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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
$80K - $95K *
Explore your engineering expertise in designing custom instrumentation and systems. Collaborate on international projects, applying advanced knowledge in electronics, programming, and circuit design t...
2 weeks ago
$150K - $250K *
Transform the research platform for our AI researcher by building robust backtesting engines, data pipelines, and evaluation tools. Collaborate with engineers and researchers to deliver impactful solu...
2 weeks ago
$90K - $110K *
Drive innovation by tackling complex engineering challenges from concept to execution. Collaborate with a dynamic team to create cutting-edge robotic solutions that enhance everyday life, blending res...
1 week ago
$110K - $130K *
Transform innovative ideas into functional prototypes by blending research and engineering. Collaborate with a dynamic team to tackle diverse challenges, from motion to sensing, ensuring solutions are...
1 week ago
$110K - $130K *
Join a team that's redefining machine learning implementation to drive impactful research and innovate within a collaborative environment. Contribute to projects, open source, and author scientific pa...
3 weeks ago
$110K - $130K *
Engage in transforming cutting-edge AI research into reliable, high-performance products by optimizing and deploying models in real-time environments. Collaborate with researchers and engineers to enh...
Reposted 2 weeks ago
$120K - $145K *
Transform the future of quality assurance by building scalable systems that audit training data, optimize workflows, and improve vendor collaboration in a fast-paced, innovative environment...
Reposted 2 weeks ago
$120K - $145K *
Empower research by leveraging LLMs to design software and systems. You'll shape projects spanning maintenance to groundbreaking scientific exploration, enhancing researcher capabilities while cultiva...
Reposted 3 weeks ago
$130K - $155K *
Hedra is seeking a Machine Learning Engineer to assist in the development and implementation of machine learning models, particularly focusing on data processing and model testing. This role is ideal...
Reposted 3 weeks ago
$120K - $145K *
Drive innovation in infrastructure AI by experimenting, evaluating, and implementing intelligent systems that enhance agent capabilities and streamline operational responses, bridging research and pro...
Reposted 2 weeks ago
$175K - $225K *
Elevate your career in a dynamic, collaborative environment where you will engage with traders and researchers, developing impactful algorithms and trading strategies to drive success in financial mar...
3 weeks ago
$120K - $145K *
Drive innovative AI projects that enhance business processes while owning the end-to-end execution from conceptualization to launch, balancing complexity and impact in a dynamic environment...
Reposted 2 weeks ago
$84K - $110K *
Champion innovative machine learning solutions in healthcare. Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to develop, validate, and deploy models that enhance clinical workflows and improve patient outco...
Today
$84K - $130K *
Optimize groundbreaking research in organ transplantation by leading software development and analytics efforts. Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to create impactful healthcare solutions that...
Today
$150K - $250K *
Shape the future of autonomous vehicles by tackling complex AI challenges. Collaborate with engineers to enhance deep learning models and apply your expertise in unsupervised learning to scale innovat...
Reposted 3 weeks ago
$150K - $250K *
Join a talented team to tackle complex AI challenges by enhancing our proprietary algorithmic toolkit and collaborating on deep learning experiments that push the boundaries of research and developmen...
Reposted 3 weeks ago
$120K - $145K *
Join a team that's shaping the future of robotics by developing and deploying high-reliability manipulation policies. Drive innovation from data to model to real-world applications, optimizing for rea...
1 week ago
Research Engineer, Post-training
$120K - $145K *
Join a team that's redefining life science R&D by developing AI-driven workflows, integrating data pipelines, and enhancing experimental design through innovative machine learning solutions in collabo...
2 weeks ago
$120K - $145K *
Join an innovative team focused on defining and measuring frontier model capabilities through evaluation methodologies and robust reinforcement learning environments, influencing decision-making in hi...
3 weeks ago
$120K - $145K *
Drive the development of innovative evaluation methodologies and peak performance benchmarks in reinforcement learning, collaborating with diverse teams to shape cutting-edge solutions for frontier la...
3 weeks ago
Research Engineer - Robotics Simulation & Evaluation
$110K - $130K *
Build innovative simulation environments for robotics, enhancing AI training and evaluation. Collaborate with cutting-edge tools to create scalable solutions that bridge the gap between virtual and re...
1 week ago
Applied AI Engineer, Generalist
$135K - $160K *
Empower Aidan's capabilities by advancing AI technology in real-time interactions, enhancing voice, vision, and learning systems to achieve seamless user engagement and reliability across modalities...
Reposted 3 weeks ago
$150K - $350K *
Build advanced inference systems to enhance RL research, optimizing throughput and enabling scalable model updates. Collaborate with researchers to balance efficiency and quality in cutting-edge AI ar...
4 days ago
$130K - $160K *
Engineer cutting-edge healthcare AI models, optimizing user experience and efficiency. Lead impactful initiatives, collaborating with peers to enhance core platform functionalities while ensuring high...
3 weeks ago
Research Engineer - Data and Evaluation
$150K - $350K *
Transform the landscape of reinforcement learning by designing evaluations and environments that enhance model training and performance. Collaborate with researchers to identify and address model fail...
4 days ago
What is a Research Engineer?
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?
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?
Research Engineers are hired across technology, AI, robotics, biotechnology, healthcare, manufacturing, academia, and research laboratories, among other sectors.
How much do Research Engineers earn?
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?
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.