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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$85K *

Drive innovative PFAS analytical methods and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to enhance technologies for PFAS destruction and remediation, ensuring high-quality data and effective communicati...

3 days ago

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

$96K - $264K *

Drive the site reliability engineering strategy for large-scale platforms, ensuring system reliability, scalability, and performance. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance operational rea...

4 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$95K - $135K *

Drive technical excellence and team growth by leading software development initiatives, managing resources, and ensuring project alignment with business goals while maintaining security and operationa...

Emeryville, CARemote

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Energy & Utilities

$120K - $145K *

Unlock potential by leveraging your market research expertise to drive insights that optimize growth for pipeline assets. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to translate business needs into actio...

Reposted 2 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$85K - $100K *

Elevate project outcomes by managing multiple low- to medium-risk projects, guiding diverse teams to achieve key deliverables while ensuring compliance with budget, timeline, and safety standards thro...

Chalk River, ONIn-Person

Reposted 3 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Energy & Utilities

$100K - $120K *

Manage large-scale projects critical to success, overseeing planning, budgeting, and resource allocation while leading multi-disciplinary teams to deliver quality results on time and within budget...

Chalk River, ONIn-Person

1 month ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Energy & Utilities

$88K - $105K *

Engineer innovative CPVC formulations to enhance product performance and drive commercialization. Collaborate with cross-functional teams, leveraging data analytics and scientific expertise to solve c...

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Business Services

$90K - $135K *

Lead the charge in advanced materials innovation, focusing on tribology and seal-face technologies. Drive R&D efforts to enhance product reliability and performance, collaborating with cross-functiona...

Today

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$90K - $135K *

Transform the future of advanced materials by leading R&D in tribology and ceramics. Drive innovation to enhance product reliability and performance while collaborating with cross-functional teams and...

Today

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$97K - $168K *

Grow your career with a dynamic R&D team, executing diverse biochemistry protocols, enhancing sequencing workflows, and collaborating across projects to drive innovation and precision in molecular bio...

Today

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$175K - $225K *

Drive your career with a leadership role in bioprocess engineering, overseeing fermentation and downstream processing for engineered protein production. Lead a team, manage technology transfers, and i...

3 weeks ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Energy & Utilities

$100K - $126K *

Advance your career by developing and executing innovative assays to support drug discovery. Collaborate cross-functionally to drive scientific progress and contribute to impactful pharmacology projec...

4 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$126K - $234K *

Unlock the potential of scientific informatics by owning product roadmaps that enhance assay workflows, ensuring data capture and context are integral to experimental processes across diverse drug dis...

4 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$104K - $186K *

Join a team that's advancing pediatric cancer research through innovative preclinical studies. Collaborate with experts to develop and oversee therapeutic testing, ensuring compliance and excellence i...

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$126K - $170K *

Join our dynamic team to advance early-stage drug product development, focusing on antibody-drug conjugates and biologics. Collaborate cross-functionally to design formulations, establish processes, a...

Reposted 3 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$130K - $170K *

Reimagine your engineering career by leading process design for advanced technology facilities. Drive technical excellence in a dynamic environment focused on innovation and team development while ens...

Reposted today

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$130K - $170K *

Lead the charge in designing complex process systems for advanced technology facilities, driving project success and team growth while ensuring high quality and regulatory compliance in semiconductor...

Reposted today

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$130K - $190K *

Lead the charge in designing advanced systems for semiconductor facilities. Oversee dynamic projects, ensuring technical excellence and team development while driving client satisfaction and complianc...

Reposted today

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$130K - $190K *

Unlock potential by leading innovative design projects in semiconductor and advanced technology sectors. Drive technical excellence while mentoring a dynamic engineering team to ensure top-quality pro...

Reposted today

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$110K - $130K *

Join a dynamic team to lead the creation of impactful scientific content, enhancing medical education and patient outcomes. Collaborate cross-functionally, mentor writers, and drive excellence in heal...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$95K - $115K *

Join a dynamic team as a Senior Sensory Scientist, driving sensory science initiatives across Human Nutrition & Health. Lead studies, train teams, and collaborate with partners to enhance product qual...

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Business Services

$111K - $150K *

Champion innovative oligonucleotide and AAV therapeutic design, synthesis, and characterization. Collaborate across disciplines to advance genetic heart disease therapies, ensuring quality and efficie...

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$175K - $222K *

Engage in architecting high-volume autonomous agent pipelines, ensuring safety, performance, and compliance. Own the generator-verifier architecture and CI/CD processes while setting engineering stand...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$131K - $153K *

Lead the charge in developing innovative toxicological strategies to ensure ingredient safety and compliance. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to address global scientific challenges while infl...

3 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Food & Beverages

$67K - $173K *

Join a dynamic team to support and enhance manufacturing operations, ensuring effective execution on the floor. Collaborate cross-functionally to drive process improvements and operational readiness i...

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.