Principal Scientist Jobs

A Principal Scientist in the chemistry industry is responsible for conducting complex research, developing new procedures, and overseeing a team of scientists to ensure all projects are completed to a high standard. They typically perform experimental tests and analyses, interpreting and presenting results, and preparing research reports and scientific papers. Their work is instrumental in contributing to the development of new products, technologies, or intellectual property. They often work closely with other departments such as Regulatory Affairs, Quality Control, and Manufacturing to ensure all scientific operations meet the necessary standards and regulations.

Important skills for a Principal Scientist include leadership, excellent written and oral communication abilities, strong analytical skills, and the ability to work well in teams. They should have a thorough understanding of various scientific techniques and principles, and be adept at problem-solving. The minimum requirement for this position is typically a PhD in Chemistry or a related field, with substantial experience in the industry. Certifications that can add value include Certified Professional Chemist (CPC) or Certified Clinical Research Professional (CCRP). A person might work as a Research Scientist, Senior Scientist, or Project Leader before moving into the role of a Principal Scientist.

1-15 of 543 Jobs

Principal Scientist, Delivery

  • AskBio
  • Durham, NC
  • 6 hours ago
  • Durham, NC
  • 6 hours ago

Operate as Delivery lead within EPTs Minimum Requirements PhD in Molecular Biology, Virology, Biotechnology, Gene Therapy, or related discipline with 8+ years of relevant experience (may include postdoctoral...

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Principal Scientist, R&D - Packaging Dev

  • The Kraft Heinz Company
  • Glenview, IL
  • 6 hours ago
  • Glenview, IL
  • 6 hours ago

Principal Scientist, Packaging Development Are you passionate about packaging innovation and excited to work on iconic brands?...

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Principal Scientist, Analytical Operations

  • Gilead Sciences
  • Edmonton, AB
  • 6 hours ago
  • Edmonton, AB
  • 6 hours ago

As a Principal Scientist, Analytical Operations, you will assume a full-time employment role within Global Quality's Commercial Analytical Support group....

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Associate Principal Scientist, Biology-Discovery

  • Merck Company
  • West Point, PA
  • 7 hours ago
  • West Point, PA
  • 7 hours ago

Immunology, Infectious Disease, Laboratory Automation, Laboratory Safety, Mammalian Cell Culture, Molecular Biology, Pharmacodynamics, Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacotherapeutics, Pharmacotherapy, Professional...

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AS&T Principal Scientist - CGT & Biologi

  • Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated
  • Boston, MA
  • 7 hours ago
  • Boston, MA
  • 7 hours ago

Job Description General Summary: The Principal Scientist will be part of Analytical Sciences and Technology (AS&T) team within Commercial Manufacturing & Technical Operations (CMTO) department....

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Principal Scientist

  • Envista
  • Pomona, CA
  • 12 hours ago
  • Pomona, CA
  • 12 hours ago

The Principal Scientist serves as a subject matter expert and technical leader, driving innovation and high-impact research and development initiatives across dental chemical consumables....

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Lead Chemist

  • Schlumberger
  • Sugar Land, TX
  • 14 hours ago
  • Sugar Land, TX
  • 14 hours ago

Disclaimer: SLB completed the acquisition of ChampionX on July 16, 2025. If selected for this position, your employment will begin with ChampionX and will transition to SLB as part of the planned...

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Principal Scientist I/II, Molecular Pathology

  • Novartis
  • Cambridge, MA
  • 15 hours ago
  • Cambridge, MA
  • 15 hours ago

Biology, or a related discipline Leveling criteria (dual posting): Principal Scientist I : 3+ years of postdoctoral training Principal Scientist II : Postdoctoral training + 3+ years of industry experience...

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Principal Scientist Lead Discovery and Targeted Protein Degradation Biochemistry

  • Amgen
  • Thousand Oaks, CA
  • 15 hours ago
  • Thousand Oaks, CA
  • 15 hours ago

Principal Scientist Lead Discovery and Targeted Protein Degradation Biochemistry What you will do Lets do this. Lets change the world....

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Associate Principal Scientist (Associate Director) -Outcomes Research

  • Merck Company
  • Rahway, NJ
  • 15 hours ago
  • Rahway, NJ
  • 15 hours ago

Job Description Title: Associate Principal Scientist/Associate Director, Outcomes Research Division / Area: Value and Implementation Workday Job Profile: Consult with Global Human Resources Band / Pathway...

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Principal Analytical Chemist

  • CordenPharma
  • Boulder, CO
  • 18 hours ago
  • Boulder, CO
  • 18 hours ago

Initiates and executes the development of new and innovative analytical chemistry and methodology. Provides written analytical procedures and reports to support manufacturing and regulatory needs....

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Principal Scientist/Senior Principal Scientist, Process Chemistry

  • Zoetis
  • Kalamazoo, MI
  • 18 hours ago
  • Kalamazoo, MI
  • 18 hours ago

Role Description Position Summary: The Principal Scientist / Senior Principal Scientist is an experienced scientific leader within process chemistry, leveraging advanced knowledge across multiple disciplines...

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Pharmaceutical Development Principal Scientist I

  • Catalent Pharma Solutions, Inc.
  • Kansas City, MO
  • 18 hours ago
  • Kansas City, MO
  • 18 hours ago

Pharmaceutical Development Principal Scientist I Position Summary Work Schedule: Monday to Friday 8am-5pm 100% based on-site in Kansas City Catalent's Kansas City (KCM) facility is a premier site for...

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Assistant Microbiology Laboratory Manager in Hawaii

  • KA Recruiting Inc.
  • Honolulu, HI
  • 1 day ago
  • Honolulu, HI
  • 1 day ago

I'm hiring for a Assistant Microbiology Laboratory Manager in Hawaii! There is potential for sign-on bonus. The Assistant Microbiology Laboratory Manager assists Microbiology Manager with...

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Clinical Laboratory Manager

  • KA Recruiting Inc.
  • North Bend, PA
  • 1 day ago
  • North Bend, PA
  • 1 day ago

Laboratory Manager Location: Southern Pennsylvania (On-site) Job Type: Full-time About the Role We are seeking a results-driven Laboratory Manager to lead our daily operations, ensure rigorous...

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Principal Scientist 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.
Data Scientist Nanodegree Program
This advanced Nanodegree prepares you to tackle data science at scale. Work with AI best practices, build production-ready projects, and gain the confidence to lead data-driven solutions. Our...
Software Engineering for Data Scientists Course
Prepare for advanced data science work with software engineering best practices. Explore OOP, testing, areproducibility, and build a FastHTML dashboard that makes machine learning insights...
Category Theory for Scientists
The goal of this class is to prove that category theory is a powerful language for understanding and formalizing common scientific models. The power of the language will be tested by its ability...

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Salary for Principal Scientist Jobs Nationwide

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 Scientist positions.



Highest Education Level

Principal Scientists offer the following education background
Doctorate Degree
47.7%
Bachelor's Degree
28.2%
Master's Degree
22.6%
Associate's Degree
0.6%
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 Scientists
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%


Other Career Titles

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