Principal Scientist Jobs

Explore Principal Scientist jobs on Ladders, where professionals can find vetted opportunities paying $100,000 or more. Principal Scientists lead complex research, guide scientific strategy, and turn deep technical expertise into discoveries, products, and business impact.

What Does a Principal Scientist Do?

Principal Scientists provide senior-level scientific direction within organizations such as biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, healthcare organizations, technology firms, manufacturers, and research institutions. They design and oversee research programs, interpret complex data, develop new methods, and communicate findings to technical and executive stakeholders. Depending on the organization, they may also mentor scientists, manage collaborations, and help set long-term research priorities.

Skills and Qualifications

Employers typically seek extensive experience in a relevant scientific discipline, a strong record of research or technical achievement, and the ability to lead projects across teams. Commonly valued skills include experimental design, data analysis, scientific writing, subject-matter expertise, project leadership, and clear communication. Many positions require a Ph.D. or other advanced degree, though requirements vary by field and employer.

Principal Scientist Salary and Career Outlook

Compensation varies based on specialty, experience, location, and employer. Ladders focuses on vetted professional opportunities paying at least $100,000, making it a useful place to explore senior-level Principal Scientist roles. Career paths may lead to scientific leadership, research director, vice president of research, or other executive and technical leadership positions.

Find Principal Scientist Jobs on Ladders

Search Principal Scientist openings by specialty, location, and other preferences to identify roles aligned with your experience. Review each listing for its responsibilities, qualifications, and compensation details, then apply directly to opportunities that match your career goals.

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1
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$143K - $179K *

Lead cross-functional initiatives, optimizing governance and operational readiness for programs. Collaborate with stakeholders to enhance portfolio execution, reporting, and PMO capabilities, driving...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$138K - $165K *

Elevate your career by leading complex product initiatives across technical domains. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive strategic direction into actionable plans, ensuring measurable out...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Technical Services

$130K - $180K *

Innovate your career by leading product strategy and execution in AI-driven simulation and autonomy. Collaborate with customers and technical teams to transform complex needs into impactful product so...

San Francisco, CARemote

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$270K - $280K *

Join a team that's driving clinical excellence by overseeing trial execution, managing timelines, budgets, and CROs. Collaborate with stakeholders to ensure compliance and quality while mentoring team...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$155K - $210K *

Lead a dynamic team to drive strategic growth and profitability across a portfolio of key accounts, fostering strong partnerships and aligning cross-divisional strategies to enhance customer experienc...

RemoteRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$180K - $240K *

Drive cross-domain visibility and coordination in a dynamic engineering environment. As the sole TPM, you'll ensure programs are on track, dependencies are mapped, and automation enhances efficiency a...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$100K - $125K *

Manage a team of medical writers to develop impactful scientific content, ensuring accuracy and compliance. Collaborate with clients and cross-functional teams to drive medical strategies and delivera...

RemoteRemote

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$135K - $160K *

Lead the charge in solving critical engineering challenges, driving technical direction, and fostering team growth. Collaborate across departments to enhance systems, ensuring reliability and innovati...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$140K - $185K *

Collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive product strategy, manage roadmaps, and enhance customer experiences. Lead product initiatives, ensuring alignment with business goals while mentoring j...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Business Services

$140K - $180K *

Unlock the potential of AI in vaccine and antiviral development against respiratory viruses. Collaborate with scientists to create benchmarks, evaluate agent performance, and ensure rigorous scientifi...

San Francisco, CARemote

2 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$166K - $298K *

Join a team that's redefining small business lending through advanced ML models. You'll build and deploy critical models, partner with cross-functional teams, and set the technical standards for machi...

RemoteRemote

Yesterday

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$85K - $120K *

Elevate your career by developing innovative water treatment solutions. Collaborate with teams to create technical proposals, manage projects, and ensure customer satisfaction while adhering to safety...

Wisconsin, USRemote

3 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Energy & Utilities

$103K - $154K *

Lead the commercial success of a diverse product portfolio across North America. Drive growth, customer adoption, and lifecycle management while collaborating with cross-functional teams to align stra...

RemoteRemote

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$220K - $290K *

Accelerate the development of autonomous systems by leading systems engineering strategies, aligning cross-functional teams, and ensuring rigorous safety and performance standards throughout the produ...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$200K - $235K *

Transform AI/ML systems by leading end-to-end development of innovative solutions. Tackle complex challenges in medical synthesis and help define and deploy advanced features that enhance user experie...

RemoteRemote

Reposted 4 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Business Services

$185K - $256K *

Join a team that's redefining CMC strategies in life sciences. You'll engage with industry leaders, drive software adoption, and shape market narratives to enhance product lifecycle management and ope...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$95K - $115K *

Transform clinical testing by providing scientific expertise and strategic guidance. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance analytical strategies and support global initiatives, ensuring h...

Johnson City, TNRemote

Reposted 2 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$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

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$166K - $298K *

Pioneer innovative ML models for our small business lending program, transforming complex data into actionable insights. Collaborate with Credit and Product teams to enhance underwriting processes and...

RemoteRemote

Yesterday

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$163K - $204K *

Unlock potential by leading innovative machine learning methods for cancer detection, collaborating with experts, and mentoring junior scientists to advance research in multi-cancer early detection us...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$135K *

Unlock potential by leading the strategy and execution of hardware and support services for veterinary practices, driving P&L performance, vendor relationships, and cross-functional collaboration to e...

RemoteRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$192K - $235K *

Lead analytical development and quality control for sterile parenteral products, ensuring regulatory compliance and successful product launches. Collaborate cross-functionally to establish strategies...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$144K - $195K *

Innovate and lead the design of identity management solutions, ensuring security and integration across platforms. Collaborate with teams to enhance user experience and manage critical issues in a dyn...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$150K - $180K *

Lead the charge in life sciences strategy execution, driving growth through market engagement and strategic partnerships. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance product relevance and visib...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 4 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$144K - $192K *

Unlock potential by leading global strategic partnerships with pharmaceutical organizations. Drive revenue growth through collaboration across teams, leveraging scientific expertise to influence decis...

Trenton, NJRemote

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

  • What does a Principal Scientist do?question toggle

    A Principal Scientist leads advanced research or technical programs, sets scientific direction, analyzes results, and shares findings with stakeholders. Responsibilities may also include mentoring colleagues and coordinating cross-functional teams.

  • What qualifications are commonly required for Principal Scientist jobs?question toggle

    Requirements vary by specialty, but employers often look for extensive relevant experience, a strong record of scientific or technical work, and advanced expertise. Many roles require a Ph.D. or another advanced degree, along with research leadership and communication skills.

  • How much do Principal Scientists earn?question toggle

    Pay depends on factors such as field, location, experience, and employer. Ladders features vetted professional jobs paying $100,000 or more; check individual listings for compensation information.

  • Where do Principal Scientists work?question toggle

    Principal Scientists work across industries including biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, technology, manufacturing, and academic or independent research.

  • How can I find Principal Scientist jobs on Ladders?question toggle

    Browse Principal Scientist listings on Ladders and use available search filters to narrow opportunities by location, specialty, or other preferences. Review each listing for its requirements and compensation details.