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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$100K - $125K *

Champion the development of healthcare marketing tools by guiding cross-functional teams through the product lifecycle, driving innovative features and optimizing user experiences to enhance HCP engag...

RemoteRemote

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$100K - $125K *

Champion the future of healthcare marketing technology by leading product management efforts. Collaborate with diverse teams to define, launch, and iterate on tools that empower healthcare organizatio...

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$100K - $125K *

Optimize product development by leading cross-functional teams to deliver impactful, data-driven solutions. Drive innovation from conception to launch, ensuring quality and alignment with customer nee...

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$100K - $125K *

Shape the future of healthcare marketing by leading product development efforts, driving cross-functional collaboration, and leveraging data insights to create impactful, user-focused software solutio...

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$100K - $125K *

Accelerate product innovation by leading cross-functional teams to define, develop, and launch data-driven software solutions for healthcare marketing. Influence product evolution and optimize user ex...

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$150K - $180K *

Elevate your career by leading engineering standards and AI governance across digital product domains. Drive technical excellence and cross-domain collaboration while ensuring compliance and security...

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$146K - $189K *

Drive the future of oncolytic virus manufacturing by providing technical support, managing process improvements, and ensuring compliance in a dynamic environment. Collaborate cross-functionally to enh...

4 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$124K - $186K *

Join a dynamic team to advance cancer research through innovative experiments focused on receptor tyrosine kinases. Develop and document key findings to drive insights in oncology, contributing to pub...

Reposted 1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$117K - $184K *

Champion innovative chromatographic methods to isolate pharmaceutical compounds, collaborating with scientists to enhance drug development pipelines and deliver high-purity materials across various mo...

Today

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$100K - $150K *

Drive innovative research on obscurant materials to protect military vehicles, conducting field and lab experiments, developing new technologies, and providing engineering support for vehicle-mounted...

Reposted 2 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$100K - $150K *

Create innovative solutions to develop and evaluate obscurant materials for military applications, enhancing protection for vehicles against optical and electro-optical threats through research and te...

Reposted 2 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$134K - $205K *

Pioneer advancements in computational materials science, focusing on process-structure-properties relationships and modeling for extreme environments. Collaborate with engineers to optimize materials...

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Energy & Utilities

$155K - $210K *

Transform the future of NGS applications by leading product strategy, driving growth, and collaborating across teams to deliver innovative solutions that meet customer needs and enhance market perform...

Yesterday

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$155K - $210K *

Join a team that's redefining next-generation sequencing by leading product strategy and lifecycle management. Drive innovation across research, translational, and clinical applications while collabor...

Yesterday

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$110K - $130K *

Join a team that's shaping the future of pharmaceutical engineering by managing diverse, high-value projects. Your expertise will drive successful outcomes in design, compliance, and stakeholder engag...

Reposted today

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$132K - $166K *

Unlock potential by leading innovative process development for small-molecule drug substances. Design experiments, solve complex chemistry challenges, and ensure robust processes for scale-up and tech...

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$95K - $120K *

Join a team that's advancing autoimmune research through hands-on in vivo and in vitro studies. Collaborate on innovative therapeutic candidates while ensuring compliance with ethical standards in a d...

3 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$140K - $240K *

Shape the future of biologics manufacturing by designing data models that integrate manufacturing processes, laboratory results, and product quality. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance...

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$95K - $115K *

Drive impactful scientific advancements as a Staff Scientist, providing expert technical leadership in a GMP laboratory. Oversee complex analytical programs, mentor staff, and ensure compliance while...

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$228K *

Join a dynamic team to lead clinical trials, develop strategies, and ensure high-quality deliverables in oncology drug development while collaborating with cross-functional teams and mentoring junior...

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Staffing

$156K - $275K *

Innovate and lead cross-disciplinary teams in developing synthetic drug processes, optimizing operations for clinical trials and commercialization while leveraging cutting-edge technologies and method...

2 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$95K - $115K *

Inspire a high-performing team by fostering a positive work environment, ensuring compliance with quality standards, and driving continuous improvement initiatives to enhance productivity and efficien...

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$110K - $130K *

Elevate your career by leading complex projects, ensuring quality and timely delivery while managing cross-functional teams and customer expectations with minimal direction. Drive financial stewardshi...

North Carolina, USRemote

5 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$157K - $197K *

Unlock potential by driving revenue growth through new customer acquisition and market expansion. This strategic role focuses on building executive relationships, executing targeted penetration strate...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$130K - $155K *

Drive biologics drug product development by leading formulation and process initiatives, collaborating across teams, and supervising scientists to enhance innovation and ensure successful product pres...

Reposted 6 days ago

  •   5 - 7 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.