Principal Chemist Jobs in Palo Alto, CA

A Principal Chemist is a senior professional in the chemistry industry who leads research and development activities, designs and conducts complex chemical experiments, and analyzes the results to develop innovative solutions or new scientific theories. They play a crucial role in synthesizing and characterizing new compounds, developing new tests and methodologies, interpreting data and preparing technical reports, papers, and presentations. They offer technical support to junior chemists and ensure the maintenance of safe laboratory conditions. They are also involved in the development and patenting of new products or techniques.

Important skills for a Principal Chemist include a strong understanding of chemistry principles, analytical thinking, problem-solving, attention to detail, and excellent communication skills. They should have a Doctorate degree in Chemistry or a related field and multiple years of experience in a research setting. Common certifications include the Certified Chemist (CC) and Certified Clinical Data Manager (CCDM). A person may hold roles like Laboratory Technician, Research Chemist or Senior Chemist before ascending to the position of a Principal Chemist.

1-15 of 35 Jobs

Principal Scientist, Process Development (25020-B-680-PS)

  • Hayward, CA (16 miles from Palo Alto, CA)
  • moments ago
  • Hayward, CA (16 miles from Palo Alto, CA)
  • moments ago

Biology, Biochemistry Successful track record of performance and expertise in process development for cell therapies through 5+ years of relevant research experience in T cell biology and/or immunotherapy...

Associate Principal Scientist - Sample Management

  • South San Francisco, CA (21 miles from Palo Alto, CA)
  • moments ago
  • South San Francisco, CA (21 miles from Palo Alto, CA)
  • moments ago

Standard molecular biology techniques such as: Plasmid DNA preparation, sequencing, sequence analysis standard nucleic acid analytical/QC methods Analytical techniques....

R&D Principal Scientist, Product Development, Cat Litter

  • Pleasanton, CA (21 miles from Palo Alto, CA)
  • 22 hours ago
  • Pleasanton, CA (21 miles from Palo Alto, CA)
  • 22 hours ago

Clorox is the place thats committed to growth for our people and our brands. Guided by our purpose and values, and with people at the center of everything we do, we believe every one of us can...

Remote Work

Principal Scientist, Medicinal Chemistry

  • South San Francisco, CA (21 miles from Palo Alto, CA)
  • 5 days ago
  • South San Francisco, CA (21 miles from Palo Alto, CA)
  • 5 days ago

The Position We advance science so that we all have more time with the people we love. We have an exciting opportunity for a talented chemist to join our Small-Molecule Drug Discovery Chemistry...

Principal Scientist, Biomarker Laboratory, Next Generation Sequencing

  • San Carlos, CA (7 miles from Palo Alto, CA)
  • 5 days ago
  • San Carlos, CA (7 miles from Palo Alto, CA)
  • 5 days ago

Education Required: PhD in Molecular Biology, Genomics, Biochemistry, or related field with 3+ years of relevant experience (or MS with 5+ years)....

Principal Scientist, Analytical Development

  • South San Francisco, CA (21 miles from Palo Alto, CA)
  • 6 days ago
  • South San Francisco, CA (21 miles from Palo Alto, CA)
  • 6 days ago

Qualifications: PhD in Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, or related field, with 8+ years of relevant experience in the pharmaceutical/biotech industry (or equivalent combination of education and experience...

Remote Work

Principal Scientist, Discovery Biology

  • Palo Alto, CA
  • 12 days ago
  • Palo Alto, CA
  • 12 days ago

We are seeking a motivated, detail-oriented Principal Scientist with a strong background in Inflammation and Cell Biology and prior drug discovery experience in developing cell-based assays and in vivo...

Senior/ Principal Scientist Computational Toxicology

  • South San Francisco, CA (21 miles from Palo Alto, CA)
  • 13 days ago
  • South San Francisco, CA (21 miles from Palo Alto, CA)
  • 13 days ago

The Position We advance science so that we all have more time with the people we love. The Department of Translational Safety is responsible for the nonclinical safety assessment of all drug...

Principal Scientist, Small-Molecule Drug Substance Development and Manufacturing

  • Hayward, CA (16 miles from Palo Alto, CA)
  • 21 days ago
  • Hayward, CA (16 miles from Palo Alto, CA)
  • 21 days ago

Arcus Biosciences ( ) is a biotech company focused on immuno-oncology with clinical stage drug candidates in both monoclonal antibody and small molecule areas. Our Small Molecule Drug Substance...

