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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$180K - $195K *

Drive impactful data science initiatives by building and operating ML systems. Manage end-to-end processes from modeling to evaluation, while mentoring a lean team and collaborating across departments...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Hospitality & Recreation

$101K - $197K *

Empower your career by leading global regulatory strategies for medical devices and diagnostics. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure compliance and drive market access while mentoring ot...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$100K - $120K *

Bring your expertise to advanced biology research by designing complex problems, developing solutions, and evaluating AI models. Collaborate with teams to enhance scientific reasoning and contribute t...

New York, NYRemote

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Staffing

$115K - $165K *

Drive product strategy and roadmap for spectroscopy technologies, integrating analytical solutions into bioprocessing systems. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to define product needs and enhan...

RemoteRemote

2 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$160K - $190K *

Shape the future of global sales strategy by leading commercial efforts, driving revenue growth, and enhancing customer engagement across diverse market segments in a dynamic, collaborative environmen...

RemoteRemote

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$110K - $130K *

Lead the charge in developing innovative scientific software for MPAS infrastructure, enhancing model integration and performance across HPC platforms while collaborating with diverse teams to advance...

College Park, MDRemote

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Technical Services

$120K - $180K *

Transform biological imaging with your expertise in AI and microscopy. Collaborate with engineers and scientists to define expert reasoning, curate datasets, and build analysis pipelines that set the...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$125K - $141K *

Join a team that's dedicated to providing expert bioinformatics support, bridging customer needs with innovative NGS solutions. You'll play a key role in pre- and post-sales activities, ensuring custo...

United StatesRemote

2 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$150K - $170K *

Join a team that's transforming drug development through data science. Leverage your expertise to build predictive models and analytics, driving process improvements and technology transfer in a colla...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$150K - $180K *

Elevate data privacy standards by leading a comprehensive privacy program. Collaborate across teams to integrate privacy-by-design principles, enhance data governance, and ensure compliance while enab...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$135K - $160K *

Lead the charge in solving critical engineering challenges, driving technical direction, and fostering team growth. Collaborate across departments to enhance systems, ensuring reliability and innovati...

United StatesRemote

6 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$175K - $195K *

Lead the charge in shaping technical direction and mentoring teams while driving program delivery and fostering a culture of growth and collaboration in a dynamic engineering environment...

United StatesRemote

5 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$150K - $180K *

Shape innovative AI/ML initiatives to enhance student engagement and retention. Lead cross-functional teams to develop predictive models and data pipelines, driving measurable outcomes for thousands o...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Education, Government & Non-Profit

$150K - $180K *

Pioneer innovative AI solutions by designing autonomous agents that enhance manufacturing workflows. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to optimize data pipelines and drive impactful results in a...

Idaho Falls, IDRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$140K - $190K *

Join a team that's transforming clinical trials through advanced data science. Drive the development of predictive models and machine learning algorithms to enhance patient enrollment and trial manage...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$180K - $220K *

Transform global in vitro scientific operations by leading expansive teams and driving innovation across oncology and immunology studies. Ensure operational excellence, harmonize multi-site workflows...

RemoteRemote

Reposted 1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$110K - $130K *

Engage in early-stage drug discovery by triaging research requests, managing CRO partnerships, and ensuring seamless execution of outsourced projects. Leverage scientific expertise and Mandarin fluenc...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$160K - $200K *

Drive the growth of Data Science and AI initiatives across diverse sectors, focusing on strategic industries. Lead business development, advisory roles, and solution creation to enhance client engagem...

United StatesRemote

2 days ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$80K - $95K *

Strategize your career by advancing data science and predictive analytics solutions for the Navy. Collaborate with experts to enhance safety through innovative modeling while leveraging military exper...

Norfolk, VARemote

4 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$150K - $180K *

Lead the charge in overseeing strategic AI initiatives, ensuring effective execution, governance, and stakeholder collaboration across a global portfolio of AI programs and vendor relationships...

Cambridge, MARemote

Reposted yesterday

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$144K - $198K *

Champion advanced AI research by leading safety studies in NLP, CV, and more. Drive innovation through independent testing, proposal development, and collaborative efforts. Play a vital role in public...

United StatesRemote

4 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$80K - $95K *

Support project management by coordinating study documentation, mentoring team members, and ensuring compliance. Leverage expertise in clinical research to enhance study start-up and execution, while...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$225K - $281K *

Lead the charge in shaping detection and response strategies, driving hands-on initiatives to enhance security architecture and incident management. Collaborate across teams to ensure robust threat de...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$190K - $249K *

Drive innovation by leading AI architecture and strategy, mentoring engineers, and collaborating with stakeholders to deliver impactful AI solutions. Shape the future of AI products through technical...

Richardson, TXRemote

3 days ago

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

$80K - $118K *

Develop expertise in high-complexity flow cytometric testing, ensuring accurate diagnostics and quality control while supporting training and operational efficiency in a dynamic laboratory environment...

Seattle, WARemote

2 weeks ago

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

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.