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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$175K - $242K *

Champion innovative cancer research by leading target identification and validation efforts. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive strategic advancements in induced proximity and functional...

Yesterday

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$97K - $145K *

Join a dynamic team to advance seed and trait product development, leveraging your expertise in plant breeding and data analysis to drive innovation and support sustainable agriculture across North Am...

5 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$110K - $130K *

Inspire scientific excellence by leading complex assay development and validation. As a key technical expert, you'll guide teams, resolve challenges, and ensure high-quality outcomes while influencing...

5 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$80K - $95K *

Lead microbiological initiatives by providing technical expertise, ensuring compliance, and driving lab improvements in a high-throughput pharmaceutical environment. Collaborate with teams to enhance...

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$95K - $115K *

Unlock potential by leading upstream development for large-scale biologics production. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to solve complex challenges, drive technology transfers, and enhance manu...

4 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$120K - $145K *

Join a team that's advancing oncology solutions by managing global clinical trials. Lead project execution from protocol development to study closeout, ensuring quality and compliance while fostering...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$90K - $110K *

Develop innovative food applications by leveraging your expertise in flavors and ingredients. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to solve customer challenges and manage multiple projects, ensurin...

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$100K - $275K *

Oversee the execution of complex projects, ensuring cost, schedule, and performance targets are met while fostering strong customer relationships and team morale. Drive continuous improvement and mana...

3 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$100K - $275K *

Transform project execution by leading complex programs, ensuring alignment with cost, schedule, and performance targets while fostering strong customer relationships and team morale in a dynamic envi...

3 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$100K - $275K *

Unlock your potential by leading complex projects from inception to completion. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to exceed customer expectations while managing resources, risks, and performance...

3 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$100K - $275K *

Lead the execution of complex medium to large projects, ensuring alignment with cost, schedule, and performance targets while fostering strong customer relationships and team morale...

3 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$67K - $151K *

Join the charge in optimizing manufacturing operations by providing technical support, ensuring safety and quality, and collaborating cross-functionally to enhance process efficiency and readiness for...

Yesterday

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$88K - $105K *

Drive the design and optimization of microbial fermentation processes, bridging R&D and manufacturing. Lead scale-up activities and ensure robust, cost-effective operations while collaborating with cr...

Reposted 1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$195K - $293K *

Lead the development and execution of comprehensive cybersecurity strategies, ensuring robust security architecture across diverse environments. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance secu...

2 weeks ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$67K - $151K *

Elevate operational excellence by providing on-floor technical support, ensuring seamless execution of manufacturing processes, and collaborating cross-functionally to drive continuous improvement in...

Yesterday

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$117K - $201K *

Transform drug discovery as a Principal Scientist, leading the development of AI reasoning platforms that leverage multimodal scientific data and enhance decision-making from lab to life, impacting bo...

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$117K - $201K *

Drive innovation by developing an AI-Reasoning platform to enhance decision-making in drug discovery, leveraging large datasets and advanced reasoning techniques to accelerate the translation of resea...

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$117K - $201K *

Shape the future of drug discovery by pioneering AI-Reasoning platforms that synthesize complex scientific data into actionable insights, driving innovation in therapeutic development for patient well...

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$117K - $201K *

Unlock potential by leading the development of AI systems that synthesize data into impactful insights for drug discovery, shaping the future of R&D through innovative reasoning and memory platforms t...

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$117K - $141K *

Optimize bioanalytical methods and lead development initiatives in a dynamic lab environment. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to address biomarker challenges and enhance drug development proce...

3 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$120K - $145K *

Empower research by leveraging LLMs to design software and systems. You'll shape projects spanning maintenance to groundbreaking scientific exploration, enhancing researcher capabilities while cultiva...

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$84K - $126K *

Elevate your career by driving microbiological testing and contamination control in a dynamic lab environment. Collaborate across teams to ensure sterility assurance and regulatory compliance for ster...

2 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$122K - $168K *

Partner with us to innovate in reactor modeling for sustainable metals production. Leverage your expertise to tackle challenges in chemical metallurgy and collaborate on cutting-edge solutions for dec...

6 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$87K - $120K *

Innovate analytical solutions in R&D to enhance consumer healthcare products. Utilize HPLC and separation science to support method validation, testing, and product development, ensuring quality and c...

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$70K - $105K *

Develop innovative solutions for scalable oligonucleotide syntheses, optimizing processes for purity and yield. Collaborate within a dynamic team to support therapeutic programs across various disease...

3 days ago

  •   Less than 5 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.