R&D engineers turn ideas and scientific insights into practical products, technologies, and processes. They plan and conduct experiments, build prototypes, analyze results, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to move concepts from early research toward real-world use. Browse vetted R&D Engineer opportunities on Ladders, including roles paying $100,000 or more.
Responsibilities vary by industry and employer, but often include designing experiments, evaluating materials or systems, developing prototypes, documenting findings, and improving product performance. R&D engineers may also assess safety, quality, cost, reliability, and manufacturability while coordinating with product, manufacturing, software, and regulatory teams.
R&D engineering opportunities span technology, aerospace, automotive, energy, medical devices, pharmaceuticals, consumer products, advanced materials, and manufacturing. Specializations may include mechanical, electrical, chemical, biomedical, software, and materials engineering. The work can range from fundamental research to applied development and product optimization.
Employers commonly seek a relevant engineering degree and experience with technical research, experimentation, data analysis, and problem-solving. Depending on the position, valuable skills may include CAD or simulation tools, programming, laboratory methods, design controls, technical writing, and knowledge of industry standards. Strong communication and collaboration skills help engineers explain findings and align research with business and customer needs.
Use Ladders to explore vetted professional opportunities with salaries of $100,000 or more. Review each listing for its responsibilities, required qualifications, location, and compensation details to find R&D engineering roles that fit your experience and career goals.
Senior Licensing Engineer Energy - Remote
$90K - $150K *
Drive the development and integration of licensing applications for fuel cycle facilities. Lead regulatory approaches, ensure application quality, and mentor engineers while interacting with clients a...
Reposted yesterday
$220K - $265K *
Lead the charge in building a high-performing mobile engineering team, driving technical execution and culture. Oversee multi-persona mobile experiences, architecture, and release operations, shaping...
2 weeks ago
Senior Staff Inbound Product Manager - AI Search
$190K - $334K *
Lead the charge in product management for advanced enterprise search AI, shaping user experiences that are intuitive and personalized. Drive innovation, manage a growing team, and ensure strategic ali...
4 weeks ago
Project Manager, Business Improvement
$100K - $120K *
Empower your career by driving impactful business improvement initiatives. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to manage projects, analyze data, and enhance operational efficiency in a dynamic env...
1 week ago
Senior Software Development Engineer - Workforce Integrations
$120K - $145K *
Lead the development of scalable cloud applications while mentoring a team of engineers. Drive collaboration across departments and uphold high standards of software quality and security. Contribute t...
Reposted 3 weeks ago
$100K - $130K *
Take ownership of developing innovative software solutions, leveraging new technologies and processes. Collaborate closely with customers to create high-quality applications while adapting to evolving...
3 days ago
Data & Artificial Intelligence Research Engineer, L4
$182K - $210K *
Transform the future of materials science by developing cutting-edge machine learning models. Collaborate across teams to enhance AI capabilities, improve interpretability, and drive innovation in mat...
2 weeks ago
Senior Routing Engine Developer (CX Platform)
$120K - $145K *
Join a team that's designing the next-gen routing platform for enterprise contact centers. You'll develop scalable backend services for real-time interaction distribution, collaborating across teams t...
3 days ago
Senior Routing Engine Developer (CX Platform)
$120K - $145K *
Build innovative routing engines for enterprise-scale contact centers, optimizing real-time distribution of interactions across various channels. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance per...
3 days ago
Senior Routing Engine Developer (CX Platform)
$120K - $145K *
Deliver innovative routing solutions for enterprise-scale contact centers. Design and build a robust routing engine that intelligently distributes interactions across various channels, ensuring high a...
3 days ago
Senior Routing Engine Developer (CX Platform)
$120K - $145K *
Lead the charge in designing and developing a cutting-edge routing engine for enterprise-scale contact centers, ensuring real-time distribution of interactions across various channels while optimizing...
3 days ago
Senior Routing Engine Developer (CX Platform)
$120K - $145K *
Empower enterprise-scale contact centers by designing and developing a cutting-edge routing engine. Collaborate across teams to ensure intelligent distribution of interactions, optimizing for performa...
