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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$95K - $115K *

Develop innovative telematics and sensing products, leading designs from concept to production while ensuring regulatory compliance and supporting hardware architecture with cross-functional teams...

4 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$140K - $202K *

Elevate the future of aerospace by designing flight-critical avionics hardware, ensuring compliance from schematic capture to qualification. Collaborate across teams to meet mission objectives and men...

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$95K - $115K *

Lead the charge in driving engineering excellence and innovation by managing a team focused on strategic initiatives in construction equipment. Oversee project execution, optimize costs, and enhance p...

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Technical Services

$95K - $115K *

Lead the charge in managing complex environmental projects, ensuring technical accuracy and client satisfaction while developing staff and fostering business growth in a dynamic, safety-focused enviro...

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Technical Services

$110K - $130K *

Lead the charge in developing innovative test solutions for high-performance semiconductor devices, collaborating with cross-functional teams to ensure customer success and drive technology advancemen...

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$91K - $137K *

Transform data ecosystems by designing scalable pipelines and analytics solutions. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver actionable insights while ensuring data quality and compliance wit...

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$170K - $240K *

Transform product experiences by turning model roadmaps into reliable releases across platforms. Collaborate with teams to enhance developer workflows and improve user experiences through data-driven...

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$80K - $95K *

Empower innovation by managing prototype builds for engines and batteries. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure quality and timely delivery while developing comprehensive build documentat...

Yesterday

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$115K - $155K *

Elevate product integrity by leading configuration management processes, ensuring accurate documentation and change control across engineering, manufacturing, and supply chain teams for hardware and s...

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$170K - $210K *

Transform the future of robotics by owning critical mechanical subsystems from design to production. Collaborate cross-functionally to deliver innovative solutions, while ensuring manufacturability an...

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$95K - $149K *

Unlock potential by leading complex engineering projects that enhance laboratory design and integration for critical nuclear examinations, ensuring effective collaboration and innovative solutions to...

Yesterday

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Energy & Utilities

$95K - $115K *

Unlock potential by driving innovative mechanical manufacturing processes, collaborating with cross-functional teams and suppliers to deliver exceptional design solutions in a dynamic, hands-on enviro...

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$94K - $148K *

Lead engineering efforts to enhance in-flight experiences, overseeing design, development, and certification of complex systems. Collaborate with teams to ensure project success and compliance while m...

6 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$80K - $95K *

Join a dynamic team to enhance manufacturing processes for electronics, focusing on efficiency, quality, and cost. Drive continuous improvement initiatives and support product development through inno...

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$108K - $130K *

Innovate your career by leading complex hardware engineering projects that support mission-critical operations. Drive integration, testing, and deployment of advanced infrastructure solutions across s...

1 week ago

  •   15+ years exp.  •   Information Technology

$108K - $130K *

Champion complex hardware solutions in mission-critical environments. Lead integration, testing, and sustainment efforts while providing technical guidance and mentoring to engineers. Drive innovation...

1 week ago

  •   15+ years exp.  •   Information Technology

$200K - $400K *

Join a team that's advancing AI safety by building reliable, controllable models for conversational agents. Collaborate across functions to transform safety challenges into scalable, production-ready...

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$200K - $400K *

Drive innovation in AI safety by building robust safeguards for conversational agents. Collaborate across teams to enhance model reliability and mitigate real-world risks, creating impactful solutions...

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$150K - $200K *

Drive innovation as a Principal Engineer, leading the design of cutting-edge connectors and cable harnesses for data storage and telecom systems. Collaborate across teams to transform ideas into marke...

6 days ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Energy & Utilities

$110K - $130K *

Pioneer the mechanical and thermal design of high-temperature reactors, optimizing for manufacturability and maintenance. Lead a team to innovate solutions for the largest rare earth metallization pla...

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$110K - $130K *

Transform the future of water treatment by leading electrical engineering projects. Leverage your expertise to ensure compliance, enhance quality, and collaborate across disciplines while managing des...

Yesterday

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Energy & Utilities

$110K - $130K *

Join our dynamic team to design innovative electrical systems for the biotech and pharma sectors, leveraging your expertise in clean room and laboratory facilities to deliver exceptional engineering s...

4 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$95K - $149K *

Take ownership of electrical design for embedded and wireless products, guiding projects from concept to production. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to solve engineering challenges and mentor...

Yesterday

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$80K - $90K *

Join a dynamic team supporting the US Navy by leveraging your expertise in IT and data services. Develop tools and maintain IT infrastructure while ensuring data integrity, security, and system effici...

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Technical Services

$160K - $190K *

Lead the technical vision for large-scale systems software, architecting solutions that enhance performance, reliability, and scalability across distributed infrastructure serving billions of users. D...

Today

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise 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.