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Environmental Research Scientist Jobs (NOW HIRING)

AccrueTalent

Research Scientist

San Francisco, CA

$250K - $500K/yr

Hiring Research Scientists to help define and advance the core technical direction of an early ... Comfortable working in a very early-stage, high-intensity environment with significant ambiguity

New

Anduril Industries

Research Scientist

Broomfield, CO · On-site

Prototype state-of-the-art algorithms in an agile development environment; * Implement high ... A Research Scientist at Anduril should possess an M.S. or Ph.D. in Applied or Computational ...

JD Power

Research Scientist

$90K - $100K/yr

Title: Research Scientist (P3) Location: Remote - USA, Canada Reports to: Managing Director ... Knowledge of and ability to work in a cloud computing environment is a plus * Knowledge of survey ...

JD Power

Research Scientist

$90K - $100K/yr

Title: Research Scientist (P3) Location: Remote - USA, Canada Reports to: Managing Director ... Knowledge of and ability to work in a cloud computing environment is a plus * Knowledge of survey ...

Williammary

Research Scientist

Gloucester Point, VA · On-site

$65K/yr

D. in Coastal Engineering, Oceanography, Civil/Environmental Engineering, Marine Science, Applied Mathematics, or closely related field Experience * Demonstrated record of peer-reviewed research and ...

George Mason University

Research Scientist

Fairfax, VA · On-site

We deliver policy-relevant insights that enhance environmental resilience, support sustainable development, and empower the next generation of scientific leaders through meaningful research and ...

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Environmental Research Scientist information

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$41K

$84.1K

$123K

How much do environmental research scientist jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 19, 2026, the average yearly pay for environmental research scientist in the United States is $84,123.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $75,000.00 and $98,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does an environmental research scientist do?

An Environmental Research Scientist studies the environment and how human activities affect it. They conduct experiments, collect samples, and analyze data to understand issues such as pollution, climate change, and ecosystem health. Their work helps inform policies and practices that protect natural resources and public health. Environmental Research Scientists may work in the field, in laboratories, or for government agencies, academic institutions, or private organizations.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an environmental research scientist?

To thrive as an Environmental Research Scientist, you need a strong background in environmental science, data analysis, and research methodology, usually supported by at least a bachelor's or master's degree in a related field. Familiarity with GIS software, statistical analysis tools, and laboratory equipment is typically required, along with certifications like HAZWOPER for fieldwork safety. Critical thinking, attention to detail, and effective communication are vital soft skills for interpreting data and presenting findings to diverse audiences. These skills and qualities are crucial for producing reliable research, informing policy decisions, and advancing environmental protection efforts.

What are some common challenges environmental research scientists face when conducting fieldwork, and how are these typically addressed?

Environmental Research Scientists often encounter challenges such as unpredictable weather, difficult terrain, and logistical issues when conducting fieldwork. These challenges are typically managed through thorough planning, risk assessments, and by ensuring proper training and equipment for safety. Collaboration with local experts and stakeholders can also help navigate site-specific obstacles. Flexibility and adaptability are key traits for success in this aspect of the role.

What is the difference between Environmental Research Scientist vs Environmental Analyst?

AspectEnvironmental Research ScientistEnvironmental Analyst
Required CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in Environmental Science, related fields; often requires research experienceBachelor's degree in Environmental Science, Environmental Studies, or related fields; certifications like LEED or EPA may be beneficial
Work EnvironmentResearch labs, field sites, academic institutionsGovernment agencies, consulting firms, environmental organizations
Employer & Industry UsageResearch institutions, universities, environmental agenciesPrivate consulting firms, government agencies, NGOs

Environmental Research Scientists focus on conducting experiments, analyzing data, and advancing scientific understanding of environmental issues. Environmental Analysts typically assess environmental data, prepare reports, and support compliance efforts. While both roles require environmental knowledge, Research Scientists are more research-oriented, whereas Analysts focus on data interpretation and policy support.

Is there a demand for environmental research scientists?

