Senior Level R&D Director Jobs
Senior level r&d director jobs put experienced researchers and innovators in charge of portfolio strategy, lab or program direction, and the cross-functional teams that bring discoveries to market. Roles range from fully on-site to hybrid and remote across Technology & Software, Electronics & Hardware, and Manufacturing, with employers like Riot Games, ABB, and Keysight Technologies hiring at this level now.
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Showing 5 of 70+ Senior Level R&D Director jobs
Job Title: Principal R&D Scientist
Reports to: Chief Technology officer
FLSA Status: Full time, Regular, Salary, Exempt
About us
At Dimer Instruments we’re creating the next generation of laboratory analytical instruments for the pharmaceutical market. Our products use multiple light-based spectroscopic methods to interrogate solutions containing molecules and particles, providing researchers not just with data but with organized information allowing them to make informed decisions. At Dimer you’ll be working with a high-quality, high-performing, highly collaborative, and enjoyable team of Engineers and Scientists to create products that make a difference in the world. We have fun while we’re creating great products.
Summary
The Principal Research and Development Scientist will be a critical member of the team designing and developing Analytical instruments. They will be expert in the use of optics, optical breadboarding, and optical systems, and in addition to optics they will use a combination of science, math, analysis, scripting/programming, mechanics, data acquisition, and electronics to contribute hands-on through all phases of research and development, including 1) initial math, analysis, simulation, 2) measurement system design, 3) building real-world prototypes that demonstrate proof of concept for individual measurement modalities and functionality, 4) building system prototypes, 5) bringing products from R&D into Manufacturing, 6) demonstrating product performance at every stage in the product lifecycle, and 7) supporting product release and early rapid product improvement. The Principal R&D Scientist will collaborate closely with Mechanical, Electrical, and Software Engineers, and with in-house Application Scientists. The successful Principal R&D Scientist will be able to be scientifically careful and rigorous, able to theoretically understand and experimentally tease apart subtle contributors to data and signals, and also be action-oriented and able to come to quick, practical, and manufacturable solutions. They will be designing and creating scientific instruments that provide cutting edge data and yet are robust in the real world, able to ship to Japan or Europe without optics mis-aligning, and able to reliably operate in sometimes non-ideal laboratory conditions. The successful Principal R&D Scientist will not shy away from tackling the sometimes less glamorous work of contributing to work instructions and assembly instructions (e.g. for an optical alignment or calibration method to be used in manufacturing), generating and documenting manufacturing tools (which can sometimes be complicated analytical instruments in their own right), contributing to user documentation, and running and analyzing user samples. The successful R&D Principal scientist will be highly collaborative, both with Dimer staff across the organization and with external researchers. The Principal R&D Scientist will also be willing and able to educate customers, internal Dimer staff, and other stakeholders regarding the science behind the Dimer products, generating presentations and demonstrations and presenting at conferences, trade shows, customer sites, and for internal training as needed. Dimer Instruments products are scientific instruments and analytical tools used by scientists. The Principal R&D Scientist will be a key member of a collaborative team inventing, designing, developing, and launching products that solve real world challenges and improve the pace of science and pharmaceutical development.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
- Design, build, and demonstrate performance of optical measurement systems, including imaging and non-imaging systems from UV into the NIR
- Use standard optical and measurement tools to assess performance of optical components including single mode and multi-mode optical fibers, lens, filters, mirrors, optomechanical and assemblies
- Math, simulation, and analysis to predict real world performance of physical systems, e.g. noise floor for a particular optical measurement, cooling rate of a thermoelectric module assembly, signal strength from molecules in solution being probed by various modalities, etc., etc.
- Electronics troubleshooting, including op-amp circuits associated with laser drive, photocurrent measurement, and similar, and digital circuits associated with GPIO, system control, and similar
- Contribute to system level architecture and design of laboratory analytical instrument products
- Demonstrate proof of concept performance of physical systems by designing, building, and demonstrating using prototype systems
- Contribute to DFMEA and generate mitigations for the higher impact failures identified
- Programming and scripting to automate measurements or manufacturing steps, e.g. calibration of a component as a function of temperature
- Perform research and analysis demonstrating the scientific added value of Dimer products by collaborating with industry pharmaceutical researchers, and/or conceiving of novel demonstration measurements
- Contribute to project and product planning, including schedule and budgets, and contribute to project and product reports and updates
- Generate Manufacturing procedures and documentation as needed
- Generate User facing procedures and documentation as needed
- Create and present internally and externally intro level explanations of the science and technology that power Dimer Instruments products
- Scientific publications and presentations
- Contribute to patent applications
- Other tasks as assigned by your supervisor
Qualifications
- Ph.D. in Physics, EE, MechE, ChemE, or equivalent training, work experience, and skills
- Expert in the design and use of optical systems. Strong knowledge of high level math, programming/scripting, data acquisition, electronics, general science
- Demonstrated ability to create and work with real world measurement systems.