3 days ago
Senior Routing Engine Developer (CX Platform)
$120K - $145K *
Join a team that's redefining contact center technology by designing and building a cutting-edge routing engine. You'll develop scalable backend services for real-time interaction distribution, collab...
3 days ago
Senior Routing Engine Developer (CX Platform)
$120K - $145K *
Innovate the future of enterprise contact centers by designing a robust routing engine that intelligently distributes interactions across various channels, ensuring high performance and scalability in...
3 days ago
Senior Routing Engine Developer (CX Platform)
$120K - $145K *
Engineer the future of contact center technology by developing a robust routing engine that intelligently distributes interactions across various channels, ensuring high availability and performance i...
3 days ago
Senior Routing Engine Developer (CX Platform)
$120K - $145K *
Lead the design and development of a cutting-edge routing engine for enterprise contact centers, ensuring real-time distribution of interactions across various channels while collaborating with cross...
3 days ago
Senior Routing Engine Developer (CX Platform)
$120K - $145K *
Join a team that's designing and building a cutting-edge routing platform for enterprise contact centers. Develop scalable backend services for real-time interaction distribution, ensuring high availa...
3 days ago
Senior Routing Engine Developer (CX Platform)
$120K - $145K *
Pioneer the development of a cutting-edge routing engine for enterprise contact centers, ensuring real-time distribution of interactions across various channels. Collaborate with cross-functional team...
3 days ago
$87K - $108K *
Join a dynamic engineering team to deliver innovative electrical solutions. Collaborate on complex projects, mentor junior staff, and ensure compliance with industry standards while driving quality an...
Reposted 6 days ago
Principal-Water/Wastewater Engineer
$170K - $200K *
Lead the charge in establishing a new Water/Wastewater practice across California, driving strategic growth, client relationships, and project oversight while mentoring a multidisciplinary team to del...
Today
Principal-Water/Wastewater Engineer
$170K - $200K *
Transform the future of water/wastewater engineering by leading practice growth, client development, and strategic initiatives across California. Leverage your expertise to establish a trusted enginee...
Today
Principal-Water/Wastewater Engineer
$170K - $200K *
Grow your career with a leadership role in expanding a Water/Wastewater practice. Drive strategic development, client relationships, and project oversight while leveraging your expertise to establish...
Today
Application Packaging Engineer
$116K - $122K *
Deliver reliable application packaging solutions for a large federal IT environment. Collaborate with stakeholders to gather requirements and ensure seamless deployment across thousands of endpoints...
Today
$170K *
Engage with a dynamic team to elevate engineering excellence by leading managers and analysts, ensuring project execution aligns with performance goals, and driving professional growth across the regi...
4 weeks ago
Security Engineer (Research Infrastructure)
$346K - $500K+*
Shape a secure future for research technologies. Lead in defining security for multi-cloud environments that enable high-compute research, ensuring safety in CI/CD practices and automated systems for...
Reposted 3 weeks ago
What does an R&D engineer do?
An R&D engineer researches, designs, tests, and improves products, technologies, or processes. The role may involve experiments, prototyping, data analysis, technical documentation, and collaboration with product and manufacturing teams.
What qualifications are typically required for R&D engineer jobs?
Many roles require a bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline or a related field. Employers may also look for relevant research or product-development experience, technical problem-solving ability, and familiarity with tools or standards specific to the industry.
Which industries hire R&D engineers?
R&D engineers work in industries such as technology, aerospace, automotive, energy, medical devices, pharmaceuticals, consumer products, materials, and manufacturing.
How can I find R&D engineer jobs paying $100,000 or more?
Browse R&D Engineer listings on Ladders, where professional jobs are vetted and pay $100,000 or more. Check each listing for compensation, location, responsibilities, and qualifications.
What skills are useful for an R&D engineer?
Useful skills include experimental design, data analysis, prototyping, technical writing, and engineering problem-solving. Depending on the role, employers may also value CAD, simulation, programming, laboratory methods, or regulatory knowledge.