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 - $155K *

Join a team that's redefining energy solutions by designing innovative fluid and power systems. As a Process Engineer, you'll drive the development and optimization of cutting-edge technologies in a f...

RemoteRemote

4 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Energy & Utilities

$89K - $134K *

Unlock your potential by leading cross-functional engineering projects, ensuring timely delivery and quality standards. Collaborate with diverse teams to drive new product development and enhance cust...

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$72K - $120K *

Champion innovative process development and optimization in R&D, leading projects that enhance safety, quality, and efficiency across manufacturing operations. Collaborate with cross-functional teams...

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Food & Beverages

$174K - $252K *

Explore innovative safety solutions for AI models, focusing on robust defenses against critical misuse. Collaborate in a dynamic team to develop and implement advanced mitigations, ensuring safe deplo...

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$105K - $200K *

Join a dynamic team to design and maintain cutting-edge electrical systems for undersea communication. Collaborate on innovative solutions, manage projects, and contribute to groundbreaking research i...

1 week ago

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

$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

$160K - $300K *

Elevate your career by bridging research and application in NLP. You'll own experiments, partner with model providers, and enhance agentic capabilities across products while shaping the future of lang...

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$160K - $300K *

Pioneer innovative NLP systems as you blend research with real-world applications. Lead experiments and deploy cutting-edge AI models to shape the future of data-driven insights within a dynamic and c...

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$160K - $300K *

Join a team that's pioneering the future of NLP by bridging research and industry. Drive innovation in agentic capabilities across our product suite through cutting-edge experiments and robust softwar...

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$100K - $120K *

Shape the future of sheet metal formability by leading R&D efforts, conducting experiments, and collaborating with teams to enhance product design and performance in industrial stamping processes...

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$80K - $95K *

Drive innovative product design and development, translating market needs into manufacturable solutions. Collaborate across teams to ensure quality and functionality from concept to production in a fa...

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$121K - $265K *

Contribute to the development of advanced signal processing algorithms for autonomous underwater vehicles, supporting detection, classification, and tracking in underwater environments while collabora...

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Education, Government & Non-Profit

$350K - $500K *

Solve complex challenges in AI safety through innovative research and experiments, enhancing the alignment of advanced machine learning systems while collaborating across teams...

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$95K - $115K *

Elevate innovation in materials engineering by developing and qualifying reactor materials. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive tests and optimize processes ensuring safety and performanc...

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Energy & Utilities

$70K - $91K *

Drive innovation in industrial cybersecurity by leading projects, developing curriculum, and engaging with partners to enhance technology commercialization and operational resilience in manufacturing...

5 days ago

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

$350K - $475K *

Transform distributed training infrastructure for large-scale AI models, focusing on precision and performance to enhance stability and scalability. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to build ef...

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$120K - $145K *

Unlock potential by leading electrical engineering efforts for facility construction, installation, and commissioning. Drive compliance, oversee power distribution, and ensure safe operations while co...

5 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$110K - $130K *

Drive electrical engineering excellence by leading facility construction, installation, and commissioning efforts. Collaborate with teams to ensure compliance, troubleshoot issues, and establish robus...

5 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$88K - $105K *

Contribute to the development of advanced software and algorithms for aerospace applications, collaborating with a team to design, test, and deploy solutions that enhance mission systems and support c...

Today

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$140K - $265K *

Lead the charge in advanced signal processing and communications systems research, design, and testing. Collaborate within a multi-disciplinary team to drive innovations influential at national and in...

Reposted 1 week ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Education, Government & Non-Profit

$135K - $160K *

Elevate the future of AI by designing and executing impactful training experiments to optimize model performance and alignment, driving evidence-based improvements through rigorous data analysis and s...

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$174K - $252K *

Engineer innovative safeguards in AI to prevent catastrophic harm. Collaborate with scientists to conduct applied research, develop production code, and ensure safety measures are effective for billio...

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$92K - $200K *

Join a team that's advancing national interests by developing innovative RF solutions. Collaborate with leading engineers to design, integrate, and test cutting-edge wireless communications systems wh...

Reposted 6 days ago

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

$92K - $200K *

Innovate with a dynamic team of RF engineers to develop advanced wireless communications systems, tackling national and international challenges. Engage in project collaborations while ensuring techni...

Reposted 6 days ago

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

$350K - $500K+*

Explore a role bridging research and engineering to optimize large-scale ML training pipelines, ensuring reliability and efficiency in model operations while collaborating on impactful AI advancements...

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

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.