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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$117K - $184K *

Elevate your career by providing software and data engineering expertise to transform scientific tools into scalable, production-grade solutions, collaborating with cross-functional teams to drive imp...

4 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$117K - $184K *

Unlock potential by providing software and data engineering expertise to transform scientific tools into scalable, production-grade solutions, collaborating with cross-functional teams to enhance drug...

4 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$87K - $137K *

Join a dynamic team to drive small molecule drug development through analytical characterization and data analysis, ensuring compliance with GMP standards while collaborating across scientific discipl...

5 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$150K - $180K *

Join as a Senior Applied AI Engineer to design multi-agent frameworks and develop LLM-powered features. Collaborate with a fast-paced team to influence product direction and enhance operational insigh...

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$137K - $215K *

Explore your potential as a Senior Scientist in Process Research, leading innovative development of synthetic drug substances. Collaborate globally to drive early-stage projects, ensuring quality and...

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$97K - $130K *

Champion environmental excellence by driving compliance and sustainability initiatives. Collaborate with teams to enhance safety culture, manage audits, and achieve environmental goals while ensuring...

Yesterday

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$100K - $120K *

Empower government contract management by overseeing the full lifecycle, ensuring compliance, and mitigating risks while supporting internal stakeholders and government customers effectively...

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$115K - $160K *

Transform autonomous systems development by integrating advanced technologies and optimizing performance for unmanned aerial platforms. Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to enhance capabilities...

Reposted yesterday

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$158K - $207K *

Transform robotics capabilities across manufacturing by leading strategy, validation, and deployment of advanced automation solutions, enhancing safety, productivity, and operational performance in fa...

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Food & Beverages

$75K - $95K *

Transform user experiences by conducting research and creating intuitive wireframes and prototypes. Collaborate with design and engineering teams to enhance digital interfaces for impactful projects...

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Media

$125K - $150K *

Advance simulation environments by designing visually rich, trainable systems that blend generative models and physics engines, ensuring robust evaluation for scalable robot training...

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$110K - $130K *

Take ownership of complex clinical trials by managing project teams, timelines, and budgets across various phases of drug development while ensuring stakeholder satisfaction and regulatory compliance...

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Reposted 3 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$126K - $189K *

Join a dynamic team to analyze vast genetic data, driving innovations in RNAi therapeutics. Utilize cutting-edge methods to uncover insights from global genomic resources, translating findings into tr...

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$68K - $98K *

Elevate the Quality Control operations by performing diverse analytical testing methods, ensuring compliance and readiness for audits while collaborating with multifunctional teams in a dynamic biopha...

5 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$84K - $112K *

Join a dynamic team to drive innovative RNA therapeutics development in oncology and autoimmune diseases. Collaborate on cutting-edge research, execute assays, and contribute to the advancement of mRN...

Reposted yesterday

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$127K - $236K *

Innovate your career by leading AI engineering initiatives, designing scalable C#/.NET backend systems, and integrating advanced AI/ML capabilities. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver...

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Media

$110K - $130K *

Join a team that's shaping the future of AI by developing cutting-edge language technologies. As a Senior Applied Scientist, you'll design and optimize NLP solutions, collaborate with experts, and men...

Montreal, QCIn-Person

Today

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Technical Services

$141K - $262K *

Join a dynamic team to develop and implement biomarker strategies for oncology therapeutics, driving translational research and collaborating across disciplines to enhance clinical development and pat...

2 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$100K - $120K *

Lead Risk Management initiatives by overseeing project phases, educating teams, and enhancing decision-making processes. Provide guidance to junior personnel and ensure compliance with risk protocols...

Reposted 5 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Real Estate & Construction

$150K - $180K *

Empower clients through expert advisory services in the Upstream energy sector. Engage in project management and strategic insights to enhance performance across multiple operations globally while ens...

Reposted yesterday

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$150K - $180K *

Advance model training by designing workflows, environments, and evaluation systems. Collaborate with AI labs to create meaningful tasks and improve data quality, ensuring robust training signals and...

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$140K - $200K *

Accelerate innovation within pharmaceutical R&D by developing cutting-edge algorithms and models. Collaborate across teams to leverage extensive datasets, drive improvements, and communicate insights...

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$150K - $210K *

Contribute to groundbreaking research by leveraging advanced machine learning and generative AI to enhance drug R&D processes, collaborating across teams to deliver innovative computational solutions...

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$140K - $200K *

Shape the future of healthcare by leveraging advanced machine learning and AI techniques. Uncover insights from extensive patient data to drive innovation in drug R&D while collaborating with cross-fu...

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$150K - $210K *

Explore advanced machine learning for drug R&D. Collaborate with teams to innovate algorithms and models, driving insights that enhance pharmaceutical projects and patient care through extensive multi...

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.