Environmental research scientists are in growing demand due to increased focus on sustainability, climate change, and environmental protection. Employment opportunities are expected to expand as governments and organizations invest in environmental monitoring, policy development, and scientific research, often requiring skills in data analysis, fieldwork, and environmental modeling.

What can I do with an environmental research scientist degree?

An environmental research scientist degree prepares individuals for roles in environmental analysis, data collection, and research on ecological systems. Graduates can work in government agencies, environmental consulting firms, or research institutions, often utilizing tools like GIS software and field equipment. Careers may include environmental analyst, conservation scientist, or environmental policy advisor.

What do you need to be an environmental research scientist?

Environmental research scientists typically need a bachelor's degree in environmental science, biology, chemistry, or a related field, with many roles requiring a master's or Ph.D. for advanced research positions. Strong analytical skills, proficiency with laboratory and field equipment, and knowledge of data analysis software are important. Relevant experience through internships or research projects can also enhance job prospects.
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What cities are hiring for Environmental Research Scientist jobs?

Cities with the most Environmental Research Scientist job openings:

What are the most commonly searched types of Environmental Research Scientist jobs?

The most popular types of Environmental Research Scientist jobs are:

What states have the most Environmental Research Scientist jobs?

States with the most job openings for Environmental Research Scientist jobs include:

What job categories do people searching Environmental Research Scientist jobs look for?

The top searched job categories for Environmental Research Scientist jobs are:

Environmental Research Scientist jobs near you
Infographic showing various Environmental Research Scientist job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 1% As Needed, 85% Full Time, 11% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 84% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 12% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $84,123 per year, or $40.4 per hour.

Research Scientist

AccrueTalent

San Francisco, CA

$250K - $500K/yr

Full-time

Posted 2 days ago

New

Job description

Hiring Research Scientists to help define and advance the core technical direction of an early-stage AI company focused on multimodal representation learning.

This role is for a researcher who has trained models natively across multiple modalities, audio, images, video, text, and other structured inputs, and understands how richer representations can improve downstream reasoning and action. You’ll work directly with the founder, help set research direction from the earliest stage, and have significant autonomy over what gets explored and built.

What You’ll Own
  • Lead research in multimodal representation learning
  • Train and improve models across audio, image, video, text, and related modalities
  • Explore architectures that learn unified representations across multiple input types
  • Help define research priorities and long-term technical direction
  • Design experiments, evaluate model behavior, and identify promising research paths
  • Work across ambiguous, greenfield research problems with substantial autonomy
  • Translate research insights into systems that can ultimately support real-world AI products
What We’re Looking For
  • 3–6 years of relevant research experience, with flexibility for exceptional senior candidates
  • Deep expertise in multimodal representation learning
  • Track record of training models natively across multiple modalities
  • Strong understanding of modern deep learning architectures, training techniques, and evaluation
  • Experience conducting frontier-level research at a leading AI lab, research organization, or similarly high-bar environment
  • Research judgment strong enough to independently propose and drive new technical directions
  • Comfortable working in a very early-stage, high-intensity environment with significant ambiguity
  • High ownership and the ability to operate without a predefined research roadmap
Strong Green Flags
  • Direct experience training omni-models or native multimodal models
  • Research spanning combinations of video, audio, vision, language, and structured signals
  • Experience at leading multimodal or video-generation organizations such as Luma, Runway, Pika, or comparable frontier AI teams
  • Published research in multimodal learning, representation learning, generative modeling, video models, or adjacent fields
  • Prior research or technical leadership experience
  • Experience taking research ideas from hypothesis through large-scale training and rigorous evaluation
  • Exceptional technical or competitive achievement, including IOI, IMO, quantitative research, or other world-class competitive backgrounds

The strongest candidate has worked directly on models that learn across several modalities rather than simply combining independently trained models at inference time. You should understand the challenges of cross-modal representation learning, model training, conditioning, data quality, evaluation, and scaling—and be interested in pushing those systems further.

Strong multimodal researchers from adjacent areas, particularly video generation and multimodal foundation models, are also highly relevant.