Research Engineer Jobs

Research engineers turn scientific ideas into practical systems, tools, and products. They combine engineering expertise with research methods to design experiments, build prototypes, analyze results, and help teams move discoveries toward real-world applications. Explore vetted Research Engineer opportunities paying $100,000 or more on Ladders.

What Does a Research Engineer Do?

Responsibilities vary by industry and employer, but often include developing research software or hardware, creating and testing prototypes, designing experiments, processing data, documenting findings, and collaborating with scientists, product teams, and other engineers. In fields such as artificial intelligence, robotics, materials science, and biotechnology, research engineers may also build infrastructure that enables teams to train models, run simulations, or evaluate new technologies.

Research Engineer Skills and Qualifications

Employers typically seek strong engineering fundamentals, analytical thinking, and experience applying technical methods to open-ended problems. Relevant skills may include programming, statistical analysis, machine learning, simulation, experimental design, prototyping, and technical communication. Requirements depend on the specialty; some roles favor a bachelor’s or master’s degree and industry experience, while others may prefer a doctorate or a background in academic or laboratory research.

Where Research Engineers Work

Research engineers work in technology companies, research and development organizations, universities, laboratories, healthcare and biotech firms, and advanced manufacturing. Roles may focus on software, AI, robotics, electrical or mechanical systems, or other specialized areas. Team structures and day-to-day work can differ, so review each job description for its research focus, required expertise, and collaboration model.

Find Research Engineer Jobs on Ladders

Search Ladders for vetted Research Engineer openings with salaries of $100,000 or more. Compare responsibilities, qualifications, and compensation details to find opportunities that fit your technical background and career goals.

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$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

$104K - $134K *

Unlock potential by driving innovative mechanical designs for mission-critical facilities. Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, execute complex projects, and enhance mechanical design expertise i...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Technical Services

$184K - $356K *

Drive the development and automation of reliable, scalable AI services across diverse cloud environments, ensuring optimal performance and operational safety for production workloads and distributed s...

RemoteRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$96K - $205K *

Empower the Data Center Solutions team by providing expert technical support, evaluating customer needs, and leading strategic projects across the Central US and Latin America, ensuring optimal produc...

RemoteRemote

Yesterday

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$100K - $120K *

Accelerate your career by partnering with leaders to develop innovative solutions, guide engineering best practices, and ensure high-quality infrastructure. Collaborate with teams to achieve technical...

Mclean, VARemote

Reposted 5 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$150K - $200K *

Transform complex engineering projects by leading a team of specialists in BAS and EPMS designs for critical data center sectors, ensuring high quality and timely deliverables while mentoring talent a...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Technical Services

$110K - $130K *

Innovate robust SaaS platforms by collaborating with cross-functional teams, building and enhancing features, and delivering customer-centric solutions throughout the development lifecycle...

RemoteRemote

Reposted 1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$80K - $95K *

Advance energy efficiency initiatives by analyzing data, optimizing building performance, and collaborating with teams to reduce costs and support sustainability goals. Drive impactful solutions in en...

Moreno Valley, CARemote

6 days ago

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

$466K - $500K+*

Elevate your career by building a cutting-edge ML data platform that enhances productivity for ML practitioners. Collaborate with experts to create innovative solutions for feature computation and sha...

United StatesRemote

Yesterday

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Hospitality & Recreation

$124K - $241K *

Elevate the safety and fairness of large language models by developing innovative datasets, models, and metrics. Collaborate across teams to enhance content security and contribute to responsible AI p...

Santa Clara, CARemote

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$130K - $155K *

Drive the innovation of behavior planning systems for autonomous vehicles, owning key design and implementation tasks while collaborating with cross-functional teams to ensure peak performance in dyna...

RemoteRemote

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Transportation

$120K - $145K *

Optimize runtime authorization strategies across diverse segments, driving technical wins and enabling Sales Engineers. Leverage deep IAM and PAM expertise to deliver impactful solutions, ensuring com...

United StatesRemote

3 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$110K - $130K *

Transform the infrastructure for a groundbreaking healthcare platform by optimizing cloud solutions, implementing CI/CD, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to enhance clinical AI/ML offerin...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$110K - $135K *

Unlock excellence in PCB design and manufacturing by leading DFM initiatives, developing complex multilayer layouts, and shaping best practices across engineering teams to enhance product performance...

United StatesRemote

6 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$170K - $182K *

Unlock innovative advancements in manufacturing and materials for energy. Lead R&D projects, guiding teams and influencing technical strategies while addressing complex industry challenges with minima...

Charlotte, NCRemote

Reposted 4 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$138K - $184K *

Join a team that's shaping the future of mission critical facilities by leading electrical design projects. Collaborate with diverse teams to ensure high availability and efficiency in data center inf...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Technical Services

$84K - $129K *

Elevate your career by applying your expertise in thermodynamics and fluid mechanics to design and optimize nuclear power plant systems. Collaborate with clients and mentor junior engineers while driv...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Technical Services

$131K - $196K *

Unlock potential by developing AI-driven applications and data pipelines. Collaborate with teams to enhance operational efficiency through innovative technical solutions, ensuring quality and scalabil...

United StatesRemote

Today

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Food & Beverages

$190K - $234K *

Empower transformative initiatives as you manage strategic technical programs across engineering and operations, driving excellence in tooling and integrations while mentoring a high-performing team i...

Mountain View, CARemote

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$86K - $126K *

Join our dynamic Engineering team to lead civil design projects, focusing on stormwater management and erosion control. Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to deliver high-quality solutions while...

RemoteRemote

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Energy & Utilities

$152K - $287K *

Empower cutting-edge AI applications by enabling CUDA Math Libraries on diverse platforms. Collaborate with engineering teams to ensure high-quality performance and compliance, driving innovation in s...

RemoteRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$130K - $160K *

Advance our mobile stack by developing features for our popular SDKs, enhancing location services across platforms, and engaging with customers to deliver impactful solutions used globally on millions...

New York, NYRemote

4 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Business Services

$118K - $180K *

Shape the future of power generation by overseeing electrical systems' performance, reliability, and safety. Collaborate with teams to manage maintenance, troubleshooting, and improvements across dive...

United StatesRemote

2 days ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Technical Services

$160K - $206K *

Elevate audio AI capabilities by designing and implementing innovative conversational systems while optimizing for user experience and real-time performance in smart home settings...

Washington, USRemote

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Energy & Utilities

$120K - $200K *

Champion parts engineering and reliability assurance for space missions. Lead selection, qualification, and reliability analysis of components, collaborating with cross-functional teams to ensure miss...

Reston, VARemote

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

  • What is a Research Engineer?question toggle

    A Research Engineer applies engineering methods to investigate technical questions and develop tools, prototypes, or systems that advance research or translate discoveries into practical applications.

  • What qualifications do Research Engineer jobs require?question toggle

    Requirements vary by specialty. Employers commonly look for an engineering or related technical degree, relevant programming or laboratory experience, analytical skills, and the ability to communicate research results. Some positions require advanced degrees or specialized expertise.

  • What industries hire Research Engineers?question toggle

    Research Engineers are hired across technology, AI, robotics, biotechnology, healthcare, manufacturing, academia, and research laboratories, among other sectors.

  • How much do Research Engineers earn?question toggle

    Compensation varies based on location, experience, specialization, and employer. Ladders focuses on vetted professional jobs paying $100,000 or more, and job listings may provide role-specific compensation information.

  • How can I find Research Engineer jobs paying $100,000 or more?question toggle

    Browse Research Engineer listings on Ladders and review each posting’s salary information, responsibilities, and qualifications to identify roles that match your experience and goals.