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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$80K - $95K *

Play a key role in advancing the development of innovative refractory solutions. Collaborate across teams to enhance product performance and optimize manufacturing processes through applied research a...

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Business Services

$178K - $253K *

Innovate solutions by applying advanced research to real-world challenges, leveraging machine learning and software engineering to drive impactful projects from conception to execution while collabora...

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$130K - $160K *

Transform security measures by developing cutting-edge AI agents for vulnerability discovery. Collaborate with a talented team to build scalable solutions that reshape how organizations manage and add...

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$200K - $250K *

Join a team that's transforming materials research through automation. As an Automation Engineer, you'll integrate instruments, develop data models, and collaborate with scientists to enhance our auto...

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$350K - $475K *

Unlock potential by designing and optimizing AI infrastructure for scalable systems that ensure efficient model inference and enhance collaboration across teams to achieve cutting-edge research outcom...

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$135K - $160K *

Shape the future of AI by developing robust evaluations for frontier models, focusing on privacy and risk assessment. Collaborate with teams to produce trusted insights that guide Meta's strategic dec...

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$150K - $180K *

Unlock potential by leading safety evaluations for autonomous agents. Collaborate with teams to develop alignment methods, conduct red-teaming, and ensure robust performance in real-world applications...

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$120K - $145K *

Champion innovative training of frontier models for semiconductor design expertise, enhancing automated chip development through data generation, model distillation, and collaborative evaluation with...

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$120K - $145K *

Lead groundbreaking research and production efforts in applied ML, adapting cutting-edge models for real-world applications. Collaborate with engineering to transform data into impactful solutions acr...

4 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$100K - $120K *

Elevate fusion research by operating advanced pulsed-fusion systems. Contribute to groundbreaking experiments and enhance machine reliability while collaborating with interdisciplinary teams in a dyna...

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Energy & Utilities

$140K - $250K *

Unlock potential by designing automated systems to ensure data quality at scale. This research-focused role combines AI and human insights to tackle complex data challenges, driving growth in a decent...

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Staffing

$150K - $180K *

Join us as a Research Scientist to innovate in ML post-training methods, driving evaluation and training approaches that shape model behavior and enhance AI capabilities, collaborating with experts to...

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$148K - $240K *

Join a team that's revolutionizing drug discovery through advanced ML and physics-based infrastructure. Collaborate with scientists to build a robust provenance system that enhances reproducibility an...

Reposted 4 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$120K - $145K *

Pioneer innovative manufacturing processes, leading cross-functional teams to develop high-performing hardware prototypes from concept to pilot production, while enhancing manufacturing capabilities a...

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$74K - $130K *

Build innovative Python applications and machine learning pipelines within a collaborative, cross-functional team. Drive software quality and CI/CD processes in a Linux environment while contributing...

3 weeks ago

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

$80K - $95K *

Innovate by integrating and optimizing complex fluidic systems for advanced experimental platforms, ensuring reliable and physiologically relevant operations across diverse applications. Collaborate i...

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Education, Government & Non-Profit

$150K - $180K *

Unlock potential by developing innovative solutions for AI safety and alignment. Lead research initiatives while collaborating with teams to implement robust methodologies ensuring our AI models are r...

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Consumer Technology

$80K - $95K *

Collaborate with cross-functional teams to design and develop innovative test fixtures for thermal control and energy conversion products, ensuring efficient transition from prototype to production wh...

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$130K - $155K *

Transform ML evaluation processes by building robust infrastructure for deploying and optimizing multimodal models, enhancing workflows for high-quality performance and seamless integration of cutting...

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$135K - $160K *

Elevate AI research by designing and testing novel model architectures, enhancing core capabilities, and collaborating closely with pre-training teams to shape next-gen models, all in a fast-paced, in...

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$150K - $350K *

Join a dynamic team to develop cutting-edge reinforcement learning algorithms and frameworks. Collaborate on scaling research and training systems, focusing on your strengths to enhance AI capabilitie...

San Francisco, CARemote

4 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$150K - $180K *

Shape the future of AI with innovative research and engineering in reinforcement learning. Collaborate on high-impact projects to develop models that enhance human-computer interaction and autonomy. D...

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$135K - $182K *

Drive Process Technology development within Health & Pharma by leveraging your expertise in chemical engineering. Collaborate cross-functionally to identify process improvements and foster leadership...

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Food & Beverages

$80K - $95K *

Advance your career by supporting the design and optimization of cutting-edge biomedical devices. Contribute to prototyping and enhance production processes in a collaborative, multidisciplinary envir...

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Education, Government & Non-Profit

$130K - $160K *

Lead the charge in solving complex AI and ML challenges, enhancing customer-facing agents through innovative model development and evaluation. Collaborate across teams to transform ambiguous problems...

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Education, Government & Non-Profit

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.