Senior Level Principal Scientist Jobs

Senior level principal scientist jobs place scientists at the helm of research programs, where they own experimental direction, drive cross-functional decisions, and guide the teams executing complex scientific work. Openings concentrate in Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals, Technology & Software, and Consulting & Professional Services, with a mix of on-site, remote, and hybrid settings, and employers like AbbVie, Amazon, and Exponent hiring at this level now.

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Overview

Open roles106+
Top stateCalifornia
Top employerAbbVie
Top citySan Francisco, CA
Work type87% On-site
Top industryBiotechnology

Showing 5 of 106+ Senior Level Principal Scientist jobs

Immunome, Inc.
Principal Scientist, Chemical Development
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Immunome, Inc.
Added 2d ago
Principal Scientist, Chemical Development
Immunome, Inc.
Bothell, Washington
Laboratory Research
Biotech & Life Sciences
Specialized Engineering
Chemical Engineering
$206k/yr
On-Site
Doctorate

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The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC)
Principal Data Scientist
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The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC)
Added 3d ago
Principal Data Scientist
The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC)
Jersey City, New Jersey
Data Science & Analytics
Data Engineering
Technical Product & Program Management
Data Science
Hybrid
Bachelor's

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Lila Sciences
Principal / Senior Principal Scientist
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Lila Sciences
Added 1w ago
Principal / Senior Principal Scientist
Lila Sciences
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Laboratory Research
Biotech & Life Sciences
Clinical Trials & Medical Research
Environmental & Physical Sciences
Clinical Trials
Environmental Science
Chemistry & Materials Science
$156k - $246k/yr
On-Site
Doctorate

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Flagship Pioneering, Inc.
Principal Scientist, Pooled Functional Screening
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Flagship Pioneering, Inc.
Added 1w ago
Principal Scientist, Pooled Functional Screening
Flagship Pioneering, Inc.
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Biotech & Life Sciences
Clinical Trials
Laboratory Research
Research & Academia
$163k - $215k/yr

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Genentech
Principal Statistical Methodology Data Scientist
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Genentech
Added 2w ago
Principal Statistical Methodology Data Scientist
Genentech
San Francisco, California
Data Science & Analytics
Healthcare Administration
Data Science
$185k - $344k/yr
On-Site
Doctorate
10,000+

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Senior Level Principal Scientist Job Market

Who's Hiring

AbbVie
AbbVie8 open roles
Amazon
Amazon8 open roles
Exponent
Exponent4 open roles

Top Industries Hiring

  • Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals29
  • Technology & Software26
  • Consulting & Professional Services12
  • Retail10
  • Science & Research9

Senior Level Principal Scientist Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get a senior level principal scientist job?

Employers at this level look for scientists who have led multi-year research programs from hypothesis to publication or product, not just contributed to them. A strong candidate brings a record of independent scientific judgment, demonstrated mentorship of junior researchers, and cross-functional credibility with engineering, regulatory, or commercial teams. Framing your experience around outcomes you owned, not tasks you supported, is what separates competitive applicants at this stage.

Which companies hire senior level principal scientists?

Companies hiring senior level principal scientists right now include AbbVie, Amazon, and Exponent, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Hiring at this level tends to come from large R&D-intensive organizations, biotech and pharmaceutical companies, advanced technology firms, and government contractors with active research pipelines.

Are there remote senior level principal scientist jobs?

Yes, though availability varies by discipline and employer. About 13% of senior level principal scientist openings are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, with lab-based and instrumentation-heavy roles more likely to require on-site presence while computational, data science, and research strategy roles tend to offer greater location flexibility.

What makes a principal scientist role senior level?

A senior level principal scientist role is defined by autonomous ownership of a research domain rather than execution within someone else's program. Expectations include setting the scientific agenda, making binding technical decisions, publishing or presenting as a primary author or named lead, and actively developing the skills of scientists earlier in their careers. The role carries accountability for program outcomes, not just individual contributions.

Which industries hire the most senior level principal scientists?

Senior Level principal scientist roles concentrate in Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals, Technology & Software, and Consulting & Professional Services, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. These sectors drive hiring at this level because they sustain large-scale, long-horizon research programs that require experienced scientists capable of leading complex studies and translating findings into commercial or regulatory impact.