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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$95K - $115K *

Join a team that's dedicated to enhancing application performance through expert Dynatrace monitoring. Collaborate with IT professionals to analyze, troubleshoot, and optimize application performance...

St. Louis, MORemote

4 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Staffing

$82K - $95K *

Join a team that's shaping the future of manufacturing by supporting project coordination and gaining cross-functional experience. Collaborate with experts while contributing to innovative solutions i...

Michigan, USRemote

3 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$145K - $222K *

Transform power generation projects by leading development, financing, and execution efforts. Collaborate with diverse stakeholders to deliver high-quality consulting services while managing multiple...

United StatesRemote

Today

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Technical Services

$90K - $125K *

Lead the development and submission of federal proposals, managing teams and resources to deliver compliant, compelling responses. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure alignment with cust...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Technical Services

$256K - $347K *

Empower innovation by leading global safety strategies for obesity therapies. As a strategic safety leader, you'll oversee benefit-risk profiles, signal management, and governance, collaborating with...

United StatesRemote

Today

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$110K - $130K *

Champion the search for exceptional technical talent in aerospace. Drive full-cycle recruiting, develop innovative sourcing strategies, and partner with leadership to build a high-performing team whil...

San Francisco, CARemote

3 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$144K - $288K *

Lead the charge in developing cutting-edge digital applications leveraging AI, optimizing performance across major cloud platforms while driving excellence in software engineering practices and collab...

RemoteRemote

Reposted 5 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$95K - $115K *

Elevate your career by leading technology-driven manufacturing projects. Drive complex initiatives from concept to delivery, ensuring quality and profitability while collaborating with cross-functiona...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 6 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$210K - $256K *

Transform industry practices by leading large-scale AI and data initiatives, driving business growth and operational excellence within Consumer Products, Retail, and Logistics sectors...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$210K - $256K *

Lead the charge in driving strategic growth and transformation initiatives, leveraging AI and data expertise to elevate Consumer Products, Retail, and Logistics clients through tailored, impactful sol...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$119K - $158K *

Join a team that's transforming enterprise work management solutions. Lead the design and delivery of Adobe Workfront architectures, guiding clients through complex operational challenges and ensuring...

New York, NYRemote

Yesterday

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Media

$110K - $130K *

Transform enterprise operations by leading the design and deployment of AI-driven workflows. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure successful integration and delivery of innovative Agentic...

Toronto, ONRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$145K - $185K *

Lead and inspire engineering teams to deliver high-quality digital products, ensuring alignment with business priorities while fostering a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement in a dyna...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$110K - $130K *

Lead governance, risk, and compliance initiatives, ensuring audit readiness and effective controls across platforms. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to manage risks, oversee SOC 2 processes, a...

United StatesRemote

Today

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

$100K - $120K *

Champion advanced STEM problem design and evaluation, collaborating with research teams to enhance large language models through rigorous analysis and structured solutions across various scientific di...

New York, NYRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Staffing

$184K - $253K *

Drive global pharmacovigilance efforts by managing safety data, leading clinical development strategies, and collaborating across teams to enhance product safety and efficacy throughout their lifecycl...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$151K - $205K *

Unlock potential by leading Local Study Operations, managing clinical trial portfolios, ensuring alignment with global strategies, and fostering a high-performance environment focused on continuous im...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 2 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$171K - $231K *

Accelerate progress at the forefront of clinical operations by leading global program management, fostering talent development, and ensuring strategic execution across diverse therapeutic areas in a d...

United StatesRemote

Today

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$171K - $269K *

Lead the charge in defining and evolving data architecture and engineering standards for scalable, secure enterprise data platforms. Collaborate across teams to deliver reliable, actionable data produ...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$125K - $150K *

Drive revenue growth and strategic partnerships in biometrics services, focusing on client relationships and market strategy. Collaborate with teams to deliver innovative solutions and position the or...

Mansfield, MARemote

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$134K - $179K *

Lead the charge in bridging genomic variants with clinical insights, collaborating with scientists to automate and scale curation workflows. Drive innovation in AI/ML applications while ensuring softw...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$130K - $180K *

Join a team that's redefining data products on a modern platform. As a Senior Technical Product Manager, you'll drive the strategy for our data platform and API, ensuring quality, governance, and a se...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Staffing

$204K - $290K *

Manage the Resilience Engineering team to enhance system reliability through production load testing and chaos engineering while fostering a proactive safety culture across engineering practices...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$181K - $241K *

Join our team to lead innovative resilience engineering practices, focusing on proactive validation, load testing, and chaos engineering, enhancing the safety and reliability of production systems whi...

CanadaRemote

Reposted 1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$185K - $251K *

Accelerate progress at the forefront of clinical research by leading the Study Evidence and Readiness function, ensuring inspection-ready evidence and optimal trial conduct across global teams and cli...

United StatesRemote

4 days ago

  •   Less than 5 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.