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
Locations
caret down
More
1
caret down

$215K - $240K *

Shape the future of drug development by leading analytical strategies, ensuring compliance and optimization of processes across lifecycle stages, and collaborating with cross-functional teams and exte...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 2 days ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$110K - $166K *

Help us advance biopharmaceutical research by designing cutting-edge assays and mentoring a talented team. Collaborate on complex projects, ensuring quality and compliance while driving innovations in...

Reposted 6 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$106K - $176K *

Drive cutting-edge ADME strategies in a collaborative lab environment, influencing drug discovery and development decisions through scientific rigor and impactful experimentation. Provide mentorship a...

Reposted 1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$120K - $145K *

Join a team that's advancing analytical science by developing innovative chromatography technologies. As a senior technical leader, you'll drive R&D efforts, translating complex scientific concepts in...

1 month ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$120K - $145K *

Elevate your career by leading innovative R&D in chromatography technologies. Drive advanced projects, mentor teams, and translate scientific concepts into manufacturable products, impacting analytica...

1 month ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$120K - $145K *

Unlock potential by leading innovative research in chromatography and electrochemistry. Drive product development from concept to commercialization, leveraging deep analytical expertise to solve compl...

1 month ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$123K - $149K *

Elevate your career by leading scale-up processes in a dynamic lab environment. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance bioprocessing technologies and ensure seamless tech transfers for bio...

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$112K - $168K *

Drive innovative AAV production strategies and lead experimental projects to advance therapeutic development. Collaborate with senior leaders to transform scientific goals into actionable plans, ensur...

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$95K - $115K *

Join a team that's dedicated to driving project success in clinical research. Lead cross-functional teams, manage stakeholder relationships, and ensure timely execution of projects while navigating bu...

RemoteRemote

Yesterday

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$100K - $120K *

Join our team as a Scientific Manager, where you'll oversee lab operations, support research initiatives, and collaborate with scientists to drive innovative projects in a dynamic environment...

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$66K - $171K *

Transform quality assurance processes by providing oversight and support for radioligand drug product manufacturing, ensuring compliance and operational excellence in a fast-paced environment while me...

4 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$88K - $134K *

Champion innovative laboratory techniques and lead complex experiments to advance protein-based reagent development. Collaborate with a skilled team while managing junior members and ensuring high-qua...

6 days ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$198K - $269K *

Shape the future of generative AI by leading innovative research and development efforts. Collaborate with top scientists to create scalable solutions that enhance customer experiences and drive impac...

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Retail & Consumer Goods

$200K - $250K *

Lead a computational team to connect protein conformational ensembles with function, driving high-impact research on allosteric coupling and binding specificity while managing and mentoring scientists...

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$170K - $212K *

Transform drug substance development by leading innovative process chemistry investigations, managing cross-disciplinary teams, and solving complex challenges to ensure successful regulatory submissio...

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$140K - $160K *

Lead the charge in designing and enhancing AI systems for K-12 assessments, integrating cutting-edge technology with educational insights to create reliable, evaluative solutions that drive learning o...

United StatesRemote

Yesterday

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

$140K - $160K *

Design and enhance intelligent AI systems for K-12 assessment, collaborating across disciplines to create reliable, evaluative solutions that integrate seamlessly into educational frameworks and suppo...

United StatesRemote

2 days ago

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

$140K - $160K *

Advance the design and implementation of a robust knowledge architecture for K-12 assessment systems, integrating AI and learning science to enhance educational outcomes through innovative, data-drive...

United StatesRemote

2 days ago

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

$111K - $161K *

Shape your career with a pivotal role in developing innovative library prep methods for a cutting-edge protein sequencing platform, driving accuracy and efficiency in sequencing outcomes through creat...

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$128K - $200K *

Join a team that's dedicated to advancing research and product development. Lead experimental design, data analysis, and cross-functional collaboration while mentoring others to achieve innovative sol...

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$95K - $115K *

Drive innovative protein design by developing high-throughput assays and collaborating with cross-functional teams to enhance binding specificity and support protein discovery workflows in a dynamic l...

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Energy & Utilities

$100K - $120K *

Transform peptide chemistry by designing, synthesizing, and characterizing novel peptides to drive drug discovery initiatives in a collaborative R&D environment, enhancing pharmacological properties a...

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$95K - $115K *

Unlock potential by leading innovative product development for sauces and dips, utilizing scientific principles to enhance formulations and collaborate with cross-functional teams, ensuring quality an...

Yesterday

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Food & Beverages

$126K - $181K *

Drive innovation by designing novel ionizable lipids and LNP formulations for nucleic acid delivery. Collaborate across disciplines, mentor junior scientists, and influence scientific strategy while a...

2 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$132K - $205K *

Join a team that's shaping ingredient development through rigorous validation. Lead in vitro studies, connect scientific insights with customer needs, and drive innovation in a collaborative environme...

3 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Food & Beverages

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.