Principal Scientist Jobs in New York

Principal Scientist jobs in New York sit in one of the most active research and development markets in the country, concentrated in pharmaceutical and biotech R&D, materials science, and chemical engineering across roles from senior researcher through principal-level leadership. The heaviest hiring comes out of New York City, Long Island's Biopharma Corridor, and the Albany-Capital Region, where employers such as Pfizer, IBM Research, and Bristol Myers Squibb maintain deep scientific operations. The most in-demand specialties are drug discovery, computational biology, and advanced materials characterization. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.

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Overview

Open roles26
Top employerAmazon
Top cityNew York, NY
Cities hiring8
Work type67% On-site
Top industryTechnology

Showing 5 of 26+ Principal Scientist jobs

Principal Applied Scientist, Ads Measurement Science
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Added 5d ago
Principal Applied Scientist, Ads Measurement Science
Amazon.com
New York, New York
Electrical Engineering
Engineering (Non-Software)
Product Management
$219k - $296k/yr
Doctoral degree in Computer Science
10,000+

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Principal Scientist I / II, Medicinal Chemistry
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Added 6d ago
Principal Scientist I / II, Medicinal Chemistry
Schrödinger
New York, New York
Laboratory Research
Physics & Space Science
Research & Academia
$150k - $200k/yr
Doctoral degree in chemistry
501-1,000

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Data Scientist (Principal)
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Added 1w ago
Data Scientist (Principal)
Naval Nuclear Laboratory
Niskayuna, New York
Business Analyst
Data Analytics
IT Support
Project & Program Management
$129k - $206k/yr
Doctoral degree
5,001-10,000

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Principal Data Scientist
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Added 1w ago
Principal Data Scientist
Capital One
New York, New York
Data Science & Analytics
Software Engineering
Data Science
AI (Artificial Intelligence)
ML (Machine Learning)
$177k - $201k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's
10,000+

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Principal Data Scientist, AI Foundations
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Added 1w ago
Principal Data Scientist, AI Foundations
Information Technology Senior Management Forum
New York, New York
AI (Artificial Intelligence)
Cloud Engineering
Solutions Engineering & Architecture
$162k - $201k/yr
Master's degree in business administration
51-200

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See All 26 Principal Scientist Jobs in New York

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Principal Scientist Jobs by City in New York

Where New York roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Melville
2 jobs
Niskayuna
2 jobs
Ithaca
1 job
Buffalo
1 job
Brooklyn
1 job
Rochester
1 job
Pearl River
1 job

Principal Scientist Job Market in New York

A snapshot from current New York openings, updated as new roles post.

Who's Hiring

Amazon6 open roles
Capital One2 open roles
The Estée Lauder Companies2 open roles

Top Industries Hiring

  • Technology & Software
  • Retail
  • E-Commerce & Online Marketplaces
  • Manufacturing
  • Distribution & Wholesale

What New York Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in principal scientist jobs across New York.

  • PhD in life sciences, chemistry, materials science, or a closely related field
  • Minimum eight years of progressive research experience in an industry or academic setting
  • Demonstrated publication record or patent portfolio in a core scientific discipline
  • Expertise in a principal specialty such as drug discovery, computational biology, or materials characterization
  • Experience leading cross-functional project teams and mentoring junior scientists
  • Familiarity with New York-area regulatory environments including FDA submissions and GxP compliance

Principal Scientist Jobs in New York: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a principal scientist in New York?

A doctoral degree in a relevant scientific discipline is the standard foundation, followed by several years of postdoctoral or industry research experience. New York does not require a state-issued license for most principal scientist roles, but candidates in clinical or environmental fields may need registration with the New York State Department of Health or the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Building a publication record or patent portfolio and progressing through senior scientist roles at New York research institutions or industry employers is the most common path.

Which companies hire principal scientists in New York?

Employers hiring principal scientists in New York right now include Amazon, Capital One, and The Estée Lauder Companies, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. New York's concentration of global pharmaceutical headquarters, IBM Research facilities, and leading academic medical centers means openings appear consistently across a wide range of scientific disciplines.

Which New York cities have the most principal scientist jobs?

The cities with the most principal scientist openings in New York are New York, Melville, and Niskayuna. New York City dominates due to its density of pharmaceutical, biotech, and financial-sector R&D operations, while Long Island's Biopharma Corridor anchors strong demand in drug discovery and materials science, and the Albany region draws openings tied to semiconductor and advanced manufacturing research.

Are there remote principal scientist jobs in New York?

Yes, but they're less common, since principal scientist work frequently involves laboratory equipment, proprietary instrumentation, and on-site collaboration. About 33% of principal scientist openings tied to New York are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, and those tend to concentrate in computational biology, bioinformatics, and data-heavy research areas where hands-on lab access is not required.

How can I get hired as a principal scientist in New York with little or no experience?

The most realistic entry path is a postdoctoral fellowship at a New York research institution such as Memorial Sloan Kettering, Rockefeller University, or a SUNY campus, which directly feeds into industry scientist pipelines. From there, lateral moves from associate scientist or research scientist roles at Long Island or New York City biotech firms are the standard bridge. A strong publication record or demonstrated lab expertise in a high-demand area like computational biology or drug formulation gives candidates a clear edge over applicants with generalist backgrounds.

Where can I find and apply to principal scientist jobs in New York?

You can find and apply to principal scientist jobs in New York on Migrate Mate, which lists current New York openings updated regularly. Search the listings for roles that match your specialty and experience level, then apply directly to the ones that fit.

See All 26 Principal Scientist Jobs in New York

Find roles in New York that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

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