Senior Clinical Research Scientist Jobs

Senior Clinical Research Scientist jobs are open across pharmaceutical companies, biotech firms, CROs, and academic medical centers, from mid-level to principal and director, with specializations in oncology, immunology, and rare disease. Find a role that fits from the openings below and apply directly.

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Overview

Open roles33
Top stateCalifornia
Top employerMerck
Top citySan Francisco, CA
Work type64% On-site
Top industryBiotechnology

Showing 5 of 33+ Senior Clinical Research Scientist jobs

Eli Lilly
Director - Clinical Pharmacologist / Clinical Research Scientist
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Eli Lilly
New 18h ago
Director - Clinical Pharmacologist / Clinical Research Scientist
Eli Lilly
Indianapolis, Indiana
Healthcare Administration
Patient Services & Wellbeing
Social Work & Counseling
$177k - $339k/yr
Master of Science
10,000+

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Eli Lilly
Director, Medical - Clinical Research Scientist
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Eli Lilly
New 18h ago
Director, Medical - Clinical Research Scientist
Eli Lilly
Indianapolis, Indiana
Biotech & Life Sciences
Environmental & Physical Sciences
Laboratory Research
Research & Academia
$177k - $339k/yr
Doctorate in Pharmacology
10,000+

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Ceribell, Inc
Principal Clinical Research Scientist (Hybrid)
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Ceribell, Inc
Added 1d ago
Principal Clinical Research Scientist (Hybrid)
Ceribell, Inc
San Jose, California
Clinical Trials
Laboratory Research
Research & Academia
$168k - $185k/yr
Hybrid
Doctoral degree in epidemiology
51-200

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Merck
Principal Scientist (Director), Clinical Research, Immunology
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Merck
Added 2d ago
Principal Scientist (Director), Clinical Research, Immunology
Merck
San Francisco, California
Business Strategy
Executive Leadership & C-Suite
Product Management
$256k - $403k/yr
10,000+

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Cincinnati Children's Hospital
Lead Research Data Scientist - Multimodal Clinical Data
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Cincinnati Children's Hospital
Added 2d ago
Lead Research Data Scientist - Multimodal Clinical Data
Cincinnati Children's Hospital
Cincinnati, Ohio
IT Support
Systems Administration
Technical Program Management
$101k.4 - $131k.4/yr
Master's degree

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Senior Clinical Research Scientist Jobs by Experience Level

See All 33 Senior Clinical Research Scientist Jobs

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Senior Clinical Research Scientist Job Market

Who's Hiring

Merck
Merck4 open roles
Eli Lilly
Eli Lilly3 open roles
Red Nucleus
Red Nucleus2 open roles

Top Industries Hiring

  • Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals
  • Education
  • Science & Research
  • Healthcare & Medical Services
  • Medical Devices

What Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in senior clinical research scientist jobs.

  • Advanced degree (MS or PhD) in life sciences, pharmacy, or a related field
  • Minimum five to eight years of clinical research experience in pharma, biotech, or CRO settings
  • Direct experience authoring clinical study reports and regulatory submission documents
  • Proficiency with electronic data capture systems such as Medidata Rave or Oracle Clinical
  • Deep knowledge of ICH-GCP guidelines, FDA regulations, and GCP compliance standards
  • Experience managing CRO relationships, site oversight, and cross-functional study teams

Tips for Your Senior Clinical Research Scientist Job Search

Tailor your CV to therapeutic area

Hiring teams screen for direct experience in their disease area, so list your oncology, CNS, or rare disease trials prominently rather than burying them under general research duties. Specific protocol numbers and phase experience signal immediate fit.

Highlight regulatory submission contributions clearly

Many senior clinical research scientist candidates undersell their NDA, BLA, or IND contributions. Specify your role in authoring clinical study reports, responding to agency queries, or preparing data packages, since reviewers scan for this language.

Apply early to roles that fit

Migrate Mate lists senior clinical research scientist openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.

Filter openings by study phase experience

Your phase experience matters as much as your title. When scanning listings, prioritize roles aligned with your Phase I through Phase III background so your application matches the team's current pipeline stage and hiring needs.

Prepare case examples of protocol deviations handled

Interviewers at the senior level almost always probe how you've managed protocol deviations, site issues, or data integrity problems. Have two or three concrete examples ready that walk through your decision-making and the outcome you drove.

Negotiate your scope of responsibility upfront

Before accepting an offer, clarify whether the role is purely execution-focused or includes study design, CRO oversight, or publication authorship. Senior clinical research scientist titles vary widely by company, and misaligned expectations are common.

Senior Clinical Research Scientist Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions

Which companies are hiring the most senior clinical research scientists?

The companies hiring the most senior clinical research scientists right now include Merck, Eli Lilly, and Red Nucleus, with the largest share of openings in California, New Jersey, and Indiana, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. Large CROs and mid-size biotechs focused on oncology and rare disease tend to post the highest volume of openings consistently.

How many senior clinical research scientist jobs are remote?

About 36% of senior clinical research scientist openings are fully remote or hybrid as of September 2026, making it one of the more flexible roles in clinical development. Sub-specializations focused on data review, regulatory writing, and CRO oversight tend to offer the most remote flexibility, while roles requiring frequent site visits or lab access are more commonly on-site.

How do you become a senior clinical research scientist?

Start by earning an advanced degree in a life sciences field, then build hands-on experience in clinical trial coordination or data management at a pharma company, CRO, or academic research center. Progress through increasing protocol ownership, take on cross-functional team responsibilities, and deepen your expertise in a specific therapeutic area. Contributing to regulatory submissions or publications strengthens your path to senior-level roles.

Can you get hired as a senior clinical research scientist with limited experience?

Moving directly into a senior clinical research scientist role with limited experience is difficult because most employers require substantial hands-on trial management and regulatory exposure. The most practical path is to first secure a clinical research associate or clinical research scientist role, build phase-specific and therapeutic area expertise, lead increasingly complex studies, and then transition to senior positions after demonstrating independent study oversight and submission contributions.

What does the senior clinical research scientist interview process look like?

The process typically involves an initial screening call with a recruiter, followed by a technical interview with the hiring manager focused on your protocol experience, GCP knowledge, and regulatory submission history. Later rounds often include a panel interview with cross-functional team members from biostatistics, regulatory affairs, or clinical operations, and sometimes a case study or presentation on how you'd approach a study design or site management challenge.

Where can I find and apply to senior clinical research scientist jobs?

You can find and apply to senior clinical research scientist jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States. Find roles that match your therapeutic area and phase experience, then apply directly to each listing that fits.

See All 33 Senior Clinical Research Scientist Jobs

Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

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