Explore Senior Researcher Jobs

Senior researchers lead and advance research programs, turning complex questions into rigorous studies and actionable insights. Browse vetted senior researcher opportunities on Ladders, including roles with salaries of $100,000 or more across industries such as technology, healthcare, finance, academia, and life sciences.

What Senior Researchers Do

Responsibilities vary by discipline, but senior researchers commonly shape research agendas, design methodologies, analyze and interpret data, and communicate findings to technical and executive audiences. They may mentor research teams, manage projects and budgets, publish or present results, and partner with product, clinical, policy, or business teams to apply discoveries.

Skills and Qualifications

Employers often seek deep subject-matter expertise, strong analytical and critical-thinking skills, and a record of conducting high-quality research. Depending on the role, qualifications may include an advanced degree, experience with statistical analysis or specialized laboratory methods, proficiency with relevant research tools, and a history of publications, patents, or successful research programs. Clear writing, collaboration, project leadership, and ethical research practices are valuable across fields.

Senior Researcher Salary and Career Outlook

Compensation depends on industry, location, specialization, education, and scope of responsibility. Senior researcher roles can offer competitive salaries, particularly in sectors where advanced technical knowledge and research leadership are in demand. Ladders focuses on vetted professional jobs paying $100,000 or more, helping experienced candidates explore opportunities aligned with their expertise.

Find Senior Researcher Roles on Ladders

Search senior researcher jobs by specialty, location, and employer to identify roles that fit your career goals. Review each listing for its responsibilities and requirements, then tailor your application to highlight relevant research outcomes, leadership experience, and measurable impact.

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$168K - $253K *

Shape the future of AI in digital products by leading customer-facing capabilities from ideation to delivery. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to identify opportunities and drive impactful solu...

4 days ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$110K - $130K *

Play a key role in market research initiatives by leading diverse healthcare projects, collaborating closely with clients and cross-functional teams to ensure objectives are met and impactful insights...

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$85K - $105K *

Empower the future of precision manufacturing by leading full-cycle recruiting efforts. Collaborate with hiring managers to attract top technical talent, ensuring operational excellence in a competiti...

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$275K - $325K *

Unlock the potential of AI by taking charge of end-to-end model development, optimizing performance, and integrating cutting-edge solutions into products. Collaborate closely within a passionate team...

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$155K - $165K *

Unlock your potential as you support the Air Force's modernization efforts through software engineering, collaborating across teams to enhance system performance and mission effectiveness in a dynamic...

4 days ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Technical Services

$124K - $231K *

Unlock your potential as a Senior Principal Quantitative Scientist, leading Real-World Data initiatives to drive evidence generation and influence strategic decisions in digital health and diagnostics...

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$88K - $105K *

Unlock player insights as a UX Researcher, guiding development through research. Collaborate across teams to enhance player experience with your expertise in user research methodologies and data synth...

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Consumer Technology

$130K - $155K *

Unlock your potential as a Staff Researcher in AI Compute and Data Infrastructure, driving innovation in hybrid AI systems. Collaborate across disciplines to enhance performance, scalability, and reli...

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$130K - $155K *

Drive product growth through data analysis and experimentation, collaborating with cross-functional teams to enhance user adoption and engagement. Utilize statistical methods to illuminate user journe...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$160K - $190K *

Transform biomedical discovery by leveraging AI to bridge virtual and real-world data. Collaborate with top scientists and engineers to innovate scalable solutions in drug discovery and clinical care...

United StatesRemote

6 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$154K - $215K *

Join a team that's revolutionizing supply chain management for cutting-edge drone technology. Drive sourcing strategies, supplier relations, and cost initiatives while collaborating with cross-functio...

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$100K - $200K *

Join a team that's dedicated to enhancing AI application quality through rigorous testing and evaluation. Collaborate with engineers and legal specialists to ensure reliability and performance in comp...

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Legal & Accounting

$159K - $197K *

Drive compliance excellence in clinical development by providing technical leadership and oversight in GCP, GVP, GLP, and GPP. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure quality and readiness f...

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$110K - $130K *

Transform the clinical trial landscape by ensuring compliance and data integrity. Oversee site management, monitor activities, and collaborate cross-functionally to enhance study execution while safeg...

2 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$130K - $155K *

Elevate your career by solving complex business challenges with innovative AI solutions. Collaborate across teams to design, build, and deploy scalable models that drive impactful decisions and enhanc...

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$135K - $160K *

Elevate business outcomes by designing and deploying innovative AI solutions. Collaborate across teams to solve complex problems, leveraging advanced analytics and machine learning to drive measurable...

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$138K - $165K *

Pioneer innovative AI solutions by solving complex business challenges. Lead the design and deployment of custom models, translating insights into impactful narratives while mentoring others and colla...

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$130K - $155K *

Engineer innovative AI solutions that drive enterprise strategy and client outcomes. Manage complex data science initiatives from concept to deployment, leveraging advanced analytics and machine learn...

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$135K - $160K *

Unlock potential by designing and deploying advanced AI solutions that drive business impact. Collaborate across teams to tackle complex challenges and mentor others while shaping the future of enterp...

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$135K - $160K *

Lead the design and implementation of innovative AI solutions, tackling complex business challenges while mentoring teams and driving measurable impact across the organization...

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$130K - $155K *

Drive innovative AI solutions by designing and deploying advanced models that tackle complex business challenges, influencing enterprise strategy and enhancing client outcomes through data-driven insi...

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$145K - $175K *

Unlock potential by designing and deploying advanced AI solutions that drive business impact. Collaborate across teams to solve complex problems, mentor others, and shape enterprise strategies through...

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$150K - $180K *

Empower business transformation by designing and deploying advanced AI solutions. Collaborate across teams to drive impactful decision-making and mentor others while managing complex initiatives in a...

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$130K - $155K *

Drive innovative AI solutions by solving complex business challenges with advanced algorithms, leading end-to-end model development, and influencing strategic decisions through data-driven insights...

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$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...

4 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

  • What does a senior researcher do?question toggle

    A senior researcher plans and leads research, selects appropriate methods, analyzes evidence, and communicates findings. Many also mentor colleagues, manage projects, and collaborate with teams that use research results.

  • What qualifications are typically required for senior researcher jobs?question toggle

    Requirements depend on the field. Employers commonly look for substantial research experience, subject expertise, analytical skills, and sometimes a master's degree or PhD. Specialized methods, publications, or team leadership may also be required.

  • How much do senior researchers earn?question toggle

    Pay varies by discipline, employer, location, and experience. Ladders features vetted professional roles paying $100,000 or more, including senior researcher opportunities when available.

  • Which industries hire senior researchers?question toggle

    Senior researchers work in areas such as technology, life sciences, healthcare, finance, consulting, government, and academia. Specific job titles and responsibilities differ across industries.

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

    Browse senior researcher listings on Ladders and filter opportunities by relevant criteria such as location and specialty. Compare qualifications and responsibilities, and emphasize measurable research impact in your application.