Principal Scientist Jobs in Washington

Principal Scientist jobs in Washington concentrate heavily in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and advanced computing, making the state one of the most active markets in the country for senior research talent. Seattle and its surrounding Eastside corridor anchor most of the hiring, followed by the Tri-Cities area where federal energy research drives demand. Companies like Amazon, Microsoft, and Bristol Myers Squibb have deep roots in Washington and represent some of the most consistent principal scientist employers in the state. The most sought-after specializations include computational biology, machine learning research, and materials science. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.

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Overview

Open roles38
Top employerAmazon
Top citySeattle, WA
Cities hiring5
Work type50% On-site
Top industryRetail

Showing 5 of 38+ 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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Bristol Myers Squibb
Principal Scientist, Engineered Cell Therapy Discovery
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Bristol Myers Squibb
Added 4d ago
Principal Scientist, Engineered Cell Therapy Discovery
Bristol Myers Squibb
Seattle, Washington
Account Management
Business Development
Sales
$152k - $185k/yr
Hybrid
Master's degree
10,000+

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Amazon Web Services
Principal Applied Scientist- Agentic RL , Kiro
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Amazon Web Services
Added 4d ago
Principal Applied Scientist- Agentic RL , Kiro
Amazon Web Services
Seattle, Washington
Engineering (Non-Software)
Mechanical Engineering
Specialized Engineering
$219k - $296k/yr
Master's degree

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Amazon.com
Principal Data Scientist, AWS Analytics Engineering (AAE)
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Amazon.com
Added 1w ago
Principal Data Scientist, AWS Analytics Engineering (AAE)
Amazon.com
Seattle, Washington
Executive Leadership & C-Suite
Program Management
Project Management
$189k - $256k/yr
Doctoral degree in statistics
10,000+

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Microsoft
Principal Data Scientist - CoreAI
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Microsoft
Added 1w ago
Principal Data Scientist - CoreAI
Microsoft
Redmond, Washington
Engineering (Non-Software)
Software Engineering
Technical Program Management
$143k - $304k/yr
Doctoral degree in statistics
10,000+

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See All 38 Principal Scientist Jobs in Washington

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

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Principal Scientist Jobs by City in Washington

Where Washington roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Seattle
19 jobs
Redmond
8 jobs
Bellevue
6 jobs
Bothell
3 jobs
Everett
2 jobs

Principal Scientist Job Market in Washington

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

Who's Hiring

  • Amazon
    Amazon11
  • Microsoft
    Microsoft8
  • Immunome
    Immunome3
  • Bristol Myers Squibb
    Bristol Myers Squibb3
  • Expedia
    Expedia2

Top Industries Hiring

  • Retail
  • Technology & Software
  • Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals
  • E-Commerce & Online Marketplaces
  • Science & Research

What Washington Employers Look For

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

  • PhD in a relevant scientific discipline such as biology, chemistry, or computer science
  • Minimum seven years of post-doctoral or industry research experience in a related field
  • Demonstrated publication record or patent portfolio in the applicable scientific domain
  • Experience leading cross-functional research teams and mentoring junior scientists
  • Proficiency with advanced data analysis tools, statistical modeling, or laboratory platforms relevant to the specialty
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills for presenting findings to technical and non-technical stakeholders

Principal Scientist Jobs in Washington: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a principal scientist in Washington?

The path to a principal scientist role in Washington typically starts with a doctoral degree in a natural or computational science, followed by several years of postdoctoral or industry research. Washington does not require a state-issued scientific license for most principal scientist positions outside of clinical or regulated fields. Candidates who build a strong record of peer-reviewed publications, lead independent research projects, and gain experience at Washington's major biotech or tech employers move into principal scientist roles most directly.

Which companies hire principal scientists in Washington?

Employers hiring principal scientists in Washington right now include Amazon, Microsoft, and Immunome, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Washington's concentration of life sciences companies along the I-405 corridor and global technology headquarters in the greater Seattle area means demand for principal scientists is spread across both sectors.

Which Washington cities have the most principal scientist jobs?

The cities with the most principal scientist openings in Washington are Seattle, Redmond, and Bellevue. Seattle and the Eastside cities of Bellevue and Redmond dominate because of the dense cluster of technology and biotech employers headquartered there, while the Tri-Cities area supports principal scientist roles tied to Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and federal energy research.

Are there remote principal scientist jobs in Washington?

Yes, and more than many research roles, particularly for computational or data-focused principal scientists. About 50% of principal scientist openings tied to Washington are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, reflecting the state's strong tech-employer presence. The most remote-compatible work tends to be in bioinformatics, machine learning research, and scientific program management rather than wet-lab or hardware-dependent positions.

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

The most realistic entry path for candidates without principal scientist experience is securing a postdoctoral associate or research scientist role at a Washington institution, such as the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, University of Washington, or a Seattle-area biotech. From those positions, lateral moves into associate or staff scientist titles at companies like Seagen or Adaptive Biotechnologies provide the track toward principal level. Building a portfolio of published work and completing a doctoral degree in a directly relevant field gives candidates the clearest competitive edge in Washington's hiring market.

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

You can find and apply to principal scientist jobs in Washington on Migrate Mate, which lists current Washington openings. Search the available roles, find the ones that match your background and specialization, and apply directly to the employers posting them.

See All 38 Principal Scientist Jobs in Washington

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

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