Remote Principal Scientist Jobs
Remote Principal Scientist jobs are open across biotech, pharmaceuticals, data science, and clinical research at remote-first firms and distributed enterprise teams that have built fully asynchronous scientific workflows. Roles range from individual contributor research positions through staff and distinguished scientist levels requiring cross-functional leadership. Employers hiring remotely right now include Zillow, Stitch Fix, and G2. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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Showing 5 of 28+ Remote Principal Scientist jobs
FICO (NYSE: FICO) is a leading global analytics software company, helping businesses in 100+ countries make better decisions. Join our world-class team today and fulfill your career potential!
The Opportunity
As a Principal Applied AI Engineer on FICO’s Generative AI team, you will work at the frontier of language model applications, designing novel solutions that reach across the FICO platform, from fraud investigation and decision automation to process flow automation and optimization. You will be the architect of robust, scalable, and well-governed AI systems, ensuring they perform reliably at enterprise scale. Working alongside a dedicated team, you will apply your expertise in AI and machine learning to infuse the platform with next-generation capabilities and drive innovation that makes a meaningful, lasting impact.
What You’ll Contribute
- Design and implement cutting-edge LLM-powered solutions for decision automation, fraud investigation, and process automation within FICO’s platform.
- Develop sophisticated prompting strategies and Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) architectures tailored to high-stakes applications.
- Apply advanced fine-tuning, in-context learning techniques, and custom evaluation frameworks to optimize AI model performance.
- Build robust model evaluation and governance systems, ensuring compliance and reliability across applications.
- Design and execute comprehensive backtesting methodologies to validate model predictions and performance.
- Implement A/B testing frameworks to evaluate the impact of various AI interventions on system performance.
- Monitor model performance and detect drift to maintain high accuracy and relevance over time.
- Research and integrate the latest AI techniques to keep FICO’s platform at the forefront of innovation.
- Evaluate new models, architectures, and training approaches, experimenting with emerging technologies to enhance platform capabilities.
- Develop custom RAG implementations to enhance information retrieval within decision processes.
- Write production-quality code, implementing machine learning systems with attention to scalability, reliability, and security.
- Design scalable architectures that support FICO’s analytics and decisioning solutions.
- Implement advanced monitoring techniques and system reliability checks to maintain operational excellence.
What We’re Seeking
- Extensive industry experience in software, ML or data engineering, with a history of managing complex, large-scale projects and driving strategic technical decisions.
- In-depth knowledge and experience in fine-tuning, model adaptation, and customization.
- Solid foundation in machine learning evaluation and testing methodologies, including the development of custom evaluation frameworks.
- Extensive experience with Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) architectures and familiarity with vector databases
- Strong hands-on coding in Python, Go, Java, or similar languages.
- Experience with PyTorch, JAX or similar deep learning frameworks.
- Knowledge of backtesting methodologies to ensure reliability and robustness of model predictions.
- Experience with A/B testing frameworks.
- Expertise in model monitoring, drift detection, and governance to maintain compliance and operational integrity.
- Proven expertise in modern Large Language Models (LLMs) and their applications preferred.
- Strong skills in prompt engineering and chain-of-thought prompting techniques.
- Familiarity with compliance and regulatory technology, particularly in AI-driven decisioning environments.
- Strong software engineering fundamentals, with experience in writing production-quality code and designing scalable architectures.
- Proven ability to mentor teams and collaborate across departments to deliver high-impact solutions.
- Experience in fast-paced environments, with an ability to adapt and drive impact in high-growth, high-stakes settings.
- Publications, patents, or open-source contributions that showcase thought leadership and technical expertise in AI and machine learning.
- Bachelor's/Master's/PhD degree in computer science, or a related field with focus in Machine Learning.
Our Offer to You
- An inclusive culture strongly reflecting our core values: Act Like an Owner, Delight Our Customers and Earn the Respect of Others.
- The opportunity to make an impact and develop professionally by leveraging your unique strengths and participating in valuable learning experiences.
- Highly competitive compensation, benefits and rewards programs that encourage you to bring your best every day and be recognized for doing so.
- An engaging, people-first work environment offering work/life balance, employee resource groups, and social events to promote interaction and camaraderie.
- The targeted base pay range for this role is: $171,500 to $269,500 with this range reflecting differences in candidate knowledge, skills and experience.
#LI-RR1
#LI-remote
Why Make a Move to FICO?
At FICO, you can develop your career with a leading organization in one of the fastest-growing fields in technology today – Big Data analytics. You’ll play a part in our commitment to help businesses use data to improve every choice they make, using advances in artificial intelligence, machine learning, optimization, and much more.
FICO makes a real difference in the way businesses operate worldwide:
- Credit Scoring — FICO® Scores are used by 90 of the top 100 US lenders.
- Fraud Detection and Security — 4 billion payment cards globally are protected by FICO fraud systems.
- Lending — 3/4 of US mortgages are approved using the FICO Score.
