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.

Remote
caret down
Compensation
caret down
Position Level
caret down
Time Posted
caret down
Industries
caret down
More
1
caret down

$144K - $187K *

Accelerate customer success by leading complex implementations of cloud-native PLM and QMS solutions. Manage program execution, project governance, and customer accountability to ensure timely decisio...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Consumer Technology

$80K - $95K *

Lead the charge in maximizing sales effectiveness by engaging customers, optimizing product offerings, and building lasting relationships within your territory to drive profitability and growth...

RemoteRemote

Reposted 1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$180K - $230K *

Join a dynamic team as you lead engineering efforts to develop an AI Patient Engagement Agent, transforming clinical trials by automating patient interactions and enhancing operational efficiency for...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$130K - $155K *

Join a team that's dedicated to driving customer success through strategic engagement. You'll manage relationships, solve complex problems, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance the B...

New York, NYRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Technical Services

$150K - $178K *

Optimize biosample operations in clinical trials, ensuring quality and compliance while collaborating with cross-functional teams to enhance sample management and drive innovation in biosampling strat...

Boston, MARemote

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$115K - $135K *

Engage with engineers and executives to create compelling technical content that showcases innovative CAD solutions. Deliver presentations, demos, and tutorials that highlight product features and the...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Consumer Technology

$90K - $105K *

Join a team that's dedicated to enhancing system reliability and performance for critical defense projects. Leverage your engineering expertise to implement best practices and drive data-driven improv...

United StatesRemote

4 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$130K - $155K *

Elevate your career by designing and developing high-scale Identity Resolution systems. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to create reliable, secure, and high-performance solutions that link and...

United StatesRemote

2 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$140K - $210K *

Unlock the potential of Workday solutions by leading implementations, configuring systems, and ensuring client satisfaction. Collaborate with teams to document requirements, support data conversions...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Consumer Technology

$88K - $105K *

Lead and manage construction materials testing projects, ensuring quality assurance, client satisfaction, and compliance with standards while overseeing operations and fostering team development for s...

Texas, USRemote

Reposted 1 month ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$272K - $431K *

Lead the charge in architecting and scaling data acquisition infrastructure for foundation models. Collaborate across teams to enhance web crawling, ingestion, and data quality, ensuring reliable, hig...

RemoteRemote

1 week ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$120K - $145K *

Innovate solutions in power systems engineering by leading consulting initiatives, enhancing client relationships, and driving strategic growth in protection and control services while ensuring high-q...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Energy & Utilities

$112K - $193K *

Seeking a Principal Data Scientist to lead advanced ML and generative AI solutions, define architectures, drive innovation, and mentor teams while ensuring responsible AI practices and scalable produc...

Minnetonka, MNRemote

Reposted 3 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$125K - $150K *

Shape the future of construction quality by leading QA/QC programs for hyperscale builds. Collaborate with diverse teams to ensure compliance with design intent and standards, while driving accountabi...

Texas, USRemote

3 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$94K - $143K *

Lead the charge in developing structural designs using advanced modeling software. Collaborate with multi-disciplinary teams to create detailed drawings and resolve design challenges, ensuring timely...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Technical Services

$184K - $230K *

Shape the future of product security by leading architecture reviews and risk mitigation strategies. Collaborate with engineering and compliance teams to embed security throughout the development life...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$83K - $155K *

Contribute to the success of hygienic sensors by owning product strategy, collaborating with engineering, and driving market insights into actionable requirements. Lead product launches and manage lif...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$120K - $140K *

Unlock potential by architecting and enhancing next-gen research platforms, driving automation and reliability to provide researchers with cutting-edge tools. Collaborate in a dynamic environment brid...

RemoteRemote

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$181K - $301K *

Elevate our cyber defense capabilities by architecting advanced detection and response systems. Lead cross-functional initiatives, influence technical strategy, and enhance security measures to protec...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$150K - $180K *

Join a dynamic team to lead the development of innovative Microsoft-based platforms, driving modernization and AI integration while ensuring robust, scalable, and secure solutions in a highly regulate...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$120K - $180K *

Transform biological imaging with your expertise in AI and microscopy. Collaborate with engineers and scientists to define expert reasoning, curate datasets, and build analysis pipelines that set the...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$128K - $176K *

Transform complex clinical and regulatory documents into clear, compliant submissions. Collaborate with teams to ensure accuracy and adherence to standards while managing multiple projects in a fast-p...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$144K - $184K *

Join an innovative engineering team to transform product delivery through AI-driven development, ensuring high standards and compliance while combining product, design, and engineering leadership acro...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$100K - $120K *

Take ownership of regulatory support for pharmaceutical programs, managing IND and NDA submissions, health authority interactions, and lifecycle maintenance. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to...

United StatesRemote

4 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$160K - $180K *

Unlock potential by leading product marketing initiatives that empower healthcare teams. Drive sales enablement, module marketing, and customer expansion, while shaping messaging and content that reso...

United StatesRemote

4 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 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.