Additional Skills
Must have the social “soft skills” required to be collaborative across the organization. Socially adept, able to navigate different groups and functions with competing needs, and able to work with stakeholders to create solutions requiring compromise. Must be able to understand and communicate well in English, both spoken and written, and be able to write reports, work instructions, business correspondence, procedures, and manuals. Must be able to present work in an organized way both for project/progress reviews and design reviews.
Physical Requirements
When working in machine shop, chemistry, or optics lab, appropriate protective gear must be worn including eyewear, eye protection from laser or UV light, lab coats, and closed toed shoes.
Work Environment
Office space, optics lab, chemistry lab, warehouse, and electronics and optical manufacturing space. The employee may occasionally be exposed to moderate noise levels, e.g. from loud fans in electronics equipment. Travel may occasionally be required, e.g. to test labs, customer sites, for conferences and trade shows, or for training.
Job Title: Principal R&D Scientist
Reports to: Chief Technology officer
FLSA Status: Full time, Regular, Salary, Exempt
About us
At Dimer Instruments we’re creating the next generation of laboratory analytical instruments for the pharmaceutical market. Our products use multiple light-based spectroscopic methods to interrogate solutions containing molecules and particles, providing researchers not just with data but with organized information allowing them to make informed decisions. At Dimer you’ll be working with a high-quality, high-performing, highly collaborative, and enjoyable team of Engineers and Scientists to create products that make a difference in the world. We have fun while we’re creating great products.
Summary
The Principal Research and Development Scientist will be a critical member of the team designing and developing Analytical instruments. They will be expert in the use of optics, optical breadboarding, and optical systems, and in addition to optics they will use a combination of science, math, analysis, scripting/programming, mechanics, data acquisition, and electronics to contribute hands-on through all phases of research and development, including 1) initial math, analysis, simulation, 2) measurement system design, 3) building real-world prototypes that demonstrate proof of concept for individual measurement modalities and functionality, 4) building system prototypes, 5) bringing products from R&D into Manufacturing, 6) demonstrating product performance at every stage in the product lifecycle, and 7) supporting product release and early rapid product improvement. The Principal R&D Scientist will collaborate closely with Mechanical, Electrical, and Software Engineers, and with in-house Application Scientists. The successful Principal R&D Scientist will be able to be scientifically careful and rigorous, able to theoretically understand and experimentally tease apart subtle contributors to data and signals, and also be action-oriented and able to come to quick, practical, and manufacturable solutions. They will be designing and creating scientific instruments that provide cutting edge data and yet are robust in the real world, able to ship to Japan or Europe without optics mis-aligning, and able to reliably operate in sometimes non-ideal laboratory conditions. The successful Principal R&D Scientist will not shy away from tackling the sometimes less glamorous work of contributing to work instructions and assembly instructions (e.g. for an optical alignment or calibration method to be used in manufacturing), generating and documenting manufacturing tools (which can sometimes be complicated analytical instruments in their own right), contributing to user documentation, and running and analyzing user samples. The successful R&D Principal scientist will be highly collaborative, both with Dimer staff across the organization and with external researchers. The Principal R&D Scientist will also be willing and able to educate customers, internal Dimer staff, and other stakeholders regarding the science behind the Dimer products, generating presentations and demonstrations and presenting at conferences, trade shows, customer sites, and for internal training as needed. Dimer Instruments products are scientific instruments and analytical tools used by scientists. The Principal R&D Scientist will be a key member of a collaborative team inventing, designing, developing, and launching products that solve real world challenges and improve the pace of science and pharmaceutical development.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
- Design, build, and demonstrate performance of optical measurement systems, including imaging and non-imaging systems from UV into the NIR
- Use standard optical and measurement tools to assess performance of optical components including single mode and multi-mode optical fibers, lens, filters, mirrors, optomechanical and assemblies
- Math, simulation, and analysis to predict real world performance of physical systems, e.g. noise floor for a particular optical measurement, cooling rate of a thermoelectric module assembly, signal strength from molecules in solution being probed by various modalities, etc., etc.
