Senior R&D Engineer Jobs

Explore senior research and development engineering opportunities where you can turn technical insight into products, processes, and technologies. Ladders features vetted professional jobs paying $100,000 or more, helping experienced engineers find roles that match their expertise and career goals.

What Does a Senior R&D Engineer Do?

Senior R&D engineers lead or contribute to the research, design, testing, and refinement of new products and technologies. They may define experiments, build prototypes, analyze results, solve complex engineering challenges, and collaborate with product, manufacturing, and business teams to move ideas toward practical applications.

Common Skills and Qualifications

Employers often seek a bachelor’s or advanced degree in an engineering discipline, along with substantial experience in research, product development, or a related field. Relevant strengths may include technical design, prototyping, data analysis, experimental methods, project leadership, and clear communication. Specific requirements vary by industry and role.

Industries and Career Opportunities

Senior R&D engineers work across industries such as software, electronics, medical devices, energy, aerospace, automotive, and advanced manufacturing. Job titles and responsibilities vary, with opportunities to specialize in areas such as materials, hardware, systems, process development, or product innovation.

Find Senior R&D Engineer Jobs on Ladders

Browse vetted senior R&D engineering roles on Ladders and discover opportunities paying $100,000 or more. Compare positions by industry, location, and responsibilities to identify a role that fits your experience and next career move.

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1
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$90K - $120K *

Optimize building assessments and capital projects while leading teams and managing client relationships. Oversee project scopes, budgets, and timelines to deliver impactful outcomes in a collaborativ...

Victoria, BCRemote

Reposted 5 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Technical Services

$120K - $145K *

Innovate in mission planning by developing autonomous operations for satellite constellations. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to define requirements, prototype code, and optimize algorithms...

RemoteRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$95K - $115K *

Elevate your career by managing financial performance for diverse projects. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive insights, optimize cash flow, and enhance decision-making in a dynamic, pro...

Langley, BCRemote

3 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Energy & Utilities

$185K - $344K *

Engage in system engineering excellence by designing and maintaining SAP S/4 solutions. Collaborate across teams to optimize business processes and ensure robust integration, delivering scalable solut...

Three Rivers, TXRemote

Today

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$149K - $166K *

Lead the charge in advancing cutting-edge mechanical engineering solutions for high-performance electronics in space systems. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver innovative designs that...

United StatesRemote

Today

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$135K - $160K *

Transform AI agent systems by owning technical decisions and delivery from design to production. Collaborate with stakeholders, develop workflows, and ensure reliability while mentoring engineers and...

Georgia, USRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$84K - $150K *

Join a team that's shaping the future of engineering solutions by leading technical engagement and demand creation, driving strategic plans, and fostering relationships with key stakeholders in a dyna...

Oregon, USRemote

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Consumer Technology

$100K - $120K *

Transform airport infrastructure by leading design projects, preparing engineering reports, and collaborating on innovative solutions in a dynamic aviation environment. Drive your career forward with...

Dallas, TXRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Technical Services

$150K - $180K *

Grow a dynamic team driving OpenRouter’s provider ecosystem, managing innovations across diverse models and endpoints, ensuring quality and efficiency in inference services for millions of requests da...

United StatesRemote

1 month ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$80K - $120K *

Help us drive procurement excellence by leveraging your mechanical engineering expertise to support strategic sourcing and supplier management for defense programs, ensuring quality and cost-effective...

RemoteRemote

6 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$100K - $120K *

Lead strategic procurement initiatives by leveraging mechanical engineering expertise to optimize sourcing, negotiate contracts, and manage supplier relationships for defense programs, ensuring qualit...

RemoteRemote

6 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$85K - $100K *

Advance your career by designing electrical systems for industrial chemical facilities. Collaborate with engineering teams, conduct studies, and support plant operations while ensuring compliance with...

Phoenix, AZRemote

Today

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$80K - $85K *

Drive your engineering career while learning the intricate design processes of commercial buildings. Collaborate with senior staff, engage in diverse projects, and explore specialization paths as part...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Technical Services

$135K - $160K *

Engage with engineers to enhance developer workflows and tools. Own the product lifecycle from discovery to adoption, ensuring high-quality internal software that meets user needs and drives efficienc...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

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

$135K - $160K *

Architect the future of our GTM technology ecosystem, enhancing data integrity and operational excellence. Collaborate cross-functionally to drive scalable solutions that elevate marketing, sales, and...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Consumer Technology

$130K - $155K *

Lead the charge in creating cutting-edge embedded software solutions for autonomous mobile robotics. Drive technical excellence, oversee collaborative engineering efforts, and ensure high reliability...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Retail & Consumer Goods

$100K - $170K *

Unlock potential by providing architectural engineering support for DOJ/BOP facilities. Collaborate on technical analyses, document reviews, and design recommendations to enhance decision-making and p...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$110K - $130K *

Unlock potential by developing innovative virtual calibration environments that enhance simulation-based workflows. Collaborate cross-functionally to improve calibration processes and support the inte...

Milford, MIRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$157K - $238K *

Join a dynamic team to leverage AI in enhancing application security. You'll assess vulnerabilities, implement fixes, and shape AI security strategies, driving innovation in a fast-paced environment w...

RemoteRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$131K - $222K *

Shape the future of logistics by developing intelligent planning platforms that optimize freight movement. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to create scalable solutions that enhance supply chai...

Eden Prairie, MNRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Transportation

$149K - $223K *

Unlock potential by leading enterprise AI solutions, bridging sales and technical teams to deliver impactful transformations. Engage with customers to architect scalable solutions, ensuring operationa...

United StatesRemote

Reposted yesterday

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Consumer Technology

$110K - $130K *

Join a team that's redefining automation by leading technical sales efforts, collaborating with clients to identify automation opportunities, and transforming production challenges into innovative sol...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$150K - $350K *

Drive the development of cutting-edge AI infrastructure to enhance large-scale reinforcement learning and distributed training systems, optimizing performance and efficiency across various layers and...

San Francisco, CARemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$100K - $300K *

Seeking a senior product software engineer to drive user-facing features in AI software development, enhancing tools like AI Agent, App Builder, and SDK for seamless app creation and deployment...

San Francisco, CARemote

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$238K - $280K *

Lead the charge in developing autonomous attack workflows for external surfaces, leveraging your expertise to enhance reconnaissance capabilities and mentor engineers while driving strategic technical...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

  • What does a Senior R&D Engineer do?question toggle

    A Senior R&D Engineer researches, designs, tests, and improves products, processes, or technologies. Responsibilities may include planning experiments, developing prototypes, analyzing results, solving technical problems, and working with cross-functional teams.

  • What qualifications are commonly required for Senior R&D Engineer jobs?question toggle

    Requirements vary, but employers commonly look for an engineering degree, substantial relevant experience, and skills in areas such as design, testing, prototyping, data analysis, and project leadership. Some positions require specialized industry or technical expertise.

  • Which industries hire Senior R&D Engineers?question toggle

    Senior R&D Engineers are hired in industries including software, electronics, medical devices, energy, aerospace, automotive, and advanced manufacturing.

  • How much do Senior R&D Engineer jobs pay?question toggle

    Compensation depends on factors such as industry, location, specialization, and experience. Ladders focuses on vetted professional jobs paying $100,000 or more.

  • Where can I find Senior R&D Engineer jobs paying $100,000 or more?question toggle

    Browse Senior R&D Engineer listings on Ladders to explore vetted professional opportunities with salaries of $100,000 or more.