Senior Level R&D Team Lead Jobs
Senior level r&d team lead jobs put experienced researchers in charge of project direction, technical strategy, and the cross-functional teams that deliver results. Openings concentrate in Technology & Software, Electronics & Hardware, and Manufacturing, with a mix of on-site, remote, and hybrid settings, and employers like Riot Games, ABB, and Keysight Technologies hiring at this level now.
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Ready to be a Titan?
ServiceTitan is the leading software platform for the trades, powering the businesses that keep the world running. Our technology is our product, and the leaders who build it shape everything we ship. As the Lead Executive Recruiter, you will own the end-to-end search for ServiceTitan's most consequential technical leadership hires: Senior Director, VP, SVP, and confidential roles across Engineering, Product Management, and Design. You will serve as a trusted advisor to our most senior technology and product leaders, delivering not just candidates but market intelligence, competitive insight, and a point of view on a talent market where the best leaders are rarely looking. At ServiceTitan, Executive Recruiting is not a support function. It is a strategic driver of growth, and this role sits at the center of that.
You will report directly to the Global Head of Talent Acquisition and partner closely with our CTPO and R&D leadership to drive executive hiring. You'll join a 25+ person global TA team and serve as the point of excellence for executive search across Engineering, Product Management, and Design.
What You'll Do:
Own the R&D Executive Search Function
- Lead full-cycle executive searches for Senior Director, VP, SVP, and proactive roles across Engineering, Product Management, and Design globally, from intake through offer close and onboarding handoff
- Serve as the primary point of contact and strategic advisor to R&D hiring managers throughout each search
- Design and execute bespoke search strategies for each role, including market mapping, target company lists, outreach sequencing, and candidate positioning
- Manage a small portfolio of concurrent confidential searches with rigorous discretion and timeline discipline
Deliver Strategic Partnership to R&D Leaders
- Build trusted relationships with the CTPO and the heads of Engineering, Product Management, and Design to deeply understand their organizational needs and long-term talent vision
- Present candidate slates, market benchmarks, and competitive intelligence in polished, executive-ready formats
- Advise stakeholders on organizational design, leveling, and talent availability when R&D headcount plans are being built, not just filled
- Influence offer strategy, compensation structure, and negotiation posture for critical R&D executive hires
Build the Pipeline Before You Need It
- Maintain a living talent map of executive-level engineering, product, and design talent across key geographies, including competitors, adjacent industries, and passive candidates in long-term relationships
- Partner with People team leadership on succession planning frameworks for VP+ roles and key R&D leadership positions globally
- Cultivate a proprietary network of technology and product executives who trust ServiceTitan as a destination employer, even before a role is open
Operate with Data and Market Intelligence
- Develop and deliver regular R&D executive talent market reports covering compensation trends, supply/demand dynamics, and competitor moves
- Track and report executive search metrics, including time-to-fill, offer acceptance rate, diversity of slate, and source of hire, to the Head of TA and People leadership
- Partner with Total Rewards and Finance on exec-level compensation benchmarking and equity modeling for offer scenarios
Elevate ServiceTitan's Executive Brand
- Serve as a brand ambassador to high-caliber R&D executive talent, delivering a world-class candidate experience that reflects ServiceTitan's culture and ambition
- Partner with Communications and Marketing on executive employer branding narratives for engineering, product, and design audiences
- Represent ServiceTitan at executive-level technology and product industry events, forums, and networks to build brand credibility with senior leaders
What You'll Bring
- 10+ years of experience, with 5+ years placing successful VP+ level engineering, product, or design leaders at high-growth technology companies, in-house, retained search firm, or both
- Demonstrated ability to run confidential, complex searches with senior-level discretion and stakeholder management acuity
- Expert-level command of executive sourcing strategies, including direct outreach, network mapping, research methodologies, and tools such as Ashby, LinkedIn Recruiter, Gem, or similar
- Experience advising senior technology and product stakeholders as a trusted thought partner, not just a transactional recruiter
- Deep fluency in executive compensation structures, including equity programs and long-term incentive design at growth-stage and pre/post-IPO companies
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills: you write compelling outreach, give tight executive presentations, and know when to speak and when to listen
- Strong command of executive search metrics and the ability to use data to drive decisions and report to leadership
Bonus if you have:
- Experience recruiting across global markets with cultural fluency for cross-border candidate dynamics
- Background in or deep familiarity with enterprise B2B SaaS, vertical SaaS, or field service software markets
- Prior retained search firm experience (Korn Ferry, Spencer Stuart, Heidrick & Struggles, or boutique equivalent) alongside corporate TA experience
- Experience partnering on C-1 succession planning processes
Be Human With Us:
Being human isn’t about checking every box on a list. It’s about the experiences we have, people we meet, and the perspectives we share. So, if you have the skills but are hesitant to apply because of your background, apply anyway. We need amazing people like you to help us challenge the conventional and think differently about the problems that we’re solving. We’re in this together. Come be human, with us.
Use of AI Technology:
We use technology, including automated and AI-assisted tools, to support certain aspects of our recruitment process. These tools are designed to improve efficiency and enhance the candidate experience. AI tools are not used to make hiring decisions; all hiring decisions are made by our hiring teams.
What We Offer:
When you join our team, you’re not just accepting a job. You’re making a career move. Here’s how we’ll support you in doing some of the most impactful work of your career:
- Flextime, recognition, and support for autonomous work: Flexible time off with ample learning and development opportunities to continue growing your career. We offer a comprehensive onboarding program, leadership training for Titans at all levels, and other programs and events. Great work is rewarded through Bonusly, peer-nominated awards, and more.
- Holistic health and wellness benefits: Company-paid medical, dental, and vision (with 100% employer paid options and 90% coverage for dependents), FSA and HSA, 401k match, and telehealth options including memberships to One Medical.
- Support for Titans at all stages of life: Parental leave and support, up to $20k in fertility services (i.e. IUI and IVF), surrogacy, and adoption reimbursement, on demand maternity support through Maven Maternity, free breast milk shipping through Maven Milk, pet insurance, legal advisory services, financial planning tools, and more.
At ServiceTitan, we celebrate individuality and uniqueness. We believe that the convergence of fresh perspectives and experiences from all walks of life is what makes our product and culture so great. We strongly encourage people from underrepresented groups to apply. We do not discriminate against employees based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, gender identity or expression, age, disability, pregnancy (including childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical condition), genetic information, protected military or veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws.
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Find JobsSenior Level R&D Team Lead Job Market
Who's Hiring
- Riot Games11

