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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$174K - $252K *

Accelerate progress at the forefront of machine learning research, driving innovation through large-scale testing and deployment. Collaborate globally to tackle real-world challenges and enhance cutti...

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$120K - $145K *

Join a team that's redefining life science R&D by developing AI-driven workflows, integrating data pipelines, and enhancing experimental design through innovative machine learning solutions in collabo...

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$120K - $145K *

Elevate your career by driving spatial biology experiments and AI model development. Collaborate in a multidisciplinary lab, ensuring quality standards and mentoring team members while executing high...

6 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$95K - $115K *

Transform healthcare insights by leading end-to-end quantitative market research. Collaborate with pharmaceutical teams to design impactful studies, analyze data, and deliver actionable recommendation...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$103K - $192K *

Optimize targeted drug delivery strategies by leading biological discovery and validation of cell-surface receptors for nucleic acid therapeutics. Collaborate cross-functionally to advance innovative...

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$104K - $120K *

Advance your career by leading biological resource surveys and analyses, mentoring teams, and managing regulatory compliance. Collaborate with stakeholders to drive projects that enhance environmental...

4 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Technical Services

$162K - $189K *

Lead the charge in analytical development for drug substances and products, utilizing advanced techniques to support research through clinical stages. Collaborate across teams to solve challenges and...

5 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$68K - $102K *

Join a team that's dedicated to advancing crop physiology through hands-on research, experiment coordination, and data accuracy in a dynamic field environment. Contribute to innovative projects that s...

Reposted today

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$105K - $148K *

Elevate consumer insights by leading innovative research initiatives that drive product development and foster a consumer-centric culture within R&D. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver...

Today

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$120K - $145K *

Empower research by leveraging LLMs to design software and systems. You'll shape projects spanning maintenance to groundbreaking scientific exploration, enhancing researcher capabilities while cultiva...

Reposted 5 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$350K - $425K *

Champion a high-impact research function that drives product strategy and insights. Lead a mixed-methods team to translate user behaviors into actionable recommendations, collaborating across departme...

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Consumer Technology

$120K - $145K *

Transform the future of quality assurance by building scalable systems that audit training data, optimize workflows, and improve vendor collaboration in a fast-paced, innovative environment...

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$126K - $215K *

Unlock potential by leading innovative LNP delivery research, designing in vivo studies, and collaborating across teams to advance CAR-T therapies. Drive impactful results in a dynamic environment whi...

6 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$200K - $250K *

Lead a computational team to connect protein conformational ensembles with function, driving high-impact research on allosteric coupling and binding specificity while managing and mentoring scientists...

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$150K - $180K *

Empower innovation in identity verification and fraud prevention by leading research, developing detection methods, and collaborating with ML teams to enhance security measures. Publish findings and c...

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$207K - $300K *

Drive innovative solutions by leveraging machine learning and software engineering expertise. Collaborate across teams to enhance data analysis, improve user experiences, and tackle complex challenges...

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$160K - $240K *

Join a team that's pioneering advanced X-Ray research to enhance semiconductor metrology solutions. Collaborate on experiments, data analysis, and algorithm development to drive innovation in microele...

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$160K - $240K *

Champion advanced X-Ray research to develop next-gen metrology solutions. Conduct experiments, analyze data, and create algorithms for semiconductor characterization, focusing on precision and innovat...

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$71K - $110K *

Unlock innovative AI solutions for accelerator operations by developing agentic AI methods and software. Collaborate with physicists and partner labs to enhance operational efficiency and safety in cu...

3 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Business Services

$159K - $230K *

Elevate user experience by leading impactful research initiatives. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to uncover insights that drive product innovation and enhance usability, ensuring solutions m...

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$78K - $156K *

Drive innovative research in neuromodulation, integrating neuroscience and AI to advance therapies. Collaborate across teams to design studies, analyze data, and uncover biomarkers for personalized tr...

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$200K - $400K *

Join a team that's advancing AI safety by building reliable, controllable models for conversational agents. Collaborate across functions to transform safety challenges into scalable, production-ready...

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$200K - $400K *

Drive innovation in AI safety by building robust safeguards for conversational agents. Collaborate across teams to enhance model reliability and mitigate real-world risks, creating impactful solutions...

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$100K - $145K *

Transform vaccine development by leveraging your biophysics expertise to design and execute advanced protein biochemistry experiments, collaborating cross-functionally to drive antigen selection and s...

Today

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$95K - $115K *

Empower legal teams through comprehensive research support, leveraging advanced tools and resources to enhance legal research efficiency, accuracy, and collaboration across disciplines while fostering...

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Legal & Accounting

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.