Principal Research Scientist Jobs
Principal Research Scientist jobs are open across technology, pharmaceuticals, biotech, and academia, from senior scientist to distinguished and fellow-level roles, with specializations in machine learning, computational biology, and materials science. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Showing 5 of 82+ Principal Research Scientist jobs
- Design and carry out multistep organic syntheses, isolation, and purification of targeted products.
- Must possess a strong understanding of modern organic synthesis methodologies.
- Must have a thorough understanding of modern analytical and spectroscopic techniques and be able to interpret the corresponding data and spectra.
- Ability to conduct literature searches for specific target compounds and be able to use the literature to base a design of alternate routes to these compounds. Requires ongoing professional development to keep abreast of current scientific literature and discuss these findings with colleagues.
- Must demonstrate a proficiency to carry out laboratory syntheses and purification techniques on scales ranging from milligrams to several kilograms, and design and implement process modifications.
- Requires excellent time management with the ability to manage projects on-time without supervision.
- Ability to author and review comprehensive reports at the conclusion of projects for internal and customer use.
- Work closely with other chemistry and analytical laboratory staff to coordinate project activities and resource usage.
- Work to ensure that a spirit of teamwork and cooperation always exists within the group.
- Conduct laboratory operations in a safe manner. Maintain familiarity with the company’s chemical hygiene plan. Exhibit safety awareness and safe work practices.
- Follow responsible actions regarding chemical disposal. Maintain compliance with all regulations at the federal, state, and local levels.
- Must demonstrate effective communication skills (both interpersonal and presentations). Participate in project team meetings with customers.
- Work closely with manufacturing and GMP operations to coordinate project related equipment and activities.
- Maintain a clean, safe laboratory work area.
Cross Discipline Knowledge: Higher level of understanding of the principles of cross-functional departments, including analytical chemistry and engineering.
GMP/Regulatory Knowledge: Demonstrated understanding of the GMP landscape and fundamental understanding of the industrial regulatory landscape; Good understanding of site SOPs and regulatory CMC concerns and can answer client questions that can help to develop their clinical package.
Instrumentation: Advanced knowledge of HPLC, GC, MS, automated reactor platforms, In-situ reaction monitoring, and ability to train and troubleshoot problems with equipment (and help others).
Communication: Good written and oral communication skills, often leading technical calls with clients.
Problem Solving: Strond demonstration of problem solving, ability to lead investigations.
Time Management: Able to maintain timeline of key activities and use time efficiently; ability to handle projects without supervision, though requires regular check-in with manager.
Leadership: Demonstrated record of mentorship and development of peers, partner lines and ability to support initiatives within the department.
Technical Documentation and Review: Ability author and review technical documents with minimal RFT errors. Can write new SOP with manager assistance, keep current lab notebook while practicing GDP.
External Influence:Ability to lead local project teams and steer clients to desired outcomes; ability to work with management to develop key local laboratory-based initiatives.
Industry Credibility and Rapport: Recognized scientific leader within the Cambrex organization, locally and possibly beginning to extend to other sites.
Operational Excellence: Actively participates in key operational excellence initiatives.
Change Orientation: Active participation and support for implementation of Cambrex system level changes/initiative
Ph.D. in Chemistry or related field with minimum 6 years’ experience or M.S. in Chemistry or related field with minimum 10 years’ experience or B.S. degree in Chemistry or related field with 12 years of experience in lab environment, pharmaceutical experience preferred. Hands on experience in pharmaceutical/chemical process development. Excellent verbal and written communication/interpersonal skills, organizational skills, and the ability to work in a diverse team environment are essential. Proficiency with Microsoft software (SharePoint, Word / EXCEL / PowerPoint), and Chemdraw is expected.
- Design and carry out multistep organic syntheses, isolation, and purification of targeted products.
- Must possess a strong understanding of modern organic synthesis methodologies.
- Must have a thorough understanding of modern analytical and spectroscopic techniques and be able to interpret the corresponding data and spectra.
- Ability to conduct literature searches for specific target compounds and be able to use the literature to base a design of alternate routes to these compounds. Requires ongoing professional development to keep abreast of current scientific literature and discuss these findings with colleagues.
- Must demonstrate a proficiency to carry out laboratory syntheses and purification techniques on scales ranging from milligrams to several kilograms, and design and implement process modifications.
- Requires excellent time management with the ability to manage projects on-time without supervision.
- Ability to author and review comprehensive reports at the conclusion of projects for internal and customer use.
- Work closely with other chemistry and analytical laboratory staff to coordinate project activities and resource usage.
- Work to ensure that a spirit of teamwork and cooperation always exists within the group.
- Conduct laboratory operations in a safe manner. Maintain familiarity with the company’s chemical hygiene plan. Exhibit safety awareness and safe work practices.
- Follow responsible actions regarding chemical disposal. Maintain compliance with all regulations at the federal, state, and local levels.
- Must demonstrate effective communication skills (both interpersonal and presentations). Participate in project team meetings with customers.
- Work closely with manufacturing and GMP operations to coordinate project related equipment and activities.
- Maintain a clean, safe laboratory work area.
Cross Discipline Knowledge: Higher level of understanding of the principles of cross-functional departments, including analytical chemistry and engineering.
GMP/Regulatory Knowledge: Demonstrated understanding of the GMP landscape and fundamental understanding of the industrial regulatory landscape; Good understanding of site SOPs and regulatory CMC concerns and can answer client questions that can help to develop their clinical package.
