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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$105K - $160K *

Optimize low-carbon energy solutions by collaborating with engineers to develop innovative processes for hydrogen and LNG production, ensuring technical excellence and supporting clients in their ener...

Today

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Technical Services

$105K - $160K *

Drive innovation in low-carbon solutions as a Senior Process Engineer, collaborating with a dynamic team to optimize energy transition processes and deliver impactful results for clients in a fast-pac...

Calgary, ABIn-Person

Today

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Technical Services

$110K - $130K *

Help us build innovative features for a unique kid-friendly phone, enhancing user experience through app development, call routing, and contact management. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to d...

5 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Consumer Technology

$75K - $95K *

Grow your career with a dynamic team as you drive project success in heavy civil construction, ensuring safety, quality, and collaboration across various projects while enhancing your engineering expe...

4 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Real Estate & Construction

$75K - $95K *

Unlock potential by leading project engineering efforts in heavy civil construction. Collaborate with teams to ensure quality, safety, and efficiency while fostering career growth and professional dev...

4 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Real Estate & Construction

$75K - $95K *

Lead the charge in delivering complex infrastructure projects, ensuring quality, safety, and efficiency while managing on-site activities, subcontractors, and project costs across multiple regions...

4 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Real Estate & Construction

$95K - $115K *

Empower your career by leveraging your MBSE expertise to support critical defense projects. Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to develop innovative solutions that address complex challenges for...

6 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$90K - $110K *

Lead the charge in providing technical solutions for passive fiber optic interconnects across diverse sectors. Establish trusted relationships with customers, ensuring product performance and reliabil...

Reposted 1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$80K - $95K *

Optimize sample processing workflows using FEI/Thermo Fisher Helios SEM tools. Collaborate with lab management and support continuous improvements while ensuring quality standards are met for SEM imag...

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$115K - $150K *

Develop and design advanced heat exchanger systems, collaborating with cross-functional teams to ensure performance and reliability in next-generation energy applications. Drive projects from concept...

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Energy & Utilities

$114K - $135K *

Deliver comprehensive project management for F/A-18 and EA-18G initiatives, ensuring coordination among cross-functional teams and effective communication with stakeholders to meet technical and perfo...

Reposted 3 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$98K - $147K *

Shape the future of software quality assurance by developing and maintaining evaluation systems, collaborating with engineering teams, and ensuring compliance with quality standards for software and f...

3 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$140K - $280K *

Unlock potential by driving the design and development of advanced radar systems. Collaborate with a multidisciplinary team to create innovative algorithms and optimize performance, while mentoring ju...

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$125K - $160K *

Join a team that's redefining autonomous defense systems. You'll design, build, and optimize mission-critical applications, ensuring real-time performance and security across the full software stack i...

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$92K - $110K *

Shape the future of semiconductor technology by operating advanced test equipment, managing wafer inventory, and performing critical measurements to drive innovation in analog circuits and device char...

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$85K - $108K *

Champion the maintenance and enhancement of mixed C++ media-processing platforms, ensuring reliability and support for video exploitation applications. This role requires expertise in debugging, build...

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$71K - $89K *

Join us in driving innovation as you lead manufacturing activities for new products, ensuring quality and efficiency from prototype to production while collaborating with diverse teams to enhance cust...

5 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$108K - $130K *

Lead a dynamic engineering team to ensure mission assurance for launch programs, managing resources and communications with key stakeholders while driving project success and team performance in a fas...

Yesterday

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Real Estate & Construction

$100K - $120K *

Champion the design and validation of cutting-edge powertrain systems, focusing on hybrid and electric architectures. Collaborate across teams and take ownership of technologies that shape the future...

1 month ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$117K - $235K *

Innovate in remote sensing research by leading complex projects, implementing cutting-edge solutions, and driving technical excellence in space-based applications. Collaborate with multidisciplinary t...

Albuquerque, NMRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$152K - $229K *

Transform spacecraft systems by leading the design and implementation of Command and Data Handling architectures. Drive innovation across cross-disciplinary teams, ensuring robust and scalable solutio...

Reposted 1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$200K - $275K *

Lead transformative AI initiatives by partnering with business leaders to identify opportunities and develop high-impact solutions. Combine technical expertise with business insights to drive producti...

3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$101K - $162K *

Drive innovation by designing and delivering high-performance electronic products. Collaborate with a skilled team to own all aspects of hardware design, from conception to production, ensuring excell...

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$140K - $185K *

Drive innovation in advanced heat exchanger systems, collaborating with cross-functional teams to design, analyze, and validate high-performance solutions for next-generation energy applications, ensu...

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Energy & Utilities

$140K - $185K *

Transform the thermal management of the Power Conversion System, owning the heat budget and critical thermal interfaces. Collaborate across disciplines to optimize hardware performance while ensuring...

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Energy & Utilities

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.