Entry Level Lead Research Scientist Jobs

New grad lead research scientist jobs welcome recent graduates and entry level candidates with zero to two years of experience, where strong internship work or a focused research portfolio can matter more than a long resume. Most openings are on-site roles across Technology & Software, Education, and Science & Research, with employers like TikTok, Astera Institute, and OpenAI hiring at this level now.

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Overview

Open roles166+
Top stateCalifornia
Top employerTikTok
Top citySan Jose, CA
Work type87% On-site
Top industryTechnology

Showing 5 of 166+ Entry Level Lead Research Scientist jobs

Graduate, Research Scientist, AI
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New 6h ago
Graduate, Research Scientist, AI
Arm
Seattle, Washington
Biotech & Life Sciences
Laboratory Research
Research & Academia
Hybrid
5,001-10,000

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Research Scientist
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New 9h ago
Research Scientist
Houston Methodist
Houston, Texas
Laboratory Research
Specialized Engineering
Clinical Trials & Medical Research
Biomedical Engineering
On-Site
Doctorate
10,000+

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AI Research Scientist
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New 13h ago
AI Research Scientist
Apple
Sunnyvale, California
Software Engineering
Data Science & Analytics
AI (Artificial Intelligence)
ML (Machine Learning)
Data Science
Data Analytics
$150k - $278k/yr
On-Site
Master's
10,000+

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Research Engineer/Research Scientist
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Added 1d ago
Research Engineer/Research Scientist
DeepRoute.ai
Fremont, California
Data Science & Analytics
Software Engineering
Technical Product & Program Management
Data Science
On-Site
Master's

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AI Research Scientist
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Added 1d ago
AI Research Scientist
Apple
Seattle, Washington
Software Engineering
Data Science & Analytics
Cloud & DevOps
AI (Artificial Intelligence)
ML (Machine Learning)
Data Science
Data Analytics
$142k - $263k/yr
On-Site
Master's
10,000+

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Entry Level Lead Research Scientist Job Market

Who's Hiring

  • TikTok45
  • Astera Institute6
  • OpenAI5
  • Nuro4
  • NVIDIA4

Top Industries Hiring

  • Technology & Software66
  • Education33
  • Science & Research20
  • Healthcare & Medical Services11
  • Artificial Intelligence9

Entry Level Lead Research Scientist Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get an entry level lead research scientist job?

Start by building a focused research portfolio through thesis work, internships, or independent projects that demonstrate hands-on methodology and analytical thinking. Employers at this level look for familiarity with relevant lab techniques or data tools, a clear research focus area, and the ability to communicate findings. Tailoring your resume to highlight specific project outcomes and any published or presented work gives you a measurable edge over candidates with similar credentials.

Which companies hire entry level lead research scientists?

Companies hiring entry level lead research scientists right now include TikTok, Astera Institute, and OpenAI, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. At this level, hiring tends to come from research-driven organizations such as biotech and pharmaceutical firms, government-affiliated labs, technology companies with dedicated R&D functions, and universities or research institutes that bring on junior scientists to support ongoing studies.

Are there remote entry level lead research scientist jobs?

Yes, though most research roles at this level require some in-person lab or facility time. About 13% of entry level lead research scientist openings are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, with fully remote positions more common in data-focused or computational research subfields. Hybrid arrangements are increasingly offered by larger employers who want junior researchers on-site for collaborative work but allow flexibility for analysis and writing tasks.

Are these new grad lead research scientist jobs?

Yes, these listings include new grad, recent graduate, and junior roles that explicitly welcome candidates with limited professional experience. A posting is new-grad friendly when it lists zero to two years of experience, accepts internship or academic research in place of full-time work history, or mentions that a strong portfolio or graduate project is sufficient. If you are searching as a new grad, look for language like 'entry level,' 'junior,' or 'recent graduates encouraged to apply' in the job description.

Which industries hire the most entry level lead research scientists?

Entry Level lead research scientist roles concentrate in Technology & Software, Education, and Science & Research, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. These sectors drive hiring at this level because they maintain active research pipelines that require a steady flow of junior scientists to support ongoing projects, assist principal investigators, and contribute fresh skills in emerging methodologies and analytical tools.