Global trends toward digital transformation have created tremendous demand for FICO’s solutions, placing us among the world’s top 100 software companies by revenue. We help many of the world’s largest banks, insurers, retailers, telecommunications providers and other firms reach a new level of success. Our success is dependent on really talented people – just like you – who thrive on the collaboration and innovation that’s nurtured by a diverse and inclusive environment. We’ll provide the support you need, while ensuring you have the freedom to develop your skills and grow your career. Join FICO and help change the way business thinks!
Learn more about how you can fulfil your potential at www.fico.com/Careers
FICO promotes a culture of inclusion and seeks to attract a diverse set of candidates for each job opportunity. We are an equal employment opportunity employer and we’re proud to offer employment and advancement opportunities to all candidates without regard to race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, pregnancy, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status. Research has shown that women and candidates from underrepresented communities may not apply for an opportunity if they don’t meet all stated qualifications. While our qualifications are clearly related to role success, each candidate’s profile is unique and strengths in certain skill and/or experience areas can be equally effective. If you believe you have many, but not necessarily all, of the stated qualifications we encourage you to apply.
Information submitted with your application is subject to the FICO Privacy policy at https://www.fico.com/en/privacy-policy
FICO (NYSE: FICO) is a leading global analytics software company, helping businesses in 100+ countries make better decisions. Join our world-class team today and fulfill your career potential!
The Opportunity
As a Principal Applied AI Engineer on FICO’s Generative AI team, you will work at the frontier of language model applications, designing novel solutions that reach across the FICO platform, from fraud investigation and decision automation to process flow automation and optimization. You will be the architect of robust, scalable, and well-governed AI systems, ensuring they perform reliably at enterprise scale. Working alongside a dedicated team, you will apply your expertise in AI and machine learning to infuse the platform with next-generation capabilities and drive innovation that makes a meaningful, lasting impact.
What You’ll Contribute
- Design and implement cutting-edge LLM-powered solutions for decision automation, fraud investigation, and process automation within FICO’s platform.
- Develop sophisticated prompting strategies and Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) architectures tailored to high-stakes applications.
- Apply advanced fine-tuning, in-context learning techniques, and custom evaluation frameworks to optimize AI model performance.
- Build robust model evaluation and governance systems, ensuring compliance and reliability across applications.
- Design and execute comprehensive backtesting methodologies to validate model predictions and performance.
- Implement A/B testing frameworks to evaluate the impact of various AI interventions on system performance.
- Monitor model performance and detect drift to maintain high accuracy and relevance over time.
- Research and integrate the latest AI techniques to keep FICO’s platform at the forefront of innovation.
- Evaluate new models, architectures, and training approaches, experimenting with emerging technologies to enhance platform capabilities.
- Develop custom RAG implementations to enhance information retrieval within decision processes.
- Write production-quality code, implementing machine learning systems with attention to scalability, reliability, and security.
- Design scalable architectures that support FICO’s analytics and decisioning solutions.
- Implement advanced monitoring techniques and system reliability checks to maintain operational excellence.
What We’re Seeking
- Extensive industry experience in software, ML or data engineering, with a history of managing complex, large-scale projects and driving strategic technical decisions.
- In-depth knowledge and experience in fine-tuning, model adaptation, and customization.
- Solid foundation in machine learning evaluation and testing methodologies, including the development of custom evaluation frameworks.
- Extensive experience with Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) architectures and familiarity with vector databases
- Strong hands-on coding in Python, Go, Java, or similar languages.
- Experience with PyTorch, JAX or similar deep learning frameworks.
- Knowledge of backtesting methodologies to ensure reliability and robustness of model predictions.
- Experience with A/B testing frameworks.
- Expertise in model monitoring, drift detection, and governance to maintain compliance and operational integrity.
- Proven expertise in modern Large Language Models (LLMs) and their applications preferred.
- Strong skills in prompt engineering and chain-of-thought prompting techniques.
- Familiarity with compliance and regulatory technology, particularly in AI-driven decisioning environments.
- Strong software engineering fundamentals, with experience in writing production-quality code and designing scalable architectures.
- Proven ability to mentor teams and collaborate across departments to deliver high-impact solutions.
- Experience in fast-paced environments, with an ability to adapt and drive impact in high-growth, high-stakes settings.
- Publications, patents, or open-source contributions that showcase thought leadership and technical expertise in AI and machine learning.
- Bachelor's/Master's/PhD degree in computer science, or a related field with focus in Machine Learning.
Our Offer to You
- An inclusive culture strongly reflecting our core values: Act Like an Owner, Delight Our Customers and Earn the Respect of Others.
- The opportunity to make an impact and develop professionally by leveraging your unique strengths and participating in valuable learning experiences.
- Highly competitive compensation, benefits and rewards programs that encourage you to bring your best every day and be recognized for doing so.
- An engaging, people-first work environment offering work/life balance, employee resource groups, and social events to promote interaction and camaraderie.
- The targeted base pay range for this role is: $171,500 to $269,500 with this range reflecting differences in candidate knowledge, skills and experience.
#LI-RR1
#LI-remote
Why Make a Move to FICO?
At FICO, you can develop your career with a leading organization in one of the fastest-growing fields in technology today – Big Data analytics. You’ll play a part in our commitment to help businesses use data to improve every choice they make, using advances in artificial intelligence, machine learning, optimization, and much more.