- ABB3

- Keysight Technologies3

- Hewlett Packard Enterprise | HPE3

- Nokia2

Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software30
- Electronics & Hardware9
- Manufacturing6
- Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals5
- Retail4
Senior Level R&D Team Lead Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a senior level r&d team lead job?
Employers at this level want candidates who have already led research initiatives end to end, not just contributed to them. Highlight your experience setting technical direction, managing or mentoring junior researchers, and translating ambiguous problems into funded, executed projects. A strong portfolio of shipped work, patents, publications, or measurable product impact will distinguish you from other applicants with similar titles.
Which companies hire senior level r&d team leads?
Companies hiring senior level r&d team leads right now include Riot Games, ABB, and Keysight Technologies, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. At this level, hiring tends to come from organizations with established R&D functions, including large technology firms, pharmaceutical and biotech companies, defense contractors, and industrial manufacturers investing in product innovation.
Are there remote senior level r&d team lead jobs?
Yes, though availability varies by industry and role type. About 22% of senior level r&d team lead openings are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, with hybrid arrangements being more common in sectors where lab access or hands-on prototyping is part of the work. Fully remote roles tend to cluster in software-driven or computational research functions.
What makes a r&d team lead role senior level?
Senior level r&d team lead roles carry ownership over research strategy, not just execution. Where a mid-level lead might manage a workstream within a defined project, a senior lead defines the roadmap, sets technical standards, and is accountable for outcomes across the full research cycle. These roles also involve active mentoring of junior staff and significant cross-functional collaboration with product, engineering, and business leadership.
Which industries hire the most senior level r&d team leads?
Senior level r&d team lead roles concentrate in Technology & Software, Electronics & Hardware, and Manufacturing, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. These sectors drive hiring at this level because they sustain long-horizon research programs, require deep technical specialization, and depend on experienced leaders who can align scientific work with commercial or operational goals.