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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$100K - $177K *

Champion innovative fire protection solutions that enhance safety and performance across various sectors. Lead and mentor teams while managing intricate designs through every project phase, ensuring c...

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Real Estate & Construction

$350K - $500K+*

Explore a role bridging research and engineering to optimize large-scale ML training pipelines, ensuring reliability and efficiency in model operations while collaborating on impactful AI advancements...

Reposted 4 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$165K - $220K *

Build and lead civil aviation cyber certification processes, ensuring compliance with industry standards. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to establish documentation and risk assessments, drivi...

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$100K - $177K *

Innovate fire protection solutions while leading multi-regional teams for diverse projects across various sectors. Drive design initiatives from concept to construction ensuring compliance, quality, a...

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Real Estate & Construction

$100K - $177K *

Drive innovative fire protection engineering services across diverse sectors, leading design teams in creating effective solutions from concept to construction while ensuring quality and collaboration...

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Real Estate & Construction

$100K - $177K *

Shape the future of fire protection engineering by leading diverse teams, managing multi-sector projects, and delivering innovative solutions that enhance safety and performance within the built envir...

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Real Estate & Construction

$100K - $177K *

Lead comprehensive fire protection engineering services across diverse sectors. Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to ensure compliant, high-quality designs from conception through construction...

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Real Estate & Construction

$150K - $220K *

Drive innovation in analytical workflows by delivering advanced omics demonstrations, developing reproducible methods, and providing scientific leadership to global teams, ensuring impactful customer...

5 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Business Services

$84K - $109K *

Shape the future of technology procurement by providing strategic expertise to organizations. Collaborate with diverse stakeholders to develop procurement strategies, evaluate vendor solutions, and en...

Reposted 5 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$110K - $130K *

Champion transformative research initiatives in AI and medical imaging. Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to develop innovative standards in disease detection and diagnostics, driving impactful...

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Education, Government & Non-Profit

$168K - $253K *

Drive high-impact transformation in North America’s Global Supply Chain by leading strategic continuous improvement projects that enhance quality, reduce costs, and boost customer satisfaction across...

Today

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$168K - $253K *

Drive high-impact transformation in North America’s Global Supply Chain by leading strategic continuous improvement projects. Focus on reducing costs and enhancing quality while mentoring cross-functi...

Today

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$168K - $253K *

Lead high-impact continuous improvement initiatives across North America, driving cost reductions and enhancing quality. Engage cross-functional teams to deliver measurable financial benefits while me...

Today

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$168K - $253K *

Elevate your career by leading transformative continuous improvement initiatives across North America's supply chain. Drive strategic projects that enhance quality, reduce costs, and boost customer sa...

Today

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$93K - $144K *

Join a team that's redefining structural engineering by designing innovative building systems. Collaborate with architects and engineers to create sustainable solutions from concept to construction, e...

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Real Estate & Construction

$172K - $202K *

Join a dynamic team as a Senior Director Analyst, leveraging your expertise to guide senior IT executives in navigating digital workplace strategies. Deliver actionable insights that align technology...

Irving, TXRemote

5 days ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Business Services

$140K - $204K *

Elevate enterprise Agentic AI initiatives by leading strategic program delivery and solution architecture. Drive business value through automation and establish a trusted data foundation while managin...

3 days ago

  •   15+ years exp.  •   Information Technology

$140K - $204K *

Drive transformative Agentic AI initiatives by leading strategic program delivery and solution architecture. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance business value through automation and es...

3 days ago

  •   15+ years exp.  •   Information Technology

$120K - $145K *

Unlock potential by leading high-level security evaluations of embedded devices across various sectors. Collaborate with teams to ensure client satisfaction and stay ahead of emerging threats through...

Reposted 1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$159K - $236K *

Join a team that's dedicated to enhancing user experiences through research. You'll lead mixed-methods studies, collaborate with cross-functional partners, and drive actionable insights across a diver...

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$145K - $215K *

Drive user-centered experiences by leading research initiatives across products. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to uncover insights that inform design and enhance business solutions in a dyna...

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$159K - $236K *

Shape user-centered experiences by leading end-to-end research initiatives. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to uncover insights that drive impactful decisions across a diverse portfolio of pro...

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$145K - $215K *

Champion user-centered experiences by leading end-to-end research initiatives. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to uncover insights that drive product innovation and enhance user satisfaction a...

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$150K - $180K *

Lead the charge in developing innovative modeling approaches for power utilization across large-scale infrastructure. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance decision-making and optimize re...

Menlo Park, CARemote

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$130K - $155K *

Transform ML evaluation processes by building robust infrastructure for deploying and optimizing multimodal models, enhancing workflows for high-quality performance and seamless integration of cutting...

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   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.