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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$153K - $189K *

Champion innovative clinical programming solutions to enhance trial efficiency and data quality. Lead statistical analysis and ensure compliance with regulatory standards while collaborating with cros...

Seattle, WARemote

Reposted 6 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$172K - $205K *

Transform data into actionable insights to optimize the insurance business. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance customer experience and drive revenue growth through advanced analytics a...

United StatesRemote

3 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$120K - $145K *

Unlock your potential as a Principal Program Manager, driving acquisition support and strategic planning for critical DoD programs. Collaborate with leadership to enhance mission success and ensure co...

United StatesRemote

Reposted today

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$90K - $110K *

Elevate data accuracy by analyzing user queries and improving AI responses. Collaborate with Product Management, Data Science, and Engineering to ensure Prism delivers trustworthy insights, enhancing...

Philadelphia, PARemote

1 month ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$190K - $230K *

Join a team that's driving innovation in biopharma partnerships. Leverage your expertise to identify and advance strategic opportunities, influence cross-functional decisions, and manage alliances tha...

RemoteRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Business Services

$246K - $339K *

Champion the evolution of our Data Platform by architecting scalable solutions for large-scale data migrations, empowering teams with self-service storage capabilities, and ensuring reliability across...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Consumer Technology

$88K - $154K *

Optimize and integrate the manufacturing process for hazardous materials, taking ownership from design through commissioning. Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to ensure safety and efficiency i...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Real Estate & Construction

$117K - $235K *

Drive innovation in software and algorithms for high-volume data processing. Collaborate with a multi-disciplinary team to develop real-time decision support systems and enhance remote sensing capabil...

Albuquerque, NMRemote

3 days ago

  •   5 - 7 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

Reposted 6 days ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$125K - $150K *

Drive the evolution of a comprehensive Product Security program, overseeing security integration across multiple product offerings. Collaborate with teams to enhance security practices while ensuring...

United StatesRemote

Today

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$161K - $232K *

Lead the development of robust machine learning models that enhance member care, transforming complex clinical questions into actionable insights while ensuring model integrity and scalability in a co...

RemoteRemote

2 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$150K - $180K *

Empower our mission by leading data center and cloud engineering strategies. This hands-on role requires expertise in infrastructure planning, hybrid-cloud architecture, and automation to drive modern...

United StatesRemote

3 days ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$119K - $215K *

Transform the future of AI infrastructure by leading complex technical programs, driving initiatives from vision to execution, and ensuring seamless delivery of cutting-edge AI solutions that empower...

Cambridge, MARemote

Today

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$120K - $145K *

Engage in advanced security operations as a Senior Security Analyst, leading incident response, enhancing detection capabilities, and driving process improvements to protect critical assets in a dynam...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 5 days ago

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

$223K - $317K *

Drive the evolution of a robust Fulfillment platform, shaping architecture and strategy while mentoring teams. Lead modernization efforts to enhance scalability, reliability, and performance, ensuring...

RemoteRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$110K - $130K *

Transform financial operations by leveraging Workday expertise to enhance reporting, payroll, and planning processes. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver scalable solutions and drive co...

RemoteRemote

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$110K - $120K *

Lead product delivery for a major federal IT program, overseeing multiple teams and ensuring timely execution of product line deliverables. Drive strategic planning, manage dependencies, and enhance d...

Rockville, MDRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$95K - $135K *

Join a team that's shaping the future of data management by guiding strategic direction and execution for B2G registration and reporting platforms. Collaborate across technical and business domains to...

Iowa City, IARemote

2 days ago

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

$135K - $160K *

Lead a dynamic team to transform AI strategies into impactful healthcare solutions. Oversee engineering execution, guide architecture, and ensure compliance while collaborating with cross-functional p...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$120K - $145K *

Optimize runtime authorization strategies across diverse segments, driving technical wins and enabling Sales Engineers. Leverage deep IAM and PAM expertise to deliver impactful solutions, ensuring com...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$95K - $115K *

Unlock potential by designing and conducting clinical studies that enhance understanding of new therapies, ensuring quality and efficiency in research deliverables while collaborating with cross-funct...

RemoteRemote

4 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$120K - $145K *

Innovate in mission planning by developing autonomous operations for satellite constellations. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to define requirements, prototype code, and optimize algorithms...

RemoteRemote

4 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$200K - $275K *

Lead the development of off-board AI evaluation frameworks to optimize safety and performance for autonomous vehicles. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to design scalable systems and enhance di...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Transportation

$141K - $229K *

Empower technology leaders by leading research on public cloud strategies, architectures, and market dynamics. Drive actionable insights to enhance enterprise cloud adoption and optimize business outc...

RemoteRemote

4 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Business Services

$150K - $185K *

Lead the development of innovative AI products that empower job seekers with evidence-based coaching and actionable insights, while collaborating closely with cross-functional teams to shape impactful...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

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.