Instrumentation: Advanced knowledge of HPLC, GC, MS, automated reactor platforms, In-situ reaction monitoring, and ability to train and troubleshoot problems with equipment (and help others).
Communication: Good written and oral communication skills, often leading technical calls with clients.
Problem Solving: Strond demonstration of problem solving, ability to lead investigations.
Time Management: Able to maintain timeline of key activities and use time efficiently; ability to handle projects without supervision, though requires regular check-in with manager.
Leadership: Demonstrated record of mentorship and development of peers, partner lines and ability to support initiatives within the department.
Technical Documentation and Review: Ability author and review technical documents with minimal RFT errors. Can write new SOP with manager assistance, keep current lab notebook while practicing GDP.
External Influence:Ability to lead local project teams and steer clients to desired outcomes; ability to work with management to develop key local laboratory-based initiatives.
Industry Credibility and Rapport: Recognized scientific leader within the Cambrex organization, locally and possibly beginning to extend to other sites.
Operational Excellence: Actively participates in key operational excellence initiatives.
Change Orientation: Active participation and support for implementation of Cambrex system level changes/initiative
Ph.D. in Chemistry or related field with minimum 6 years’ experience or M.S. in Chemistry or related field with minimum 10 years’ experience or B.S. degree in Chemistry or related field with 12 years of experience in lab environment, pharmaceutical experience preferred. Hands on experience in pharmaceutical/chemical process development. Excellent verbal and written communication/interpersonal skills, organizational skills, and the ability to work in a diverse team environment are essential. Proficiency with Microsoft software (SharePoint, Word / EXCEL / PowerPoint), and Chemdraw is expected.
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Find JobsPrincipal Research Scientist Job Market
Who's Hiring
- AbbVie18
- Merck7
- Elanco3
- Peraton3
- RTX2
Top Industries Hiring
- Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals
- Technology & Software
- Science & Research
- Education
- Gaming & Esports
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in principal research scientist jobs.
- PhD in a relevant field such as computer science, biology, chemistry, or engineering
- Demonstrated record of independent research with peer-reviewed publications in leading journals or conferences
- Deep expertise in a core technical domain such as machine learning, computational biology, or materials science
- Experience mentoring junior researchers, interns, or PhD students
- Proficiency with relevant research tools and frameworks such as Python, PyTorch, R, or domain-specific simulation software
- Ability to collaborate across engineering, product, and clinical teams to translate research into applied outcomes
Tips for Your Principal Research Scientist Job Search
Lead your resume with publications
Hiring committees at this level scan for first-author publications and citation impact before reading anything else. List your top papers near the top of your resume, not buried in an appendix, and note the journal's standing in your field.
Distinguish research vision from execution
Principal-level roles require you to show independent research direction, not just delivery. Your resume and cover letter should make clear which projects you originated and which you joined, and what intellectual problem you were personally driving.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists principal research scientist openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Target job descriptions for scope signals
Some postings titled 'principal research scientist' are really senior IC roles with no team influence. Look for language about setting research agenda, mentoring junior scientists, or defining roadmaps, so you apply to roles that match the seniority you've earned.
Prepare a research talk for interviews
Most principal-level interview processes include a seminar or chalk talk where you present past work and future directions. Prepare one talk that shows depth on a completed project and a second that outlines an open research question you'd pursue in the new role.
Negotiate scope before negotiating compensation
At this level, what you can work on matters as much as what you're paid. Before accepting, clarify publication rights, IP ownership, collaboration access, and compute or lab resource commitments, since these constraints are harder to change than salary after you've started.
Principal Research Scientist Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most principal research scientists?
The companies hiring the most principal research scientists right now include AbbVie, Merck, and Elanco, with the largest share of openings in California, Illinois, and New Jersey, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Demand is strongest in technology, pharmaceuticals, and biotech.
How many principal research scientist jobs are remote?
About 39% of principal research scientist openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, though this varies significantly by subdiscipline. Roles focused on machine learning, data science, and computational research tend to be the most remote-friendly, while positions requiring wet lab access or specialized hardware are almost always on-site.
How do you become a principal research scientist?
Most principal research scientists start with a PhD in a technical discipline, then build a body of independent, published work over several years as a postdoc or staff scientist. The path forward involves demonstrating that you can originate a research agenda, not just execute one. Consistent publication in respected venues, mentoring junior researchers, and cross-functional collaboration on applied problems are the signals that distinguish principal-level candidates from senior ones.
Can you get hired as a principal research scientist without much experience?
Directly, no, since the title itself signals an expectation of an established research record. If you're earlier in your career, the most effective path is targeting a senior research scientist or research scientist II role at an organization doing work in your area, building your publication and mentorship record there, and moving into a principal title after demonstrating independent research leadership internally or externally.
What does the principal research scientist interview process look like?
The process typically runs in multiple stages and starts with a recruiter screen followed by one or more technical interviews with research peers or managers. Most organizations then ask for a research seminar or chalk talk where you present past work and discuss future directions. Final rounds often include a panel with cross-functional stakeholders, a discussion of research strategy, and sometimes a written research proposal or problem-solving exercise.
Where can I find and apply to principal research scientist jobs?
You can find and apply to principal research scientist jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States. Find roles that fit your specialization and experience level, then apply directly to each listing from the job page.
See All 82 Principal Research Scientist Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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