Principal Scientist Jobs
Principal Scientist jobs are open across pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, materials science, and government research, from senior scientist to staff and principal levels, with specializations in drug discovery, computational modeling, and analytical chemistry. Find a role that fits from the openings below and apply directly.
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Principal Scientist – Fats and Oils
The Principal ScientistFats and Oils is a senior-level role with deep technical expertise and high learning agility, enabling continued growth in product formulation and processing capabilities within Mars snacking.
The role is responsible for leading global technical initiatives inFats and Oilssustainability, contributing to snacking innovation projects and programs, evaluatingalternative and novelFats andOils ingredients, troubleshooting reformulation and processing challenges, supporting supplier management, and upskilling associates across the organization.
What are we looking for?
- Minimum of a Bachelors degree in Food Science
- Minimum 10 years of RD experience in food, beverage or consumer products company (preferably with raw material compliance and specifications experience and Fats and Oil Ingredients, Chocolate, Nutrition Bars, Salty Snacks or Confectionary)
- Knowledge of regulatory bodies including FDA and EFSA.
- Proven ability to work independently and collaborate with global teams.
Provide technical leadership to ensure the FatsOils portfolio delivers on Mars Snacking’s strategic priorities and meets the evolving needs of the business.
Own the ST FatsOils Strategy and collaborate with cross-functional associates to drive continuous improvement.
Deliver hands-on formulation, processing, quality assurance, and food safety support across global RD and production sites.
Serve as a technical project leader or subject matter expert, partnering with other ST colleagues to support sustainability initiatives and the evaluation of alternative FatsOils ingredients, advancing Mars’ sustainability goals and Net Zero by 2050.
Horizon-scan, identify, and recommend potential business opportunities aligned with strategy; monitor emerging scientific research and trends relevant to FatsOils ingredients, chocolate, nutrition bars, salty snacks, and confectionary.
Collaborate with internal teams (Scientific Regulatory Affairs, Global Quality Food Safety, Product Development, etc.) and external partners to generate scientific evidence supporting claims, messaging, and publications.
Partner with RD, Commercial teams, and other Mars segments to develop strategic relationships with key external partners and suppliers, ensuring a robust ingredient pipeline that protects and creates future growth.
Work with RD and Intellectual Property teams to proactively safeguard Mars’ intellectual property.
Represent Mars at key conferences, trade shows, and industry events to strengthen the company’s reputation within the FatsOils sector.
Support the team manager in leading team-building initiatives and serving as a role model to enhance engagement and the overall associate experience within the Ingredient Science team.
Mentor and upskill associates in technical leadership and capabilities.
What can you expect from Mars?
Work with diverse and talented Associates, all guided by The Five Principles.
Join a purpose driven company, where we’re striving to build the world we want tomorrow, today.
A strong focus on learning and development support from day one, including access to our in-house Mars University.
An industry competitive salary and benefits package, including company bonus.
Find out more about what Mars can offer you by visiting our Global Careers site.
The base pay range for this position at commencement of employment is between the range listed below, however, base pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including but not limited to job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The total compensation package for this position will include variable pay, medical and dental benefits, participation in 401k plan, and paid time off benefits. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an applicant receives an offer of employment.
The pay range shown is applicable to all US locations listed within the job posting: USD 119,040.00 - USD 163,680.00
Principal Scientist – Fats and Oils
The Principal ScientistFats and Oils is a senior-level role with deep technical expertise and high learning agility, enabling continued growth in product formulation and processing capabilities within Mars snacking.
The role is responsible for leading global technical initiatives inFats and Oilssustainability, contributing to snacking innovation projects and programs, evaluatingalternative and novelFats andOils ingredients, troubleshooting reformulation and processing challenges, supporting supplier management, and upskilling associates across the organization.
What are we looking for?
- Minimum of a Bachelors degree in Food Science
- Minimum 10 years of RD experience in food, beverage or consumer products company (preferably with raw material compliance and specifications experience and Fats and Oil Ingredients, Chocolate, Nutrition Bars, Salty Snacks or Confectionary)
- Knowledge of regulatory bodies including FDA and EFSA.
- Proven ability to work independently and collaborate with global teams.
Provide technical leadership to ensure the FatsOils portfolio delivers on Mars Snacking’s strategic priorities and meets the evolving needs of the business.
Own the ST FatsOils Strategy and collaborate with cross-functional associates to drive continuous improvement.
Deliver hands-on formulation, processing, quality assurance, and food safety support across global RD and production sites.
Serve as a technical project leader or subject matter expert, partnering with other ST colleagues to support sustainability initiatives and the evaluation of alternative FatsOils ingredients, advancing Mars’ sustainability goals and Net Zero by 2050.
Horizon-scan, identify, and recommend potential business opportunities aligned with strategy; monitor emerging scientific research and trends relevant to FatsOils ingredients, chocolate, nutrition bars, salty snacks, and confectionary.
Collaborate with internal teams (Scientific Regulatory Affairs, Global Quality Food Safety, Product Development, etc.) and external partners to generate scientific evidence supporting claims, messaging, and publications.
Partner with RD, Commercial teams, and other Mars segments to develop strategic relationships with key external partners and suppliers, ensuring a robust ingredient pipeline that protects and creates future growth.
Work with RD and Intellectual Property teams to proactively safeguard Mars’ intellectual property.
