Research and Development Lead Jobs
Research and Development Lead jobs are open across pharmaceuticals, technology, consumer goods, and advanced manufacturing, at levels from senior engineer to principal and director, with specializations in product innovation, process development, and applied research. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Argonne National Laboratory in the Nanocomposite Materials and Membrane Manufacturing group in the Applied Materials Division (AMD) has an opening for a postdoctoral researcher to develop materials, membranes, fabrication processes, and advanced characterization for water and critical mineral recovery applications. The researcher is expected to use chemical reaction and solution-based synthesis approaches to fabricate element selective sorbents and membranes. We are seeking candidates who will be able to design experiments and develop methodologies to design material compositions and microstructures to achieve desired physics and mass and charge transport properties.
As part of the Materials Engineering Research Facilities (MERF), the Nanocomposite Materials and Membrane Manufacturing group perform science-based membrane synthesis and scaleup development by using roll-to-roll manufacturing and machine learning enabled in-line characterization and quality control methods. The group works closely with industry partners and academic collaborators to address real-world manufacturing challenges and develop next-generation energy-storage and conversion solutions.
The candidate will work within a multidisciplinary team with researchers at MERF and collaborators inside and outside Argonne. The candidate is expected to design and conduct experiments, analyze data and explore mechanisms behind the experimental observations, prepare technical reports and manuscripts, and support future project applications.
Major Duties / Responsibilities:
- Synthesize monomer and polymer materials for polymer membranes and sorbents development.
- Conduct surface modification and functionalization to membranes and sorbents to achieve target separation properties.
- Formulate and synthesis inks for membrane deposition, including electrospinning, slot-die coating, and 3D printing.
- Design composite and hybrid materials and membranes to enhance selectivity and permeance of membranes or separation factors, adsorption capacity and kinetics, and chemical stability of sorbents.
- Conduct structure, microstructure, physics and chemical properties of materials, as well as transport, separation, and electrochemical properties of membranes.
- Develop techniques and strategies for postmortem characterization of membranes to understand fouling, scaling, and membrane failure mechanism.
- Write reports and high-impact papers and present research at conferences.
- Develop or support the development of collaborations with academia and industry.
Position Requirements
- Recent or soon-to-be-completed PhD (typically completed within the last 0-5 years) in chemical engineering, material science, or related fields.
- Demonstrated knowledge in materials synthesis and characterization.
- Demonstrated knowledge in membranes, water treatment, and element extraction.
- Demonstrated knowledge of transport property study such as electrochemical properties of ion-exchange membranes, permeance and selectivity tradeoff in pressure-driven membranes.
- Experience in polymer material and sorbent synthesis.
- Experience in surface functionalization.
- Experience in coating, printing, or any other wet-chemistry deposition techniques.
- Experience using analytical tools, such as X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy. (SEM and TEM), spectroscopy (FTIR, Raman, XPS), composition analysis (HPLC, ICP-MS), and electrochemical (EIS).
- Publication record with excellent written and oral communication skills.
- Ability/aptitude to contribute to proposal writing, write reports, and publish journal papers and patents.
- Skilled oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
- A successful candidate must model Argonne’s Core Values: Impact, Safety, Respect, Integrity, and Teamwork.
- This position requires full-time, on-site presence, five days a week at the Argonne campus in Lemont, Illinois.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience with casting or slot-die coating.
- Experience with chemical synthesis.
- Experience of sorbent synthesis and adsorption study.
- Experience with electrospinning.
- Experience with aerosol jet printing or 3D printing is a plus
- Highly self-motivated candidate who demonstrates creative and proactive approaches towards scientific problem solving as evidenced by publications and recommendations.
- Proven track record showing the ability to carry out independent and collaborative research in a multidisciplinary team while meeting project milestones and deadlines.
Job Family
PostdoctoralJob Profile
Postdoctoral AppointeeWorker Type
Long-Term (Fixed Term)Time Type
Full time The expected hiring range for this position is $72,879.00-$121,465.00.Please note that the pay range information is a general guideline only. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as, but not limited to, the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, business considerations, internal equity, and external market pay for comparable jobs. Additionally, comprehensive benefits are part of the total rewards package.
Click here to view Argonne employee benefits!
As an equal employment opportunity employer, and in accordance with our core values of impact, safety, respect, integrity and teamwork, Argonne National Laboratory is committed to a safe and welcoming workplace that fosters collaborative scientific discovery and innovation. Argonne encourages everyone to apply for employment. Argonne is committed to nondiscrimination and considers all qualified applicants for employment without regard to any characteristic protected by law.
