Principal Scientist Jobs in North Carolina

Principal Scientist jobs in North Carolina are concentrated in the Research Triangle's life sciences and pharmaceutical corridor, with strong demand running from senior scientist through distinguished-level roles at major R&D centers. Raleigh-Durham, Cary, and Morrisville anchor most of the hiring, where employers like Biogen, Novo Nordisk, and GlaxoSmithKline have long-established operations. The most in-demand specializations are oncology drug development, genomics, and computational biology. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.

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Overview

Open roles5
Top employerRELX
Top cityRaleigh, NC
Cities hiring2
Work type50% Remote
Top industryMedical Devices

Showing 5 of 5+ Principal Scientist jobs

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina
Principal Data Scientist
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Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina
Added 2w ago
Principal Data Scientist
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina
North Carolina
Engineering (Non-Software)
Manufacturing Operations
Quality Assurance & Testing (QA Testing)
Quality Control
$144k - $230k/yr
Remote (US)
Bachelor's degree
5,001-10,000

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Geosyntec Consultants, Inc.
Senior or Principal Natural Resources Scientist
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Geosyntec Consultants, Inc.
Added 1mo ago
Senior or Principal Natural Resources Scientist
Geosyntec Consultants, Inc.
Raleigh, North Carolina
Biotech & Life Sciences
Environmental & Physical Sciences
Laboratory Research
Research & Academia
Hybrid
Bachelor's degree in biology
501-1,000

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Pace Analytical Services LLC
Principal Scientist- NMR Spectroscopy
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Pace Analytical Services LLC
Added 2mo ago
Principal Scientist- NMR Spectroscopy
Pace Analytical Services LLC
Morrisville, North Carolina
Healthcare Administration
Mental & Behavioral Health
Social Work & Counseling
$110k - $120k/yr
Doctoral degree in chemistry
1,001-5,000

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RELX Group
Principal Data Scientist I
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RELX Group
Added 2mo ago
Principal Data Scientist I
RELX Group
Raleigh, North Carolina
Data Analytics
Data Science
$118k - $220k/yr
1,001-5,000

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LexisNexis Legal & Professional
Principal Data Scientist I
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LexisNexis Legal & Professional
Added 3mo ago
Principal Data Scientist I
LexisNexis Legal & Professional
Raleigh, North Carolina
Data Analytics
Data Science
$118k - $220k/yr
10,000+

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Principal Scientist Jobs by City in North Carolina

Where North Carolina roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Raleigh
3 jobs
Morrisville
1 job

Principal Scientist Job Market in North Carolina

A snapshot from current North Carolina openings, updated as new roles post.

Who's Hiring

RELX
RELX1 open role
Geosyntec Consultants
Geosyntec Consultants1 open role
Pace Analytical Services
Pace Analytical Services1 open role

Top Industries Hiring

  • Medical Devices

What North Carolina Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in principal scientist jobs across North Carolina.

  • PhD in biology, chemistry, pharmacology, or a closely related scientific discipline
  • Minimum of eight years of experience in pharmaceutical or biotech R&D settings
  • Demonstrated ability to independently design and lead multi-year research programs
  • Experience with IND-enabling studies and regulatory submission packages
  • Proficiency in statistical analysis software such as SAS, R, or Python
  • Strong publication record or patent portfolio in a relevant therapeutic area

Principal Scientist Jobs in North Carolina: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a principal scientist in North Carolina?

Principal scientist roles in North Carolina do not require a state-issued license, but most employers in the Research Triangle expect a PhD in a life sciences or chemical discipline followed by several years of progressive industry experience. Candidates who complete postdoctoral work at North Carolina institutions such as Duke, UNC Chapel Hill, or NC State gain direct exposure to the regional employer network. Demonstrated independent research contributions, such as first-author publications or patent filings, are the most reliable path to a first principal scientist appointment.

Which companies hire principal scientists in North Carolina?

Employers hiring principal scientists in North Carolina right now include RELX, Geosyntec Consultants, and Pace Analytical Services, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. North Carolina's Research Triangle Park is one of the densest clusters of pharmaceutical and biotech R&D infrastructure in the country, which keeps hiring activity for senior scientists consistently high across the region.

Which North Carolina cities have the most principal scientist jobs?

Raleigh, North Carolina, and Morrisville account for the largest share of principal scientist openings in North Carolina. The Raleigh-Durham metro drives most of the volume because Research Triangle Park sits between the two cities and houses dozens of pharmaceutical, biotech, and contract research organizations, while smaller surrounding communities like Cary and Morrisville host satellite campuses and clinical operations for many of the same employers.

Are there remote principal scientist jobs in North Carolina?

Yes, but they're less common than in purely analytical fields because principal scientist work in North Carolina's pharma and biotech sector often involves laboratory oversight, cross-functional team leadership, and hands-on experimental design. About 100% of principal scientist openings tied to North Carolina are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, and those that are tend to cover computational roles, bioinformatics, or regulatory science functions that do not require daily bench access.

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

The most realistic entry path is completing a postdoctoral fellowship at a North Carolina research university or directly within an industry lab, then moving into a scientist or senior scientist role before advancing to principal level. Biogen and Novo Nordisk both run structured early-career and postdoctoral programs at their North Carolina sites. Candidates transitioning from adjacent roles such as research scientist, associate director of research, or clinical research scientist at contract research organizations in the Triangle can also move laterally into principal scientist tracks once they build therapeutic-area depth.

Where can I find and apply to principal scientist jobs in North Carolina?

You can find and apply to principal scientist jobs in North Carolina on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings across the state. Search the available roles, find the ones that fit your background and location, and apply directly.

See All 5 Principal Scientist Jobs in North Carolina

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