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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$120K - $145K *

Champion product marketing strategies in the cybersecurity sector, collaborating across teams to enhance product positioning, messaging, and customer engagement. Drive market presence through compelli...

United StatesRemote

4 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$61K - $104K *

Grow your career with a dynamic role focused on promoting lab design and furniture solutions. Engage with customers, manage projects, and drive sales across diverse market segments while collaborating...

RemoteRemote

Reposted 2 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Business Services

$150K - $200K *

Champion the resolution of complex technical issues for clients, leveraging expertise in Linux, networking, and cloud environments. Collaborate with teams to enhance service delivery and operational c...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$162K - $228K *

Transform the Ad Tech landscape by leading cross-functional teams to ensure seamless delivery and execution of complex technology portfolios, driving strategic initiatives and fostering collaboration...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$152K - $203K *

Elevate client partnerships by uncovering growth opportunities and building trusted executive relationships. Drive strategic conversations that connect client needs to innovative solutions, fostering...

RemoteRemote

3 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Business Services

$120K - $145K *

Unlock potential by leading pre-sales technical strategies that align solutions with client needs, driving revenue growth and retention through collaboration with sales teams and delivering tailored p...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$153K - $213K *

Champion the development of a key platform, driving strategy, success metrics, and technical depth while collaborating across teams to deliver impactful solutions that meet customer needs and enhance...

United StatesRemote

4 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$112K - $141K *

Innovate customer success in quantum computing by driving adoption and technical enablement. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to optimize performance, design workflows, and create educational c...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 2 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$79K - $115K *

Lead comprehensive research on medical technologies and services, collaborating with cross-functional teams to influence coverage and utilization management policies through analytical insights and st...

Somerville, MARemote

Reposted 5 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Hospitals & Medical Centers

$125K - $150K *

Shape the future of product marketing by bridging product and go-to-market teams. Drive impactful messaging, enablement, and strategies that resonate with audiences, ensuring alignment in a fast-paced...

RemoteRemote

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$135K - $160K *

Optimize the ML platform by enhancing feature stores and deployment tools, enabling data scientists to train and deploy models independently. Drive efficiency and scalability while ensuring robust mon...

United StatesRemote

Today

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$145K - $170K *

Join a team that's shaping healthcare innovation through AI-driven voice solutions. Lead a distributed engineering team to deliver high-quality software and collaborate with cross-functional stakehold...

CanadaRemote

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$150K - $180K *

Lead multidisciplinary teams in delivering complex infrastructure projects. Manage all phases from planning to operational readiness, ensuring quality and client satisfaction while fostering team deve...

Philadelphia, PARemote

1 week ago

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

$102K - $153K *

Unlock potential by driving revenue in Drug Product Development for clients. Utilize strategy and relationship-building skills to secure new business, amplify market presence, and foster innovation in...

California, USRemote

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$100K - $120K *

Unlock potential by leading materials management for a Nuclear Development project. Collaborate with engineering, procurement, and vendors to ensure effective planning and execution, driving project s...

Richland, WARemote

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$200K - $282K *

Shape the future of industry engagement by leveraging expertise to define growth strategies, mentor teams, and strengthen executive relationships. Drive market positioning and influence PTC's solution...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 6 days ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Consumer Technology

$126K - $171K *

Lead the charge in delivering innovative project management solutions for large law firms. Drive implementations, manage resources, and ensure client satisfaction while navigating complex challenges a...

RemoteRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Legal & Accounting

$130K - $180K *

Engage in a hands-on role to enhance security across products and infrastructure, collaborating with leadership to prioritize and execute critical security initiatives while ensuring compliance and ri...

CanadaRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Telecommunications & Hardware

$268K - $402K *

Champion the epilepsy pipeline by leading global medical strategies, ensuring regional insights drive clinical development and evidence generation. Collaborate across teams to address healthcare needs...

RemoteRemote

Yesterday

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$88K - $105K *

Drive your career forward by executing hands-on projects in a dynamic privacy landscape. Collaborate with a remote team to navigate compliance challenges while enhancing your expertise through continu...

United StatesRemote

2 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$115K - $185K *

Lead the charge in transforming developer workflows and API architecture for enterprise AI applications. Collaborate with engineering teams to eliminate friction and enhance the developer experience a...

Ontario, CARemote

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$150K - $159K *

Drive product health standards by defining metrics and telemetry for all products. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure consistent data definitions and empower teams with self-serve dashb...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$120K - $150K *

Transform client operations by designing and deploying innovative software solutions. Own the entire development lifecycle, from discovery to production, while leveraging AI tools and modern technolog...

United StatesRemote

Today

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$202K - $318K *

Elevate your career by leading a multi-team engineering organization focused on building a world-class security product. Drive innovation, strategy, and delivery excellence while fostering a high-perf...

Seattle, WARemote

6 days ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$149K - $198K *

Elevate your career by leading data-driven evaluation methodologies for autonomous systems. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure performance metrics align with safety standards, driving i...

RemoteRemote

4 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Transportation

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.