Senior Level Head of Research Jobs
Senior level head of research jobs place experienced professionals in charge of setting research direction, owning methodological decisions, and leading the teams and projects that generate insights. Openings are concentrated across Technology & Software, Electronics & Hardware, and Investment & Asset Management, with a mix of on-site, remote, and hybrid settings, and employers like Duolingo, Alsym Energy, and Piper Sandler hiring at this level now.
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See related jobsJob Title: Head of R&D Data Systems
Industry Background: Energy storage is one of the fastest-growing sectors in the global energy economy, with annual stationary storage capacity additions projected to grow 23% per year from 2025 to 2035, driven by surging electricity demand from electrification, data centers, and AI infrastructure. Alsym Energy is a leading developer of non-flammable, high-performance, low-cost sodium-ion batteries for AI data centers, utilities, commercial real estate and anywhere else energy storage is needed.
Job Summary: Alsym Energy is seeking a Head of R&D Data Systems to own the company's scientific data platform: the in-house laboratory information management system (LIMS) and the surrounding data ecosystem that records how materials, electrodes and cells are made, tracked and tested across the R&D organization, and to lead the data team behind it. You will write and review code, own the database and its data model, set the technical direction, run the team, and represent the platform to scientists, laboratory operations, quality, IT and executive leadership. The right candidate has built and operated software that people depend on every day, understands relational data modeling deeply, uses AI-assisted development as a normal part of engineering work, and can translate between laboratory practice and software design.
Role & Responsibilities
Platform ownership and engineering:
- Own the architecture, roadmap and delivery of the platform: web application, API, relational database, integrations and deployment; build, review and ship code across the stack.
- Design and evolve the data model for materials, inventory lots, recipes, process steps, equipment, specifications and test results, with full traceability from incoming raw material to cell performance.
- Set the team's engineering practice: version control, code review, automated testing, CI/CD, release management, security review with IT, and disciplined AI-assisted development.
Data integrity and governance:
- Own data governance with the LIMS administrator: master data, record definitions and access control.
- Ensure records are attributable, contemporaneous, complete and tamper-evident, with the controls enforced on the server and not only in the user interface.
- Integrate instrument and cell-test data (time-series cycling, XRD, SEM, Raman and similar) with build, inventory and documentation records.
- Keep existing laboratory data systems running during the transition and retire them in a controlled way.
Team and stakeholders:
- Lead, mentor and grow the data team; define roles and hire as the platform's scope expands.
- Partner with scientists, process engineers, laboratory operations, supply chain, quality and IT to gather requirements, digitize templates and workflows, and roll them out; own training and adoption.
- Report progress, risks and priorities to executive leadership; run the platform roadmap. Manage vendors, consultants and service providers as needed.
Required Skills & Experience:
- 8+ years building and operating production software, including 3+ years leading a team or owning a system end to end.
- Full-stack proficiency: a typed front-end framework (e.g., TypeScript with React), a back-end language (e.g., Python), REST API design, and PostgreSQL or a comparable relational database, including schema design, migrations, performance and backup and recovery; a track record of shipping software that people rely on daily.
- Daily, effective use of AI coding assistants, with the review habits to verify what they produce.
- Clear written and verbal communication with scientists, technicians and executives, and experience turning their requirements into working software.
- Experience working with IT on deployment, authentication, access control and data protection.
Preferred Skills & Experience:
- Experience with LIMS, ELN, MES or other regulated record systems; familiarity with data integrity expectations (ALCOA+, GxP-style controls, ISO 9001, ISO 17025).
- Background in batteries, electrochemistry, materials science or chemistry; familiarity with laboratory instruments and their data formats.
- Experience building applications on large language models, including retrieval over structured data with access control.
- Experience in a startup or small team where one person covers several roles.
Education:
- B.S., M.S. or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Physics, Chemistry, Materials Science, Engineering, or a related technical field, or equivalent practical experience.
Additional Requirements:
- On-site presence required at Alsym Energy's Massachusetts facility.
Why Join Us? At Alsym, we believe in equitable compensation and a healthy work-life balance. Beyond a competitive salary, we offer a benefits package designed to support you both inside and outside the office.
Perks & Lifestyle:
- Prime Location: We are within easy walking distance of the train station.
- Commuter Friendly: Enjoy the convenience of free on-site parking.
- Health & Wellness: Stay active with access to our free on-site gym.
- Friday Fuel: We provide free lunch delivery every Friday to celebrate the end of the work week together.
Comprehensive Benefits:
- Health & Dental: Premium insurance coverage through Blue Cross Blue Shield.
- Financial Future: Every employee is eligible for 401k plans and stock options.
- Time to Recharge: A flexible Paid Time Off (PTO) program to help you find your balance.
- Family & Security: Full eligibility for PFML (Paid Family and Medical Leave).
Our Commitment to You We maintain a firm Anti-Harassment Policy that includes robust Diversity, Inclusion, Equity, and Gender Protections. We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.
Note: A full, detailed listing of all benefits will be provided following a formal offer of employment.
Job Title: Head of R&D Data Systems
Industry Background: Energy storage is one of the fastest-growing sectors in the global energy economy, with annual stationary storage capacity additions projected to grow 23% per year from 2025 to 2035, driven by surging electricity demand from electrification, data centers, and AI infrastructure. Alsym Energy is a leading developer of non-flammable, high-performance, low-cost sodium-ion batteries for AI data centers, utilities, commercial real estate and anywhere else energy storage is needed.
