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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$171K - $245K *

Champion user experience by leading quantitative and qualitative UX research. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to define success metrics and enhance Cisco Cloud Control's platform journeys, dri...

4 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Telecommunications & Hardware

$158K - $175K *

Develop and lead innovative research initiatives in healthcare, leveraging vast datasets and multidisciplinary collaboration to generate impactful insights and disseminate findings to diverse audience...

4 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$127K - $165K *

Join a team that's dedicated to fostering a supportive community for AI researchers. As a Community Manager, you'll build relationships, enhance fellow experiences, and collaborate with teams to ensur...

5 days ago

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

$117K - $201K *

Lead the charge in developing an AI-Reasoning platform to transform drug discovery. Collaborate with scientists to harness multimodal data, enhancing decision-making and accelerating therapeutic advan...

Reposted 6 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$90K *

Shape the future of engineering by leading transformative research programs. Collaborate with faculty and stakeholders to drive strategic initiatives, manage budgets, and promote innovative projects t...

5 days ago

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

$151K - $269K *

Take ownership of complex global programs, translating enterprise priorities into actionable plans while managing diverse workstreams and providing strategic support to senior leadership. Drive succes...

Reposted yesterday

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$90K - $110K *

Lead innovative continuous manufacturing processes, providing engineering support for R&D and ensuring excellence in API development and technical transfers while fostering strong collaborations acros...

Reposted 5 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$90K - $110K *

Accelerate progress at the forefront of pharmaceutical engineering by providing expert support in continuous manufacturing processes, ensuring timely project delivery and collaboration across teams to...

Reposted 5 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$91K - $163K *

Lead the advancement of oncology research and clinical trials, ensuring high-quality patient care and operational excellence. Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to drive compliance, staff develo...

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$100K - $115K *

Empower clients by leading cross-functional teams in digital and AI projects, delivering innovative solutions that drive value and enhance user experiences across various industries...

Toronto, ONIn-Person

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Technical Services

$154K - $227K *

Engage with cross-functional teams to design and optimize LLMs, tackling multimodal data at scale. Drive the full AI lifecycle from research to productization, enhancing performance on specialized har...

Today

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$150K - $190K *

Drive quality excellence by establishing robust practices that ensure product reliability and performance. Collaborate with engineering teams to enhance testing, documentation, and metrics analysis, f...

3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$110K - $130K *

Drive advanced intelligence analysis of foreign WMD programs, leveraging scientific research and interdisciplinary physics expertise to support DoD and USG counter-WMD efforts while conducting indepen...

4 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$125K - $150K *

Champion innovative multimodal solutions by developing advanced ML systems for creative tasks, enhancing agentic capabilities, and integrating complex data for real-world applications in a collaborati...

4 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Consumer Technology

$150K - $180K *

Join a team that's driving growth in the biopharmaceutical sector by developing strategic business relationships, prospecting new clients, and leading sales initiatives to achieve organizational objec...

United StatesRemote

Yesterday

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$80K - $200K *

Innovate in AI and biotech by leading computational and experimental efforts in protein design. Drive the design-make-test loop, enhancing models and operational protocols while collaborating with lab...

6 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Staffing

$110K - $130K *

Drive strategic partnerships by engaging with crypto/AI builders, building a robust pipeline through outreach and relationship-building, and positioning as the preferred security partner in a dynamic...

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$150K - $175K *

Manage a team of data operations professionals, overseeing the preprocessing data pipeline for satellite imagery. Leverage your expertise in technical project management and data analysis to support c...

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$150K - $175K *

Drive your career with a leadership role managing data operations, overseeing complex data pipelines, and ensuring seamless communication with government clients. Leverage your technical expertise to...

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$236K - $393K *

Join a team that drives innovation in clinical research, leading cross-functional strategies and providing expert medical guidance. You'll mentor staff, collaborate with stakeholders, and oversee the...

Reposted 4 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$117K - $201K *

Transform drug discovery by leading innovative cheminformatics workflows, collaborating with cross-disciplinary teams to enhance decision-making and accelerate scientific advancements in medicinal che...

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$117K - $201K *

Empower scientific innovation by leading the design and validation of agent-enabled workflows in cheminformatics. Collaborate with cross-disciplinary teams to enhance drug discovery processes and driv...

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$130K - $155K *

Transform your career by leading our Governance, Risk, and Compliance program. Drive compliance operations, manage audits, and enhance our GRC platform while collaborating with cross-functional teams...

5 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$89K - $116K *

Shape the future of revenue growth by driving strategic sales forecasting and customer planning. Collaborate cross-functionally to optimize promotions and enhance analytics, ensuring profitable growth...

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Food & Beverages

$77K - $91K *

Drive analytical development by executing experiments, interpreting results, and collaborating with peers. Ensure data integrity and maintain lab standards while operating advanced instrumentation in...

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

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.