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 *

Drive scientific innovation by serving as a technical expert in X-ray Fluorescence (XRF), collaborating with sales and support teams to deliver impactful solutions and training across North America, w...

Westborough, MARemote

Yesterday

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$153K - $268K *

Empower your career by leading bio sample operations across clinical studies. Oversee end-to-end processes, ensuring compliance and quality while collaborating with cross-functional teams and external...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$118K - $180K *

Champion the development of Advanced Deposition Materials by leading New Product Introductions from concept to high volume manufacturing, ensuring cross-functional alignment and delivering quality pro...

Connecticut, USRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$118K - $180K *

Champion innovative product development by leading cross-functional teams to drive New Product Introductions in Advanced Deposition Materials, ensuring alignment with business goals and customer needs...

Texas, USRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$75K - $105K *

Collaborate with clients to enhance their social media strategies using healthcare insights, data-driven execution, and creative content development for multi-channel success. This role demands a proa...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$110K - $130K *

Champion the development of innovative modeling capabilities to enhance our advanced simulation framework, collaborating with engineers to integrate numerical methods and apply machine learning for mo...

Seattle, WARemote

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Staffing

$167K - $282K *

Lead the charge in shaping global EHS3 strategy, ensuring compliance and operational excellence across diverse functions while driving transformational initiatives and enterprise governance frameworks...

United StatesRemote

Reposted today

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Business Services

$160K - $190K *

Design and build AI-driven agents for complex workflows, enhancing user experience and infrastructure. Collaborate closely with teams to ensure high-quality product delivery and continuous improvement...

New York City, NYRemote

Yesterday

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$110K - $130K *

Elevate safety data management by leading GPS operations, ensuring compliance and quality in safety reporting. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance system workflows and drive improvement...

North Carolina, USRemote

Reposted 1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$110K - $190K *

Transform the future of remote sensing by leading research and algorithm development. Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to enhance EO/IR systems, applying advanced analytics to support critical...

Dayton, OHRemote

1 month ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$239K - $298K *

Discover a pivotal role in shaping the future of our engineering function. Lead a small team to enhance our GTM engine, integrating product and marketing efforts while driving innovation in technology...

RemoteRemote

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$90K - $113K *

Join a team that's dedicated to advancing clinical trials by ensuring compliance and data integrity. Utilize your expertise in monitoring and site management to foster strong relationships and drive s...

Colorado, USRemote

Today

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$101K - $126K *

Explore innovative multimodal genomics to drive impactful research and collaborations. As a key contributor, you'll design and execute studies, translating complex data into actionable insights for bo...

United StatesRemote

2 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$120K - $180K *

Unlock potential by joining our innovative team to advance AI in therapeutic antibody development. Collaborate with experts to set benchmarks, evaluate AI reasoning, and enhance biologics workflows, d...

San Francisco, CARemote

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$100K - $120K *

Unlock potential by leveraging your expertise in data analysis and psychometrics to drive innovative assessment solutions. Collaborate with a dynamic team to enhance educational outcomes through advan...

United StatesRemote

1 month ago

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

$110K - $130K *

Shape the future of product development by leading cross-functional teams to deliver innovative solutions from concept to launch, ensuring alignment with business goals and quality standards...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$135K - $160K *

Champion the operation of a cutting-edge test facility, overseeing safety, calibration, and team management. Drive innovation in high-power testing while ensuring reproducibility and compliance with r...

Texas, USRemote

Today

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$137K - $195K *

Accelerate your career by driving sales of innovative bioprocessing solutions. Leverage cutting-edge technology to enhance workflows and build strong relationships with key accounts in the Mid-Atlanti...

RemoteRemote

Yesterday

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$137K - $195K *

Unlock potential by driving sales and business development for innovative bioprocessing solutions. Collaborate with key accounts and internal teams to enhance customer satisfaction and market presence...

RemoteRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$170K - $220K *

Lead the charge in optimizing distribution networks to enhance efficiency, service performance, and cost-effectiveness. Drive strategic initiatives, evaluate operating models, and implement transforma...

RemoteRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$175K - $200K *

Lead the charge in optimizing biomarker program operations, ensuring seamless sample processing from collection to storage. Collaborate across teams to uphold quality and compliance while driving grow...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$147K - $274K *

Develop advanced document understanding systems to enhance legal content processing. Collaborate across teams to design, deploy, and evaluate models that drive measurable impact in legal, tax, and acc...

RemoteRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Media

$153K - $268K *

Join a team that's advancing regulatory strategies for drug substance manufacturing. Lead the charge in selecting and justifying Regulatory Starting Materials, ensuring compliance with global guidelin...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$140K - $187K *

Innovate the future of AI security by designing and implementing robust defenses against adversarial threats, ensuring the integrity of AI systems while fostering innovation and collaboration across c...

United StatesRemote

4 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$147K - $220K *

Optimize project delivery by leading clinical study initiatives, ensuring quality, budget, and timelines are met. Collaborate with teams and clients to drive success in complex global trials while man...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 6 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Healthcare

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.