FICO makes a real difference in the way businesses operate worldwide:
- Credit Scoring — FICO® Scores are used by 90 of the top 100 US lenders.
- Fraud Detection and Security — 4 billion payment cards globally are protected by FICO fraud systems.
- Lending — 3/4 of US mortgages are approved using the FICO Score.
Global trends toward digital transformation have created tremendous demand for FICO’s solutions, placing us among the world’s top 100 software companies by revenue. We help many of the world’s largest banks, insurers, retailers, telecommunications providers and other firms reach a new level of success. Our success is dependent on really talented people – just like you – who thrive on the collaboration and innovation that’s nurtured by a diverse and inclusive environment. We’ll provide the support you need, while ensuring you have the freedom to develop your skills and grow your career. Join FICO and help change the way business thinks!
Learn more about how you can fulfil your potential at www.fico.com/Careers
FICO promotes a culture of inclusion and seeks to attract a diverse set of candidates for each job opportunity. We are an equal employment opportunity employer and we’re proud to offer employment and advancement opportunities to all candidates without regard to race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, pregnancy, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status. Research has shown that women and candidates from underrepresented communities may not apply for an opportunity if they don’t meet all stated qualifications. While our qualifications are clearly related to role success, each candidate’s profile is unique and strengths in certain skill and/or experience areas can be equally effective. If you believe you have many, but not necessarily all, of the stated qualifications we encourage you to apply.
Information submitted with your application is subject to the FICO Privacy policy at https://www.fico.com/en/privacy-policy
See All 28 Remote Principal Scientist Jobs
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Find JobsRemote Principal Scientist Job Market
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Retail
- Media & Entertainment
- Technology & Software
- Banking & Financial Services
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in remote principal scientist jobs.
- PhD in a relevant scientific discipline such as biology, chemistry, biochemistry, or a related field
- Eight or more years of hands-on research experience in industry or government settings
- Demonstrated record of first- or senior-author peer-reviewed publications and patent contributions
- Proficiency with domain-specific tools such as molecular modeling software, analytical instrumentation, or statistical programming languages
- Experience leading cross-functional project teams and mentoring junior scientists or postdoctoral researchers
- Familiarity with regulatory submission processes such as IND, NDA, or equivalent documentation standards
Tips for Your Remote Principal Scientist Job Search
Apply early to remote roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists remote principal scientist openings from across the U.S. in one place, so you can find roles that match your domain and apply directly. Remote positions at well-known firms fill fast, so apply as soon as a role appears rather than waiting.
Document your async scientific communication style
Remote employers screen specifically for written communication. Update your materials to show examples of scientific memos, cross-functional research updates, or async decision documents you've authored, because these signal you can lead science without in-person context.
Highlight end-to-end program ownership
Remote principal scientist roles require you to move a research program forward independently. Describe specific programs you owned from hypothesis through data readout or publication, naming the decisions you made without escalating, to show you can operate without daily oversight.
Signal fluency with distributed research tools
List the collaboration and lab informatics tools you use, such as Benchling, Confluence, Notion, or electronic lab notebooks, alongside standard scientific software. Remote hiring managers look for candidates already comfortable in the async stack their distributed team runs on.
Remote Principal Scientist Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a remote principal scientist job?
Remote principal scientist roles go to candidates who demonstrate independent scientific leadership without needing on-site oversight. Employers screen hard for written communication, because async updates and documentation replace hallway conversations. Strong candidates show a publication or patent record, experience driving a research program end-to-end, and fluency with collaborative tools like Notion, Confluence, or Benchling. Remote-first biotech and pharma companies are the most consistent hirers for fully distributed principal scientist positions.
Which companies hire remote principal scientists?
Employers currently hiring remote principal scientists include Zillow, Stitch Fix, and G2, per current remote listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Remote-first biotech firms, distributed pharma R&D teams, and tech companies with computational biology or data science functions are the most consistent sources of fully remote principal scientist openings.
Can you get a remote principal scientist job with no experience?
Yes, but remote entry paths at the principal scientist level are narrow, because remote employers expect you to drive research programs with minimal hand-holding from day one. Early-career candidates who land remote roles typically come from strong PhD or postdoctoral work, have first-author publications, or have led a discrete project they can describe in detail. Smaller remote-first startups and contract research roles are the most realistic entry points when direct industry experience is limited.
Do you need a degree for remote principal scientist jobs?
Usually, yes. The principal scientist title almost universally requires at minimum a master's degree, and the large majority of postings expect a PhD in a relevant scientific discipline. Remote employers weigh published research output, demonstrated program ownership, and domain depth alongside formal credentials. Candidates without advanced degrees who have built equivalent expertise through industry R&D roles can still compete, but a graduate degree remains the standard expectation.
Which industries hire the most remote principal scientists?
Remote principal scientist roles concentrate in Retail, Media & Entertainment, and Technology & Software, based on current remote listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. These sectors have adopted distributed research models because computational work, regulatory writing, and data-heavy scientific programs can run effectively across time zones without a shared lab bench.
See All 28 Remote Principal Scientist Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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