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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$131K - $154K *

Champion the future of clinical trial management by overseeing contracts and budgets, ensuring operational excellence, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to drive strategic initiatives and...

Yesterday

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$95K - $121K *

Accelerate your career by providing high-touch IT support to executives, ensuring seamless technology experiences. Collaborate with leadership to proactively resolve issues and enhance operational eff...

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$120K - $145K *

Lead the charge in developing innovative ground software for satellite command and control systems. Collaborate with a skilled team to design, implement, and troubleshoot software solutions in a dynam...

3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$69K - $99K *

Grow your career with us to support clinical trial execution, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards while collaborating with teams to drive innovative medicines from concept to reality...

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$107K - $140K *

Transform your career with a dynamic HR Generalist role, delivering comprehensive support across various HR functions. Collaborate with leaders to enhance employee experience, manage compliance, and d...

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$90K - $105K *

Elevate cancer detection research by leading systematic evidence reviews, mentoring junior staff, and managing projects to inform guidelines. Collaborate with experts to ensure high-quality outputs an...

RemoteRemote

Today

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$141K - $262K *

Drive biotherapeutic innovation as a Principal Scientist, leading a lab team to develop breakthrough protein technologies and advance clinical candidates through collaborative, interdisciplinary resea...

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$121K - $182K *

Unlock potential by designing and validating innovative algorithms across diverse domains, enhancing systems in networking, data fusion, and electronic warfare. Collaborate with experts to tackle real...

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$140K - $175K *

Shape the future of electrical testing by leading technical initiatives, mentoring specialists, and enhancing test processes to ensure quality and efficiency in production. Collaborate across teams to...

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$140K - $175K *

Lead the charge in advancing electrical test processes, establishing best practices, and mentoring a team of Test Specialists. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure robust testing and qual...

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$110K - $130K *

Partner with us to lead HR initiatives that drive business success. Leverage your expertise to enhance employee engagement, manage complex projects, and support strategic goals within a dynamic busine...

3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Real Estate & Construction

$110K - $130K *

Unlock the potential of your HR expertise by leading strategic initiatives that enhance people management and drive organizational success. Collaborate with leadership to implement best practices and...

3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Real Estate & Construction

$95K - $115K *

Lead project management efforts for aircraft completion and maintenance, ensuring collaboration across teams to deliver high-quality results on time and within budget while enhancing customer satisfac...

4 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$80K - $95K *

Join a dynamic team to develop and optimize molecular biosensors for brain-computer interfaces, executing in vivo imaging experiments and collaborating across disciplines to drive breakthroughs in neu...

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$68K - $114K *

Optimize quality investigations by ensuring compliance with standards, analyzing data, and collaborating with teams to enhance processes. Drive improvements in GMP microbiology through proactive engag...

Yesterday

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$117K - $235K *

Innovate in remote sensing research by leading complex projects, implementing cutting-edge solutions, and driving technical excellence in space-based applications. Collaborate with multidisciplinary t...

Albuquerque, NMRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$100K - $120K *

Join a team that's dedicated to enhancing data management processes. In this role, you will oversee vendor relations, manage inventory accuracy, and support financial controls, contributing to effecti...

Reposted 1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$115K - $170K *

Shape the future of translational biology by leading preclinical studies to enhance our innovative therapies aimed at retinal health. Collaborate with diverse teams to deepen understanding and explore...

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$108K - $201K *

Advance your career by driving innovative research in Biomedical Science. In this hands-on role, you'll lead experimental projects, mentor junior scientists, and collaborate across teams to explore ne...

5 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$80K - $95K *

Join us to support organizations in managing ethical risks and restoring reputations. Collaborate with clients on investigations and compliance engagements, utilizing advanced forensic technologies to...

Calgary, ABIn-Person

Yesterday

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Business Services

$110K - $130K *

Lead the charge in defining and executing critical technical programs, enhancing research infrastructure while ensuring impactful collaboration across teams. Empower researchers to translate their wor...

RemoteRemote

Reposted 3 weeks ago

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

$110K - $130K *

Champion technical program management by driving innovative research agendas, optimizing processes, and supporting a dynamic team focused on AI safety and efficiency. Raise our technical standards whi...

Reposted 3 weeks ago

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

$90K - $105K *

Empower your career by joining a dynamic team focused on innovative cell therapy process development, where you'll design experiments, analyze data, and collaborate to drive impactful results in a fas...

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$150K - $180K *

Join a team that's redefining knowledge extraction by developing innovative methods for mining structured information from diverse web content, enhancing AI model performance and retrieval capabilitie...

6 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$131K - $172K *

Lead the medical laboratory team by providing diagnostic services, ensuring quality standards, and managing operations. Collaborate with healthcare professionals to enhance patient care through effect...

Yesterday

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Staffing

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.