Explore R&D Engineer Jobs

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.

What R&D Engineers Do

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.

Industries and Specializations

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.

Skills and Qualifications

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.

Find R&D Engineer Jobs on Ladders

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.

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$125K - $155K *

Grow your career with a dynamic team focused on designing and implementing scalable systems. Collaborate on complex projects, mentor peers, and drive technical excellence while contributing to impactf...

United StatesRemote

3 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$120K - $145K *

Empower global business practices by leading diverse project teams in innovative industries. Collaborate with stakeholders to ensure project success through effective management and integration of cut...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Consumer Technology

$205K - $250K *

Lead the charge in resource geology by developing geological models and ensuring compliance with international standards. Oversee technical reports and mentor teams while driving business development...

CanadaRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Energy & Utilities

$110K - $130K *

Engage in the dynamic world of biopharma, mastering both scientific expertise and business acumen. Drive growth through customer outreach, contract negotiation, and collaboration with marketing to ele...

San Francisco, CARemote

4 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$255K - $290K *

Drive the technical vision for a complex database platform, ensuring scalability and performance. Lead architecture decisions, mentor engineers, and collaborate across teams to enhance data infrastruc...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$179K - $228K *

Join a team of engineers solving complex networking and security challenges through low-level software development for critical communication systems. Engage in hands-on programming that directly impa...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$182K - $212K *

Drive innovative solutions in rolling stock engineering, overseeing vehicle projects from concept to completion. Collaborate with experts to ensure quality and compliance in rail vehicle procurement a...

United StatesRemote

Yesterday

  •   15+ years exp.  •   Transportation

$76K - $145K *

Unlock your potential by leading cost estimating efforts for complex aerospace systems. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to develop accurate estimates and support both commercial and government...

Palo Alto, CARemote

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$100K - $120K *

Drive business growth by identifying and securing new opportunities in life sciences and CPG sectors. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver tailored solutions and exceed sales targets whi...

Newtown, PARemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$182K - $251K *

Champion the creation of advanced statistical engines and experimentation systems, driving data-informed decision making at scale. Collaborate across teams to enhance product impact and performance, w...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$86K - $138K *

Drive automation excellence by developing end-to-end solutions using Ansible and scripting languages. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance operational efficiency and ensure compliance wi...

United StatesRemote

Yesterday

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$110K - $165K *

Join a team that's shaping the future of energy distribution tools. Leverage your software engineering expertise to develop, enhance, and integrate solutions while mentoring junior developers and coll...

Spokane, WARemote

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Energy & Utilities

$90K - $110K *

Champion the optimization of business systems for Legal, Safety, and Environmental teams. Drive continuous improvement and support for Icertis and related applications, enhancing user experience and o...

RemoteRemote

Reposted 3 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$126K - $164K *

Empower your career by leading the design and implementation of protective relay systems. Collaborate with a dynamic team to enhance system protection across various energy sectors, ensuring complianc...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$90K - $110K *

Innovate and enhance software solutions in a dynamic SaaS environment. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to design, develop, and maintain high-quality applications while driving continuous impro...

Puerto Rico, USRemote

Yesterday

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$174K - $252K *

Lead the development of large-scale infrastructure solutions, optimizing cloud technologies and enhancing software products. Collaborate with teams to deliver mission-critical services for diverse cus...

Cambridge, MARemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$111K - $150K *

Elevate your career by leading innovative structural engineering solutions for utility-scale renewable energy projects. Collaborate with diverse teams to drive design excellence and mentor emerging ta...

United StatesRemote

6 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$110K - $130K *

Unlock potential by designing and optimizing enterprise data solutions in a Databricks Lakehouse environment, supporting critical missions with a focus on scalability and best practices...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 3 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$135K - $160K *

Engineer next-gen AppSec solutions by collaborating with cross-functional teams to enhance detection capabilities and drive innovation in vulnerability research and autonomous pen-testing...

Toronto, ONRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Technical Services

$90K - $110K *

Empower financial decision-making by leading analysis, forecasting, and budgeting. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver insights and enhance reporting efficiency using advanced tools and...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Transportation

$150K - $180K *

Optimize performance by designing custom CUDA kernels and integrating research ideas into production code to enhance training, post-training, and inference workflows. Collaborate with a small, agile t...

San Francisco, CARemote

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$80K - $95K *

Lead the charge in managing projects from initiation to completion, ensuring alignment with business objectives. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver results on time while effectively co...

Arkansas, USRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$182K - $212K *

Lead quality assurance efforts in rolling stock engineering, overseeing vehicle procurement and rebuilds. Collaborate with teams to ensure high standards and timely delivery while supervising inspecti...

United StatesRemote

Yesterday

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Transportation

$125K - $150K *

Empower a dynamic team of engineers to innovate e-commerce solutions, driving growth through collaboration with product managers and stakeholders while leveraging AI to enhance development processes a...

Houston, TXRemote

3 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$158K - $197K *

Join a team that's redefining engineering innovation through advanced structural and thermal-mechanical modeling. Lead high-fidelity simulations to drive next-gen interconnect technology, collaboratin...

Pennsylvania, USRemote

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

  • What does an R&D engineer do?question toggle

    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?question toggle

    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?question toggle

    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?question toggle

    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?question toggle

    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.