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 *

Unlock potential by leading strategic initiatives that shape the future of Industrial Automation. Collaborate with senior leaders to translate insights into actionable growth strategies, driving innov...

4 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$168K - $253K *

Contribute to shaping the future of Industrial Automation by leading strategic initiatives, translating market insights into actionable recommendations, and collaborating with cross-functional teams t...

4 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$170K - $220K *

Champion the implementation of innovative solutions for major clients, leveraging your expertise to drive adoption and enhance operational strategies. Collaborate with diverse teams to ensure successf...

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$170K - $220K *

Shape the future of customer solutions by leading implementations and driving adoption of innovative technologies. Collaborate with teams to deliver tailored architectural designs that meet strategic...

RemoteRemote

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$286K - $326K *

Elevate your career by partnering with a dynamic team to develop cutting-edge AI solutions that transform customer experiences, leveraging advanced technologies and innovative research methodologies t...

Today

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$262K - $299K *

Discover your potential by collaborating with a dynamic team to develop cutting-edge AI solutions that enhance customer experiences and drive innovation across various domains in applied research...

Today

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$137K - $206K *

Unlock potential by leading translational science efforts in immune-oncology, integrating complex datasets to drive biomarker discovery and support precision medicine strategies across clinical and pr...

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$114K - $281K *

Elevate your career by joining our team to design and enhance the MOOSE framework, enabling high-fidelity modeling for nuclear energy. Collaborate globally to optimize performance and drive innovation...

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$150K - $180K *

Transform clinical workflows by leading innovative multimodal ML projects, defining objectives, building advanced systems, and mentoring peers. Your work will bridge AI advancements and real-world med...

San Francisco, CARemote

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$108K - $158K *

Drive high-impact programs across multiple domains, ensuring alignment with enterprise goals. Collaborate with senior stakeholders to manage complex initiatives from conception to completion, leveragi...

4 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Media

$110K - $130K *

Champion the development of innovative modeling capabilities to enhance our advanced simulation framework, collaborating with engineers to integrate numerical methods and apply machine learning for mo...

Seattle, WARemote

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Staffing

$122K - $256K *

Innovate in autonomous systems by leading AI research to develop large-scale models that enhance perception, reasoning, and decision-making for next-gen driving technologies, utilizing real-world data...

5 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$120K - $145K *

Lead the charge in advancing biologic therapies by designing robust purification processes. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive drug substance development and ensure successful clinical m...

5 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$95K - $115K *

Unlock potential by ensuring compliance and excellence in government research administration. Manage proposals, reporting, and financial oversight to enhance project outcomes while collaborating with...

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$142K - $193K *

Unlock potential by leading the development of innovative generative AI models. Collaborate with experts to enhance algorithms, optimize performance, and drive impactful solutions across products and...

Yesterday

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Retail & Consumer Goods

$120K - $190K *

Optimize USAF operational strategies through advanced modeling and simulation. Serve as the M&S SME, analyzing airpower concepts and designing experimental operational models to fulfill defense object...

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$150K - $180K *

Collaborate with a dynamic team to lead innovative research projects in AI, focusing on evaluation, simulation, and self-improvement. Shape the lab's agenda and culture while driving impactful results...

6 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$159K - $230K *

Advance user experience by conducting innovative research and prototyping. Collaborate across teams to define AI-driven solutions, ensuring products meet user needs through comprehensive studies and e...

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$150K - $180K *

Unlock potential by developing robust ML systems that enhance self-improvement through reliable training and evaluation loops. Collaborate across teams to ensure feedback mechanisms are effective and...

5 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$89K - $143K *

Partner with us to execute analytical control strategies for vaccine programs. Support regulatory readiness and interdisciplinary collaboration, ensuring high-quality documentation and compliance with...

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$89K - $143K *

Transform microbiological method development for mRNA vaccines. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to optimize, validate, and implement robust microbiological methods, ensuring high standards in...

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$100K - $120K *

Elevate your career by leading ecological assessments and monitoring programs. Engage in diverse projects supporting environmental compliance and sustainability, while mentoring teams and driving stra...

Mississauga, ONIn-Person

5 days ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Technical Services

$239K - $295K *

Elevate your career by leading strategic GCP/GLP/GVP Quality Operations, driving continuous improvement in research quality processes, and collaborating across departments to ensure compliance and exc...

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$160K - $190K *

Lead the charge in defining and executing enterprise AI architecture strategy, ensuring scalable, ethical AI integration across platforms. Drive innovation through Generative and Agentic AI, aligning...

Florida, USRemote

6 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$120K - $145K *

Join a dynamic team to lead full-stack ML experiments and develop innovative evaluation models. Collaborate with AI labs to enhance subjective domain assessments and publish impactful research, drivin...

Today

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information 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.