Represent Mars at key conferences, trade shows, and industry events to strengthen the company’s reputation within the FatsOils sector.
Support the team manager in leading team-building initiatives and serving as a role model to enhance engagement and the overall associate experience within the Ingredient Science team.
Mentor and upskill associates in technical leadership and capabilities.
What can you expect from Mars?
Work with diverse and talented Associates, all guided by The Five Principles.
Join a purpose driven company, where we’re striving to build the world we want tomorrow, today.
A strong focus on learning and development support from day one, including access to our in-house Mars University.
An industry competitive salary and benefits package, including company bonus.
Find out more about what Mars can offer you by visiting our Global Careers site.
The base pay range for this position at commencement of employment is between the range listed below, however, base pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including but not limited to job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The total compensation package for this position will include variable pay, medical and dental benefits, participation in 401k plan, and paid time off benefits. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an applicant receives an offer of employment.
The pay range shown is applicable to all US locations listed within the job posting: USD 119,040.00 - USD 163,680.00
Principal Scientist Jobs by Experience Level
Top Cities Hiring Principal Scientists
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Find Principal Scientist JobsPrincipal Scientist Job Market
Who's Hiring
- CVS Health49
- Merck37
- Amazon27
- AbbVie23
- Genentech16
Top Industries Hiring
- Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals39
- Technology & Software31
- Science & Research17
- Retail15
- Consulting & Professional Services14
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in principal scientist jobs.
- PhD in a relevant scientific discipline such as biology, chemistry, biochemistry, or a related field
- Eight or more years of hands-on research experience in industry or government settings
- Demonstrated record of first- or senior-author peer-reviewed publications and patent contributions
- Proficiency with domain-specific tools such as molecular modeling software, analytical instrumentation, or statistical programming languages
- Experience leading cross-functional project teams and mentoring junior scientists or postdoctoral researchers
- Familiarity with regulatory submission processes such as IND, NDA, or equivalent documentation standards
Tips for Your Principal Scientist Job Search
Tailor your resume to publication impact
Principal scientist resumes live or die on demonstrated scientific leadership. Quantify your contributions by citing patents filed, peer-reviewed publications as first or senior author, and programs you advanced from discovery to development stage rather than listing duties.
Highlight cross-functional leadership experience
Hiring managers for principal scientist roles expect you to have led collaborations with regulatory, clinical, or engineering teams. Name the teams you partnered with, the decisions you influenced, and the outcomes those partnerships produced to distinguish your candidacy.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists principal scientist openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match your specialization and apply directly to each listing without hunting across multiple sources.
Target job titles one level above your current role
Companies post the same scope of work under 'Senior Scientist,' 'Principal Scientist,' and 'Staff Scientist' interchangeably. Search all three variants and read the responsibilities carefully. Applying only to exact title matches means missing a large portion of relevant openings.
Prepare a scientific narrative for your interviews
Principal scientist interviews typically include a research seminar or whiteboard session. Practice presenting one flagship project from hypothesis through data to business decision in under 20 minutes, anticipating questions about failed experiments and how you redirected the work.
Negotiate scope and resources, not just compensation
At the principal level, negotiating headcount, lab budget, and independent project time matters as much as base pay. Before your offer conversation, identify the resources you need to deliver on the role's stated goals and be ready to make that case directly.
Principal Scientist Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most principal scientists?
The companies hiring the most principal scientists right now include CVS Health, Merck, and Amazon, with the largest share of openings in California, Massachusetts, and New Jersey, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. Pharmaceutical, biotech, and contract research organizations consistently account for the majority of active openings.
How many principal scientist jobs are remote?
About 56% of principal scientist openings are fully remote or hybrid as of September 2026, though the share varies significantly by specialization. Computational biology, bioinformatics, and data science-adjacent principal scientist roles are the most likely to offer remote arrangements, while wet lab and instrumentation-heavy positions almost always require on-site presence.
How do you become a principal scientist?
Becoming a principal scientist typically requires a PhD in a relevant field followed by several years of progressively independent research experience in industry or government. You build toward the role by leading projects rather than executing tasks, publishing or patenting original work, and demonstrating that you can set scientific direction for a team. Transitioning from senior scientist to principal usually happens when you've shown you can define problems, not just solve them.
Can you get a principal scientist job without extensive experience?
Candidates with strong doctoral and postdoctoral credentials can sometimes step directly into junior principal scientist roles at smaller biotechs or startups, where title bands are compressed. The key is demonstrating scientific independence through publications, patents, or conference presentations rather than years on the job. Targeting companies that are early in building out a research function gives you the best chance of being hired at this level before accumulating a decade of industry experience.
What does the principal scientist interview process look like?
The principal scientist interview process typically includes an initial recruiter screen, one or two technical interviews with senior scientists or research directors, a research seminar where you present your past work to the broader team, and a final round with leadership or cross-functional stakeholders. Be ready to discuss not just your scientific results but the decisions you made along the way, how you handled setbacks, and how your work connected to business or program goals.
Where can I find and apply to principal scientist jobs?
You can find and apply to principal scientist jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States. The listings cover a range of industries and specializations, from pharmaceuticals and biotechnology to government research and materials science. Find roles that match your background and apply directly to each listing from the page.
See All 550+ Principal Scientist Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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