform the future of machine learning in antibody design by leading innovative strategies, developing cutting-edge models, and mentoring a talented team to enhance therapeutic outcomes and drive im...

4 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$354K - $416K *

Elevate your career as a Medical Director, overseeing utilization management with a focus on clinical excellence and compliance. Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to ensure high standards of ca...

West Virginia, USRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$125K - $150K *

Empower your career by leading post-sale experiences for top Enterprise clients. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive customer success and digital transformation in Life Sciences, ensuring...

San Francisco, CARemote

3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$95K - $115K *

Join a team that's dedicated to enhancing biomedical literature curation by reviewing and adjusting MEDLINE citations, ensuring quality indexing, and linking genes to databases, all while supporting t...

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$150K - $190K *

Lead the charge in solving complex operational challenges across finance, hiring, and strategy. Collaborate closely with executives to drive impactful solutions in a fast-paced, high-growth environmen...

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$125K - $150K *

Drive strategic leadership in Quality Control to enhance compliance and operational efficiency. Spearhead innovative lab solutions, digital transformation, and cross-functional collaboration to suppor...

3 weeks ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

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.