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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$180K - $200K *

Champion innovation by developing scalable backend solutions and troubleshooting complex issues within our Cyber-Physical Systems platform. Collaborate with global teams to enhance performance and ens...

New York, NYRemote

2 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$184K - $356K *

Unlock your potential by developing cutting-edge pipelines for multi-modal content retrieval. Collaborate with experts in Generative AI and enhance user experiences through innovative software solutio...

RemoteRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$80K - $95K *

Transform energy solutions by leading diverse projects, conducting analyses, and collaborating with clients. Utilize engineering expertise to drive efficiency and sustainability in various sectors, en...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$135K - $160K *

Shape the future of autonomous driving by leading trajectory generation and controls. Collaborate across teams to deliver safe, optimized solutions while enhancing vehicle performance through innovati...

RemoteRemote

2 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Transportation

$179K - $341K *

Join a dynamic team to enhance C#/.NET integration for Unity Engine, driving performance and reliability. Collaborate with experts to deliver key technical solutions and advocate best practices for de...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$140K - $185K *

Collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive product strategy, manage roadmaps, and enhance customer experiences. Lead product initiatives, ensuring alignment with business goals while mentoring j...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Business Services

$186K - $280K *

Transform design verification processes by collaborating with cross-functional teams to enhance methodologies, automate tooling, and implement infrastructure that accelerates product development from...

California, USRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$130K - $160K *

Join a dynamic team to lead the integration and optimization of cutting-edge coherent DSP optical solutions, collaborating with hyperscale customers and engineering teams to drive product success and...

San Jose, CARemote

Today

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$135K - $160K *

Accelerate progress at the intersection of autonomous systems and cloud-native technologies, driving integration and architecture solutions for defense and commercial sectors. Engage with stakeholders...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$80K - $100K *

Champion the design and implementation of advanced communication systems, ensuring optimal functionality through troubleshooting and support. Collaborate across teams while managing extensive travel t...

RemoteRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Telecommunications & Hardware

$161K - $242K *

Join a team that's driving strategic initiatives and digital transformation. Collaborate with senior leaders to tackle complex challenges, influence decision-making, and ensure successful execution of...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$120K - $140K *

Lead the development of innovative AI-native design systems, enhancing Cherry's design infrastructure. Collaborate across teams, grow as a key member, and shape the future of design practices in a rap...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 4 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$95K - $115K *

Unlock the potential of robotic minimally invasive care by supporting early users through their learning curve. Collaborate with clinical teams to enhance procedural safety and effectiveness while pro...

Cincinnati, OHRemote

2 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$95K - $115K *

Partner with us to enhance robotic minimally invasive care by supporting early users, providing technical expertise, and collaborating with clinical teams to ensure effective system adoption and profi...

New York, NYRemote

2 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$104K - $130K *

Optimize power system studies for mission-critical projects, collaborating with design teams to conduct analyses and ensure safety compliance. Work independently on complex tasks while supporting proj...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Technical Services

$85K - $115K *

Elevate your career by coordinating multidisciplinary BIM models for complex industrial projects. Lead clash detection, ensure model accuracy, and drive collaboration among teams to deliver high-quali...

Plano, TXRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$132K - $251K *

Champion innovation in software development as a DevSecOps Software Lead, driving the design and implementation of advanced pipelines. Collaborate with teams to enhance efficiency and foster a culture...

Annapolis, MDRemote

Today

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$120K - $145K *

Champion innovative solutions by architecting a cutting-edge Command & Control system for large drone swarms, influencing design and implementation while collaborating with a dynamic team to tackle co...

San Francisco, CARemote

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$100K - $120K *

Deliver innovative mineral processing solutions to enhance plant operations, optimize costs, and improve product quality. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive project success and ensure co...

United StatesRemote

4 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$110K - $130K *

Join our team to validate and enhance data migration processes through comprehensive testing, ensuring quality and performance in a dynamic Agile environment. Your expertise will drive successful syst...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$90K - $110K *

Drive technical solutions and client satisfaction as you partner with internal teams, enhancing client engagement through innovative use of our solutions, troubleshooting complex integrations, and fos...

United StatesRemote

4 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$199K - $270K *

Tackle the complexities of backend engineering by developing robust API integrations, building ETL pipelines, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to enhance system reliability and performanc...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 4 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$184K - $287K *

Drive the future of AI infrastructure by building automation and tools for large-scale GPU systems. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance production reliability and ensure seamless operat...

RemoteRemote

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$120K - $145K *

Join a team that's redefining energy solutions by leveraging AI to optimize operations and enhance product offerings. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to design and implement impactful LLM-powe...

CanadaRemote

Today

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$120K - $145K *

Transform energy solutions by leveraging AI to optimize operations and products. Collaborate with teams to define success metrics, design LLM-powered features, and enhance customer-facing AI functiona...

United StatesRemote

Today

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

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.