- Electronics troubleshooting, including op-amp circuits associated with laser drive, photocurrent measurement, and similar, and digital circuits associated with GPIO, system control, and similar
- Contribute to system level architecture and design of laboratory analytical instrument products
- Demonstrate proof of concept performance of physical systems by designing, building, and demonstrating using prototype systems
- Contribute to DFMEA and generate mitigations for the higher impact failures identified
- Programming and scripting to automate measurements or manufacturing steps, e.g. calibration of a component as a function of temperature
- Perform research and analysis demonstrating the scientific added value of Dimer products by collaborating with industry pharmaceutical researchers, and/or conceiving of novel demonstration measurements
- Contribute to project and product planning, including schedule and budgets, and contribute to project and product reports and updates
- Generate Manufacturing procedures and documentation as needed
- Generate User facing procedures and documentation as needed
- Create and present internally and externally intro level explanations of the science and technology that power Dimer Instruments products
- Scientific publications and presentations
- Contribute to patent applications
- Other tasks as assigned by your supervisor
Qualifications
- Ph.D. in Physics, EE, MechE, ChemE, or equivalent training, work experience, and skills
- Expert in the design and use of optical systems. Strong knowledge of high level math, programming/scripting, data acquisition, electronics, general science
- Demonstrated ability to create and work with real world measurement systems.
Additional Skills
Must have the social “soft skills” required to be collaborative across the organization. Socially adept, able to navigate different groups and functions with competing needs, and able to work with stakeholders to create solutions requiring compromise. Must be able to understand and communicate well in English, both spoken and written, and be able to write reports, work instructions, business correspondence, procedures, and manuals. Must be able to present work in an organized way both for project/progress reviews and design reviews.
Physical Requirements
When working in machine shop, chemistry, or optics lab, appropriate protective gear must be worn including eyewear, eye protection from laser or UV light, lab coats, and closed toed shoes.
Work Environment
Office space, optics lab, chemistry lab, warehouse, and electronics and optical manufacturing space. The employee may occasionally be exposed to moderate noise levels, e.g. from loud fans in electronics equipment. Travel may occasionally be required, e.g. to test labs, customer sites, for conferences and trade shows, or for training.
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Find JobsSenior Level R&D Director Job Market
Who's Hiring
- Riot Games11
- ABB3
- Keysight Technologies3
- Nokia2
- AbbVie2
Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software26
- Electronics & Hardware9
- Manufacturing5
- Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals5
- Retail4
Senior Level R&D Director Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a senior level r&d director job?
Employers at this level expect candidates who have led multi-stage research programs, managed significant budgets, and translated scientific or technical findings into commercial outcomes. A demonstrated history of building and mentoring high-performing teams, publishing or patenting in your domain, and influencing organizational strategy gives candidates the strongest edge. Tailoring your application to show ownership of outcomes, not just participation, is what separates finalists from the rest.
Which companies hire senior level r&d directors?
Companies hiring senior level r&d directors right now include Riot Games, ABB, and Keysight Technologies, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Hiring at this level tends to concentrate among large enterprises and well-funded growth-stage companies that run dedicated research functions and need experienced leaders to set technical direction.
Are there remote senior level r&d director jobs?
Yes, though availability varies by industry and research type. About 21% of senior level r&d director openings are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting employer flexibility in roles where strategic oversight and collaboration can happen across distributed teams. Lab-dependent or hardware-focused positions are more likely to require on-site presence, while software, data, and strategy-heavy roles offer more flexibility.
What makes a r&d director role senior level?
Senior level r&d director roles are defined by scope and accountability rather than task execution. At this stage, the expectation is setting the research agenda, owning program outcomes end to end, and driving alignment between technical teams and business leadership. Senior roles also carry meaningful people leadership responsibility, including mentoring directors or principals and shaping the culture and capability of the broader r&d organization.
Which industries hire the most senior level r&d directors?
Senior level r&d director roles concentrate in Technology & Software, Electronics & Hardware, and Manufacturing, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. These sectors invest heavily in sustained innovation and require experienced leaders who can manage complex research pipelines, navigate regulatory environments, and connect technical output to long-term competitive strategy.