Staff Scientist Jobs

Explore Staff Scientist opportunities for experienced researchers and scientific professionals. Staff Scientists lead and support research programs, design experiments, analyze data, develop methods, and share findings with scientific and business partners. On Ladders, discover vetted professional roles with salaries of $100,000 or more across research organizations, life sciences, healthcare, technology, government, and academia.

What Does a Staff Scientist Do?

Staff Scientist responsibilities vary by field and employer. The role may involve planning and conducting experiments, managing specialized equipment or laboratory operations, interpreting complex datasets, contributing to publications and proposals, and collaborating across multidisciplinary teams. Many Staff Scientists also guide junior researchers and help set technical direction for a project or research group.

Skills and Qualifications

Employers commonly seek deep subject-matter expertise, strong analytical and problem-solving skills, and experience with relevant research methods, instruments, or computational tools. A Ph.D. is often preferred or required, though requirements depend on the discipline and position. Clear scientific communication, project management, collaboration, and a record of research contributions can also strengthen an application.

Staff Scientist Salary and Career Opportunities

Compensation depends on factors such as specialization, experience, location, employer, and scope of responsibility. Ladders focuses on vetted professional jobs paying $100,000 or more, helping experienced candidates explore Staff Scientist roles that align with their expertise and career goals. Senior opportunities may include increased research leadership, program ownership, or progression into principal scientist and research management positions.

Find Staff Scientist Jobs on Ladders

Search Staff Scientist jobs by specialty, location, and employer to find opportunities suited to your background. Review role requirements, tailor your résumé to highlight relevant research outcomes and technical strengths, and explore positions that can advance your scientific career.

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$150K - $175K *

Join a team that's shaping the future of solid waste management in the Northern Rocky Mountain region. Lead key projects, manage client relationships, and mentor staff while expanding our practice acr...

United StatesRemote

Today

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Technical Services

$176K - $294K *

Lead state policy initiatives and government relations; develop strategies to influence legislation and support enterprise goals in healthcare across multiple states...

RemoteRemote

Reposted today

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$74K - $100K *

Drive strategic initiatives by providing high-level management support to the Directors of Analytics and Research IT, coordinating budgets, optimizing workflows, and enhancing team performance to achi...

Seattle, WARemote

Yesterday

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

$120K - $145K *

Grow your career with a dynamic team leading threat intelligence and detection engineering. Shape strategies to protect diverse industries from cyber threats, while building a high-impact program that...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$110K - $115K *

Join a team that's redefining healthcare project management. Lead integrated initiatives, mentor talent, and drive excellence across diverse campaigns while fostering collaboration and innovation in a...

United StatesRemote

5 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$100K - $120K *

Drive the configuration and enhancement of Workday Absence, Time Tracking, and Benefits systems. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure seamless integration and support for global employee...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$135K - $160K *

Transform product security by leading strategy, conducting threat modeling, and collaborating across teams to ensure secure design and compliance. Drive innovation in security practices while mentorin...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$153K - $268K *

Join our team to provide expert clinical pharmacology insights, driving dose selection and study design for innovative therapies. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to translate complex data into...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$95K - $115K *

Unlock potential by managing and optimizing project-level agreements, ensuring compliance and efficiency in contracting processes while supporting global operations and client needs in a dynamic legal...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$135K - $160K *

Champion cross-functional project management for drug development, ensuring effective planning, execution, and governance across complex initiatives. Collaborate with diverse teams to drive Phase 3 re...

Boston, MARemote

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$107K - $190K *

Innovate in the field of scientific software engineering by leading the design and development of cutting-edge Windows applications that drive advanced atomic force microscopy systems and enhance perf...

Santa Barbara, CARemote

Reposted yesterday

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$130K - $160K *

Join a team that's driving innovative launch campaigns, managing complex schedules, and enhancing internal processes. This role requires a proactive leader to oversee launch operations and foster rela...

Seattle, WARemote

3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$120K - $145K *

Drive the advancement of enterprise Identity, Credential, and Access Management (ICAM) capabilities in contested environments, leading technical studies and architectural development to enhance operat...

Washington, DCRemote

6 days ago

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

$160K - $175K *

Pioneer secure, scalable backend solutions as a Senior Developer, integrating AI capabilities within AWS GovCloud. Collaborate across teams to enhance enterprise applications and ensure robust securit...

Arlington, VARemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$76K - $120K *

Take ownership of critical operational pipelines as a Research Statistician, executing analyses and improving processes to ensure the SAT Suite runs smoothly. Collaborate with cross-functional teams t...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

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

$150K - $180K *

Transform enterprise AI deployments by designing, building, and enhancing systems that drive significant business results while fostering strong partnerships with customers and engineering teams...

RemoteRemote

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$120K - $145K *

Shape the future of discovery operations by leveraging your legal expertise and leadership skills to enhance service delivery and team performance, ensuring top-quality results and efficient workflows...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Legal & Accounting

$72K - $95K *

Contribute to public safety operations as a technical expert, enhancing user experience through UAS product demonstrations, training, and support. Travel extensively to engage clients, ensuring operat...

CanadaRemote

Reposted 1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$120K - $150K *

Champion continuous improvement initiatives by optimizing processes and products across the organization. Lead cross-functional teams to enhance operational efficiency, quality, and customer experienc...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$201K - $352K *

Join a team that's redefining enterprise AI by building scalable, LLM-enabled applications. Collaborate with customers to deliver impactful solutions, codify reusable assets, and shape the future of A...

Santa Clara, CARemote

3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$199K - $321K *

Join a dynamic team to provide strategic legal counsel on diagnostics and medical devices, ensuring compliance with FDA regulations and commercial strategies while collaborating across business units...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$80K - $105K *

Join a specialized team to evaluate biological research, ensuring safety against misuse. Utilize your expertise to distinguish legitimate science from potential threats, contributing to AI safety and...

United StatesRemote

2 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Business Services

$150K - $180K *

Transform cloud infrastructure by leading strategy, team development, and automation. Drive security, reliability, and cost management while collaborating across functions to enhance operational excel...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$135K - $160K *

Drive clinical data management excellence by leading strategies, ensuring data integrity, and collaborating across functions to support successful clinical trials and regulatory submissions in a dynam...

United StatesRemote

Today

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$153K - $268K *

Join a team that's advancing regulatory strategies for drug substance manufacturing. Lead the charge in selecting and justifying Regulatory Starting Materials, ensuring compliance with global guidelin...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 6 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

  • What does a Staff Scientist do?question toggle

    A Staff Scientist conducts and supports research, designs experiments, analyzes results, maintains expertise in scientific methods or technologies, and collaborates with research teams. Depending on the role, they may also mentor colleagues and contribute to publications, proposals, or research strategy.

  • What qualifications are typically required for Staff Scientist jobs?question toggle

    Requirements vary by discipline and employer. Many roles ask for a Ph.D. and relevant research experience, while some accept a master's degree paired with substantial specialized experience. Employers may also expect expertise in field-specific methods, instruments, or data analysis.

  • How much do Staff Scientists earn?question toggle

    Staff Scientist pay varies according to field, experience, location, organization, and responsibilities. Ladders features vetted professional opportunities paying $100,000 or more, including eligible Staff Scientist roles.

  • Where do Staff Scientists work?question toggle

    Staff Scientists work in settings such as biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, universities, hospitals, government agencies, national laboratories, and technology or industrial research organizations.

  • How can I find Staff Scientist jobs paying $100,000 or more?question toggle

    Use Ladders to explore vetted professional Staff Scientist openings with salaries of $100,000 or more. Search by location or specialization and compare requirements to identify roles that fit your experience.