Principal Scientist - Functional Genomics

  • South San Francisco, CA (21 miles from Palo Alto, CA)
  • 21 days ago
  • South San Francisco, CA (21 miles from Palo Alto, CA)
  • 21 days ago

biology, systems biology, or related disciplines Demonstrated track record of independent critical thinking, complex problem solving, and innovative research, evidenced by significant contributions...

Principal Scientist, Small Molecule Analytical Sciences

  • Hayward, CA (16 miles from Palo Alto, CA)
  • 25 days ago
  • Hayward, CA (16 miles from Palo Alto, CA)
  • 25 days ago

Summary This position will provide technical outputs and managerial oversight for the Small Molecule Analytical Sciences function within Arcus' Pharmaceutical Development & Manufacturing...

Laboratory Manager

  • South San Francisco, CA (21 miles from Palo Alto, CA)
  • 29 days ago
  • South San Francisco, CA (21 miles from Palo Alto, CA)
  • 29 days ago

Laboratory Manager Job ID 212286 Posted 26-Mar-2025 Service line GWS Segment Role type Full-time Areas of Interest Facilities Management Location(s) South San Francisco - California - United...

Laboratory Manager

  • San Jose, CA (15 miles from Palo Alto, CA)
  • 29 days ago
  • San Jose, CA (15 miles from Palo Alto, CA)
  • 29 days ago

Laboratory Manager Oxford BioTherapeutics San Jose, CA 95138 About Oxford BioTherapeutics Oxford BioTherapeutics (OBT) is a clinical stage oncology company with a pipeline of immuno-oncology and...

Principal Scientist I, Computational Pathology, Precision Medicine Pathology

  • South San Francisco, CA (21 miles from Palo Alto, CA)
  • 29 days ago
  • South San Francisco, CA (21 miles from Palo Alto, CA)
  • 29 days ago

AbbVie's mission is to discover and deliver innovative medicines and solutions that solve serious health issues today and address the medical challenges of tomorrow. We strive to have a remarkable...

Senior/Principal Scientist, Oncology

  • South San Francisco, CA (21 miles from Palo Alto, CA)
  • 30+ days ago
  • South San Francisco, CA (21 miles from Palo Alto, CA)
  • 30+ days ago

biology, molecular biology Competency in bioinformatic analysis of large datasets including -omic analyses is also a significant plus Enthusiastic team player, thrives on attention to detail and has...

Demographic Data for Palo Alto, CA

Moving to Palo Alto, CA? Find some basic demographic data about Palo Alto, CA below.


Local
National
98,808
3,890
Medium/Lg

Principal Chemist Online Courses and Training Opportunities

iHireChemists curates thousands of courses in order to recommend the best ones to help further your career. If you register for a course using the links on our site, we may receive a small commission.
Certified Marine Chemist (CMC) Exam
Course Title: Certified Marine Chemist (CMC) Exam Preparation CourseCourse Description:The Certified Marine Chemist (CMC) Exam Preparation Course is a comprehensive online learning program...
The Day in the Life of a Principal
A Day in the Life of a Principal is a self paced course that will give you a first person experience into what a principal has to do, daily. This course is for anyone who is considering going into...
Principal Information Management
Information management (IM) is the process of collecting, storing, managing and maintaining information in all its forms. Information management is a broad term that incorporates policies and...

Title Synonyms

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Salary for Principal Chemist Jobs in Palo Alto, CA

Estimated salary range based on data from US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and iHireChemists research efforts.

Licensing / Certification

Required or preferred licenses and certifications for Principal Chemist positions.



Highest Education Level

Principal Chemists in Palo Alto, CA offer the following education background
Doctorate Degree
48.0%
Bachelor's Degree
28.1%
Master's Degree
22.3%
Associate's Degree
0.7%
High School or GED
0.5%
Vocational Degree or Certification
0.3%
Some College
0.1%
Some High School
0.0%

Average Work Experience
Here's a breakdown of the number of years' experience offered by Principal Chemists in Palo Alto, CA
None
32.8%
Less than 1 year
18.1%
1-2 years
16.9%
4-6 years
11.4%
6-8 years
7.8%
2-4 years
7.0%
10+ years
6.0%

Qualifications / Skill Sets

The following top skills are often required or desired to land a Principal Chemist position


In-Demand skills () are the most popular among employers according to the current jobs in our database. Last updated today!

Other Career Titles

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