Argonne employees, and certain guest researchers and contractors, are subject to particular restrictions related to participation in Foreign Government Sponsored or Affiliated Activities, as defined and detailed in United States Department of Energy Order 486.1A. You will be asked to disclose any such participation in the application phase for review by Argonne's Legal Department.
All Argonne offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes an assessment of criminal conviction history conducted on an individualized and case-by-case basis. Please be advised that Argonne positions require upon hire (or may require in the future) for the individual be to obtain a government access authorization that involves additional background check requirements. Failure to obtain or maintain such government access authorization could result in the withdrawal of a job offer or future termination of employment.
Argonne National Laboratory in the Nanocomposite Materials and Membrane Manufacturing group in the Applied Materials Division (AMD) has an opening for a postdoctoral researcher to develop materials, membranes, fabrication processes, and advanced characterization for water and critical mineral recovery applications. The researcher is expected to use chemical reaction and solution-based synthesis approaches to fabricate element selective sorbents and membranes. We are seeking candidates who will be able to design experiments and develop methodologies to design material compositions and microstructures to achieve desired physics and mass and charge transport properties.
As part of the Materials Engineering Research Facilities (MERF), the Nanocomposite Materials and Membrane Manufacturing group perform science-based membrane synthesis and scaleup development by using roll-to-roll manufacturing and machine learning enabled in-line characterization and quality control methods. The group works closely with industry partners and academic collaborators to address real-world manufacturing challenges and develop next-generation energy-storage and conversion solutions.
The candidate will work within a multidisciplinary team with researchers at MERF and collaborators inside and outside Argonne. The candidate is expected to design and conduct experiments, analyze data and explore mechanisms behind the experimental observations, prepare technical reports and manuscripts, and support future project applications.
Major Duties / Responsibilities:
- Synthesize monomer and polymer materials for polymer membranes and sorbents development.
- Conduct surface modification and functionalization to membranes and sorbents to achieve target separation properties.
- Formulate and synthesis inks for membrane deposition, including electrospinning, slot-die coating, and 3D printing.
- Design composite and hybrid materials and membranes to enhance selectivity and permeance of membranes or separation factors, adsorption capacity and kinetics, and chemical stability of sorbents.
- Conduct structure, microstructure, physics and chemical properties of materials, as well as transport, separation, and electrochemical properties of membranes.
- Develop techniques and strategies for postmortem characterization of membranes to understand fouling, scaling, and membrane failure mechanism.
- Write reports and high-impact papers and present research at conferences.
- Develop or support the development of collaborations with academia and industry.
Position Requirements
- Recent or soon-to-be-completed PhD (typically completed within the last 0-5 years) in chemical engineering, material science, or related fields.
- Demonstrated knowledge in materials synthesis and characterization.
- Demonstrated knowledge in membranes, water treatment, and element extraction.
- Demonstrated knowledge of transport property study such as electrochemical properties of ion-exchange membranes, permeance and selectivity tradeoff in pressure-driven membranes.
- Experience in polymer material and sorbent synthesis.
- Experience in surface functionalization.
- Experience in coating, printing, or any other wet-chemistry deposition techniques.
- Experience using analytical tools, such as X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy. (SEM and TEM), spectroscopy (FTIR, Raman, XPS), composition analysis (HPLC, ICP-MS), and electrochemical (EIS).
- Publication record with excellent written and oral communication skills.
- Ability/aptitude to contribute to proposal writing, write reports, and publish journal papers and patents.
- Skilled oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
- A successful candidate must model Argonne’s Core Values: Impact, Safety, Respect, Integrity, and Teamwork.
- This position requires full-time, on-site presence, five days a week at the Argonne campus in Lemont, Illinois.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience with casting or slot-die coating.
- Experience with chemical synthesis.
- Experience of sorbent synthesis and adsorption study.
- Experience with electrospinning.
- Experience with aerosol jet printing or 3D printing is a plus
- Highly self-motivated candidate who demonstrates creative and proactive approaches towards scientific problem solving as evidenced by publications and recommendations.
- Proven track record showing the ability to carry out independent and collaborative research in a multidisciplinary team while meeting project milestones and deadlines.
Job Family
PostdoctoralJob Profile
Postdoctoral AppointeeWorker Type
Long-Term (Fixed Term)Time Type
Full time The expected hiring range for this position is $72,879.00-$121,465.00.Please note that the pay range information is a general guideline only. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as, but not limited to, the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, business considerations, internal equity, and external market pay for comparable jobs. Additionally, comprehensive benefits are part of the total rewards package.
Click here to view Argonne employee benefits!