Job Summary: Alsym Energy is seeking a Head of R&D Data Systems to own the company's scientific data platform: the in-house laboratory information management system (LIMS) and the surrounding data ecosystem that records how materials, electrodes and cells are made, tracked and tested across the R&D organization, and to lead the data team behind it. You will write and review code, own the database and its data model, set the technical direction, run the team, and represent the platform to scientists, laboratory operations, quality, IT and executive leadership. The right candidate has built and operated software that people depend on every day, understands relational data modeling deeply, uses AI-assisted development as a normal part of engineering work, and can translate between laboratory practice and software design.
Role & Responsibilities
Platform ownership and engineering:
- Own the architecture, roadmap and delivery of the platform: web application, API, relational database, integrations and deployment; build, review and ship code across the stack.
- Design and evolve the data model for materials, inventory lots, recipes, process steps, equipment, specifications and test results, with full traceability from incoming raw material to cell performance.
- Set the team's engineering practice: version control, code review, automated testing, CI/CD, release management, security review with IT, and disciplined AI-assisted development.
Data integrity and governance:
- Own data governance with the LIMS administrator: master data, record definitions and access control.
- Ensure records are attributable, contemporaneous, complete and tamper-evident, with the controls enforced on the server and not only in the user interface.
- Integrate instrument and cell-test data (time-series cycling, XRD, SEM, Raman and similar) with build, inventory and documentation records.
- Keep existing laboratory data systems running during the transition and retire them in a controlled way.
Team and stakeholders:
- Lead, mentor and grow the data team; define roles and hire as the platform's scope expands.
- Partner with scientists, process engineers, laboratory operations, supply chain, quality and IT to gather requirements, digitize templates and workflows, and roll them out; own training and adoption.
- Report progress, risks and priorities to executive leadership; run the platform roadmap. Manage vendors, consultants and service providers as needed.
Required Skills & Experience:
- 8+ years building and operating production software, including 3+ years leading a team or owning a system end to end.
- Full-stack proficiency: a typed front-end framework (e.g., TypeScript with React), a back-end language (e.g., Python), REST API design, and PostgreSQL or a comparable relational database, including schema design, migrations, performance and backup and recovery; a track record of shipping software that people rely on daily.
- Daily, effective use of AI coding assistants, with the review habits to verify what they produce.
- Clear written and verbal communication with scientists, technicians and executives, and experience turning their requirements into working software.
- Experience working with IT on deployment, authentication, access control and data protection.
Preferred Skills & Experience:
- Experience with LIMS, ELN, MES or other regulated record systems; familiarity with data integrity expectations (ALCOA+, GxP-style controls, ISO 9001, ISO 17025).
- Background in batteries, electrochemistry, materials science or chemistry; familiarity with laboratory instruments and their data formats.
- Experience building applications on large language models, including retrieval over structured data with access control.
- Experience in a startup or small team where one person covers several roles.
Education:
- B.S., M.S. or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Physics, Chemistry, Materials Science, Engineering, or a related technical field, or equivalent practical experience.
Additional Requirements:
- On-site presence required at Alsym Energy's Massachusetts facility.
Why Join Us? At Alsym, we believe in equitable compensation and a healthy work-life balance. Beyond a competitive salary, we offer a benefits package designed to support you both inside and outside the office.
Perks & Lifestyle:
- Prime Location: We are within easy walking distance of the train station.
- Commuter Friendly: Enjoy the convenience of free on-site parking.
- Health & Wellness: Stay active with access to our free on-site gym.
- Friday Fuel: We provide free lunch delivery every Friday to celebrate the end of the work week together.
Comprehensive Benefits:
- Health & Dental: Premium insurance coverage through Blue Cross Blue Shield.
- Financial Future: Every employee is eligible for 401k plans and stock options.
- Time to Recharge: A flexible Paid Time Off (PTO) program to help you find your balance.
- Family & Security: Full eligibility for PFML (Paid Family and Medical Leave).
Our Commitment to You We maintain a firm Anti-Harassment Policy that includes robust Diversity, Inclusion, Equity, and Gender Protections. We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.
Note: A full, detailed listing of all benefits will be provided following a formal offer of employment.
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- Technology & Software
- Electronics & Hardware
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Senior Level Head of Research Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a senior level head of research job?
Employers at this level look for candidates who have led research programs end to end, not just contributed to them. A strong portfolio of projects where you defined the methodology, managed cross-functional stakeholders, and translated findings into business decisions sets you apart. Demonstrated experience mentoring researchers and presenting to executive audiences consistently gives candidates an edge over equally credentialed peers.
Which companies hire senior level head of researchs?
Companies hiring senior level head of researchs right now include Duolingo, Alsym Energy, and Piper Sandler, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. At this level, hiring tends to come from large enterprises, consulting firms, and research-intensive organizations that need experienced leaders to run dedicated research functions rather than individual contributors who also manage.
Are there remote senior level head of research jobs?
Yes, though availability varies by industry and employer. About 20% of senior level head of research openings are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting broader flexibility at senior levels where output and leadership presence matter more than physical location. Research-heavy industries and technology-forward employers tend to offer the most remote flexibility at this stage.
What makes a head of research role senior level?
Senior level head of research roles are defined by scope and ownership. Rather than executing research within someone else's framework, you set the agenda, choose the methodologies, and are accountable for the quality and strategic relevance of all output. These roles also carry meaningful responsibility for developing junior and mid-level researchers and influencing decisions at the leadership level.
Which industries hire the most senior level head of researchs?
Senior Level head of research roles concentrate in Technology & Software, Electronics & Hardware, and Investment & Asset Management, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. These sectors drive hiring at this level because they depend on rigorous, ongoing research to inform product development, competitive strategy, or policy decisions, creating sustained demand for experienced research leaders who can structure and scale that function.