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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$111K - $135K *

Join us to develop and commercialize innovative clinical sample preparation products and LC-MS/MS workflows, leveraging your expertise to solve complex analytical challenges and drive new product deve...

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Business Services

$67K - $151K *

Optimize laboratory startup and operations, providing technical leadership, mentoring, and strategic oversight to establish robust GMP practices in the biotech sector, ultimately ensuring the successf...

Reposted 1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$141K - $175K *

Unlock potential by driving drug discovery through high-quality bioanalytical data. Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to develop and execute LC-MS/MS assays for targeted protein degrader candid...

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$159K - $215K *

Unlock potential by leading strategic initiatives and driving product innovation. Collaborate across teams to enhance commercial offerings and ensure operational excellence while mentoring a high-perf...

3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Retail & Consumer Goods

$124K - $231K *

Champion the advancement of Real-World Data strategies, driving evidence generation and influencing critical decisions in digital health and IVD portfolios. Lead complex studies and collaborate with s...

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$118K - $157K *

Lead the charge in managing R&D projects for new product development, ensuring successful equipment installation and process transfer. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver projects on ti...

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$150K - $180K *

Lead the charge in advancing small molecule drug discovery, driving innovative medicinal chemistry strategies from hit identification to IND-enabling studies while collaborating across disciplines and...

United StatesRemote

2 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$93K - $156K *

Drive innovation in downstream process development by designing and executing studies, analyzing data, and collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to enhance recovery and purification processes for...

4 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$200K - $280K *

Lead a team to design and implement benchmarks that enhance AI model performance in biology. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure quality and timely delivery while mentoring scientists an...

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$200K - $280K *

Accelerate progress at the forefront of AI in biology by leading a team to design benchmarks and enhance model performance. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive innovation and ensure quali...

San Francisco, CARemote

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$87K - $119K *

Join a team that's pushing the boundaries of material science through advanced electron microscopy. Contribute to groundbreaking research by analyzing complex materials, collaborating with experts, an...

Reposted 4 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$115K - $165K *

Lead the charge in shaping software product strategy and lifecycle for analytics solutions. Collaborate across teams to enhance user experience and drive measurable outcomes, ensuring alignment with c...

RemoteRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$120K - $224K *

Elevate drug development by leading preclinical PKPD studies, analyzing data, and collaborating across departments to enhance biologics in our pipeline. Drive innovative research and ensure compliance...

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$95K - $115K *

Transform laboratory safety and compliance by leading high-stakes projects that integrate cutting-edge practices in hazard management, biocontainment, and regulatory adherence within a collaborative t...

Reposted today

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Real Estate & Construction

$137K - $215K *

Elevate your career by leading high-throughput in vitro ADME assay development. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive innovation in drug discovery, ensuring data integrity and operational e...

4 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$95K - $115K *

Join our Analytical Services team to leverage automation in pharmaceutical development, conducting experiments and troubleshooting to enhance product design and efficiency while collaborating with div...

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$95K - $115K *

Empower innovation in R&D by designing and executing experiments that advance product development in agronomy and materials science, collaborating closely with the technology team to drive impactful r...

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$100K - $120K *

Shape innovative molecular assay technologies by leading research efforts, collaborating with R&D teams, and driving experimental design and data analysis in a dynamic biotechnology environment...

Yesterday

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$142K - $193K *

Unlock potential by leading the development of innovative generative AI models. Collaborate with experts to enhance algorithms, optimize performance, and drive impactful solutions across products and...

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Retail & Consumer Goods

$137K - $215K *

Explore your potential as a Senior Scientist in Process Research, leading innovative development of synthetic drug substances. Collaborate globally to drive early-stage projects, ensuring quality and...

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$153K - $265K *

Lead the development of innovative software solutions for National Security, focusing on complex algorithms, system integration, and mentoring. Collaborate with teams to enhance operational capabiliti...

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$174K - $252K *

Unlock potential by driving innovative research in AI and deep learning. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to develop cutting-edge technologies, prototype solutions, and contribute to the global...

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$80K - $95K *

Transform peptide synthesis processes and collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive impactful research projects in a fast-paced environment. Leverage your expertise to innovate and support both...

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$162K - $189K *

Lead the charge in analytical development for drug substances and products, utilizing advanced techniques to support research through clinical stages. Collaborate across teams to solve challenges and...

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$110K - $148K *

Pioneer innovative research in inorganic particle engineering, focusing on surface functionalization and material performance. Collaborate across disciplines to develop advanced materials and translat...

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

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.