R&D Scientist Jobs
R&D Scientist jobs are open from entry-level to principal across pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, materials science, and consumer goods, with common specializations in formulation, analytical chemistry, and process development. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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Showing 5 of 140+ R&D Scientist 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.
See All 140+ R&D Scientist Jobs
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Find R&D Scientist JobsR&D Scientist Job Market
Who's Hiring
- Kraft Heinz14
- Thermo Fisher Scientific6
- The Clorox Company5
- Merck4
- AbbVie4
Top Industries Hiring
- Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals
- Medical Devices
- Chemicals & Materials
- Science & Research
- Consulting & Professional Services
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in R&D scientist jobs.
- Master's or PhD in chemistry, biology, biochemistry, materials science, or a closely related field
- Hands-on experience with analytical instrumentation such as HPLC, GC-MS, or spectroscopy
- Proficiency in statistical analysis tools and design of experiments methodology
- Demonstrated ability to write and execute laboratory protocols and study reports
- Experience maintaining compliance with GLP, GMP, or ISO quality standards
- Familiarity with electronic lab notebooks and laboratory information management systems
Tips for Your R&D Scientist Job Search
Tailor your resume to each pipeline stage
R&D roles split between early discovery and late-stage development, and hiring teams read for the right fit. Call out explicitly whether your work was exploratory research, scale-up, or tech transfer so reviewers don't have to guess your placement.
List instruments and software by exact name
Hiring managers scan for specific tools: HPLC, LC-MS, Design of Experiments software, or ELN platforms. Spell them out in your resume skills section rather than grouping them under a vague heading like analytical instrumentation.
Highlight publications, patents, and filings
Peer-reviewed publications and patent filings carry real weight in R&D hiring. Include titles, your authorship position, and the journal or patent number so a recruiter can verify them quickly without asking for a separate portfolio document.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists r&d scientist openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Prepare a whiteboard experiment walkthrough
Many R&D panels ask you to design an experiment live. Practice walking through hypothesis formation, controls, failure modes, and data interpretation out loud so your reasoning is clear under pressure, not just your final answer.
Negotiate your starting title carefully
Moving from Research Scientist I to Scientist II is easier than negotiating a band jump after you're hired. If your experience exceeds the posted level, say so explicitly in your cover note and ask the hiring manager to review the level before an offer is extended.
R&D Scientist Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most r&d scientists?
Kraft Heinz, Thermo Fisher Scientific, and The Clorox Company are hiring the most r&d scientists right now, with openings concentrated in Illinois, California, and New Jersey, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Activity shifts with product pipeline cycles, so check back regularly for new postings.
How many r&d scientist jobs are remote?
About 39% of r&d scientist openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, though the share varies significantly by function. Computational roles, data analysis positions, and regulatory writing functions are the most likely to be fully remote, while bench-based formulation and synthesis roles almost always require on-site work.
How do you become a r&d scientist?
Most r&d scientist roles require at minimum a master's degree in a relevant natural science or engineering discipline, with a PhD strongly preferred for independent research positions. Building a foundation means completing graduate coursework, gaining hands-on lab experience through thesis or dissertation work, publishing or co-authoring research, and developing familiarity with regulated lab environments such as GLP or GMP settings through internships or postdoctoral work.
How do you get hired as a r&d scientist with little experience?
Entry points typically include industry internships during graduate school, postdoctoral fellowships at corporate research centers, and contract research roles that build regulated-industry exposure. Emphasize any work done outside purely academic settings, such as industry-sponsored projects, tech transfer contributions, or collaborative research with a company partner, since those signal you can operate in a production-focused environment.
What does the r&d scientist interview process look like?
The process usually begins with a recruiter screen, followed by a technical phone or video interview with the hiring scientist or team lead. Candidates then present a research seminar or case study to the broader group, often followed by a panel interview covering experimental design, data interpretation, and cross-functional collaboration. A final round with leadership focuses on fit, career goals, and project alignment.
Where can I find and apply to r&d scientist jobs?
You can find and apply to r&d scientist jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from companies across the United States. Search for roles that match your discipline, experience level, and preferred location, then apply directly to each listing that fits your background.
See All 140+ R&D Scientist Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find R&D Scientist Jobs