As an equal employment opportunity employer, and in accordance with our core values of impact, safety, respect, integrity and teamwork, Argonne National Laboratory is committed to a safe and welcoming workplace that fosters collaborative scientific discovery and innovation. Argonne encourages everyone to apply for employment. Argonne is committed to nondiscrimination and considers all qualified applicants for employment without regard to any characteristic protected by law.
Argonne employees, and certain guest researchers and contractors, are subject to particular restrictions related to participation in Foreign Government Sponsored or Affiliated Activities, as defined and detailed in United States Department of Energy Order 486.1A. You will be asked to disclose any such participation in the application phase for review by Argonne's Legal Department.
All Argonne offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes an assessment of criminal conviction history conducted on an individualized and case-by-case basis. Please be advised that Argonne positions require upon hire (or may require in the future) for the individual be to obtain a government access authorization that involves additional background check requirements. Failure to obtain or maintain such government access authorization could result in the withdrawal of a job offer or future termination of employment.
Research and Development Lead Jobs by Experience Level
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Find JobsResearch and Development Lead Job Market
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in research and development lead jobs.
- Advanced degree in engineering, chemistry, biology, or a related technical field
- 5 or more years of hands-on R&D experience with at least 2 years in a lead or supervisory role
- Demonstrated experience leading cross-functional teams through the full product development lifecycle
- Proficiency with stage-gate or agile development frameworks and project management tools
- Experience filing patents, managing IP portfolios, or contributing to regulatory submissions
- Familiarity with design of experiments, statistical analysis software, and laboratory information management systems
Tips for Your Research and Development Lead Job Search
Quantify your R&D pipeline contributions
Hiring managers for R&D leads want to see outcomes, not activities. Replace vague claims with specific results: products moved from concept to prototype, timelines you compressed, or cost reductions you drove through process changes. Stage-gate milestones are concrete proof points.
Align your resume to the technology readiness level
R&D lead roles split between early-stage discovery and near-commercialization work. Read each posting for signals like TRL, MVP, or regulatory submission, then mirror that language on your resume so reviewers immediately see you at the right development phase for their team.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists research and development lead openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Target postings that name your domain explicitly
R&D lead titles hide enormous variation. A posting in biologics, semiconductor materials, and consumer electronics all use the same title but want entirely different expertise. Filter for the domain terms you own rather than applying broadly to every listing that says lead.
Prepare a technical presentation for final rounds
Most R&D lead interviews end with a technical presentation or whiteboard session. Prepare a crisp case study from your portfolio showing how you framed an ambiguous research problem, chose a methodology, and translated findings into a product or process decision.
Negotiate scope and budget authority, not just salary
When you receive an offer, ask explicitly about headcount approval authority, capital budget ownership, and IP assignment terms. These shape your ability to do the job and are often more negotiable than base pay, especially at companies that have compressed salary bands.
Research and Development Lead Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most research and development leads?
The companies hiring the most research and development leads right now include Amazon, Ensign-Bickford Aerospace & Defense Company, and Waymo, with the largest share of openings in California, Michigan, and Maine, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Demand is especially concentrated in pharmaceuticals, semiconductor manufacturing, and consumer products companies with active product pipelines.
How many research and development lead jobs are remote?
About 100% of research and development lead openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, though the share varies significantly by industry. Roles focused on computational research, data-driven discovery, or program management tend to be the most remote-friendly, while positions requiring wet-lab work, prototype fabrication, or on-site equipment access are almost always on-site.
How do you become a research and development lead?
Most R&D leads move up from individual contributor roles in engineering, science, or product development after demonstrating technical depth and cross-functional influence. Building a track of shipped projects, developing skills in project scoping and budget ownership, and taking on mentorship responsibilities within your current team are the steps that make the transition credible to hiring managers.
Can you get hired as a research and development lead without direct leadership experience?
Some companies hire strong senior contributors into R&D lead roles when they can show informal leadership, such as owning a workstream, coordinating external vendors, or mentoring junior researchers. Targeting smaller companies or startups where the distinction between lead and senior contributor is less rigid, and framing any project ownership experience clearly, improves your chances without a formal management title.
What does the research and development lead interview process look like?
The process typically includes an initial recruiter screen, a technical interview focused on your domain expertise and problem-solving approach, a behavioral round assessing how you manage teams and ambiguity, and a final presentation where you walk through a past project end to end. Some employers add a written case study or ask you to critique an existing research methodology before the final round.
Where can I find and apply to research and development lead jobs?
You can find and apply to research and development lead jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States. Find roles that match your domain, experience level, and location preference, then apply directly to each listing that fits.
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