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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Research Engineer, Agentic Systems
$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
Senior Director, Business Development
$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...
Yesterday
Computational and Experimental Scientist
$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...
1 week ago
Strategic Partnerships Manager
$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
$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
$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
Senior Clinical Research Director
$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
Principal Scientist, Scientific Workflows & Agentic Cheminformatics
$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
Principal Scientist, Scientific Workflows & Agentic Cheminformatics
$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
$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...
6 days ago
$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
$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
$100K - $151K *
Engage in leading protein expression assays for translational research, overseeing assay design, validation, and testing. Supervise lab staff, ensure quality, and communicate results effectively to cl...
4 days ago
$110K - $130K *
Join a team that's dedicated to advancing clinical research through statistical expertise. Collaborate with medical professionals to design, analyze, and report on clinical studies, ensuring complianc...
5 days ago
Senior Environmental Scientist
$95K - $115K *
Champion environmental excellence by leading complex assessments, managing projects, and ensuring regulatory compliance. Collaborate with diverse teams to deliver high-quality natural resource solutio...
Today
$71K - $114K *
Join our team as a Technical Manager, MERL, overseeing data collection and project coordination across multiple country programs. Leverage your expertise to enhance MERL tools and ensure quality data...
3 weeks ago
$159K - $230K *
Lead the charge in developing AI safety solutions, leveraging advanced data analysis and machine learning to protect users from emerging risks. Collaborate across teams to enhance security measures an...
2 weeks ago
$159K - $230K *
Transform AI safety by developing scalable solutions and leveraging data insights. Collaborate across teams to mitigate risks associated with generative AI, ensuring robust protection measures and dri...
3 weeks ago
$110K - $140K *
Unlock potential by collaborating with clients to deliver innovative solutions in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical sectors, while driving project execution and analysis to address critical busines...
2 weeks ago
Research Scientist - World Modeling
$120K - $145K *
Elevate the development of cutting-edge large-scale language models. Collaborate to optimize training pipelines and model architectures, driving AI application in critical industries and translating r...
Reposted 3 weeks ago
Research Scientist - World Modeling
$120K - $145K *
Shape the future of AI by advancing large-scale language models and innovative research strategies. Collaborate with engineers to design impactful solutions for critical industries, enhancing decision...
Reposted 3 weeks ago
$91K - $122K *
Join a dynamic team as a Senior Product Manager, driving the vision and execution of AI-powered platforms. Collaborate with engineers and users to transform workflows, mentor peers, and lead product s...
1 week ago
$145K - $175K *
Join our team to drive innovative data solutions, leveraging advanced analytics and interdisciplinary approaches to solve complex business challenges and enhance decision-making for diverse clients...
Reposted 3 weeks ago
$120K - $145K *
Lead the development of a virtual immune system by integrating multiomic data and AI models. Collaborate across biology, AI, and product development to drive innovative solutions and insights that enh...
2 weeks ago
Senior Research Scientist, Graph Neural Network
$174K - $252K *
Lead the charge in pioneering research at the intersection of deep learning and structured data, developing innovative neural architectures and frameworks to enhance AI capabilities and relational rea...
Today
What does a senior researcher do?
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?
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?
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?
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?
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.