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Research Development Jobs in Tennessee (NOW HIRING)

Lead R&D Engineer

Memphis, TN · On-site

$120 - $160/hr

The Lead Research & Development Engineer is a senior technical leadership role responsible for both high-level engineering contribution and team-level coordination, mentoring, and delivery. This role ...

Lead R&D Engineer

Memphis, TN · On-site

$99K - $131K/yr

The Lead Research & Development Engineer is a senior technical leadership role responsible for both high-level engineering contribution and team-level coordination, mentoring, and delivery. This role ...

Lead R&D Engineer

Memphis, TN

$99K - $131K/yr

The Lead Research & Development Engineer is a senior technical leadership role responsible for both high-level engineering contribution and team-level coordination, mentoring, and delivery. This role ...

Lead R&D Engineer

Memphis, TN · On-site

$140 - $190/hr

The Lead Research & Development Engineer is a senior technical leadership role responsible for both high-level engineering contribution and team-level coordination, mentoring, and delivery. This role ...

Lead R&D Engineer

Memphis, TN · On-site

$99K - $131K/yr

The Lead Research & Development Engineer is a senior technical leadership role responsible for both high-level engineering contribution and team-level coordination, mentoring, and delivery. This role ...

Development CHemist

Piney Flats, TN · On-site

$100 - $120/hr

Available Employment Type: Full-Time | Direct Hire About the Opportunity Our confidential manufacturing client is seeking an innovative Development Chemist to support the research, development, and ...

Available Employment Type: Full-Time | Direct Hire About the Opportunity Our confidential manufacturing client is seeking an innovative Development Chemist to support the research, development, and ...

About R&D Roles at Danaher Are you driven by curiosity, discovery, and a desire to contribute to meaningful scientific innovation? As an R&D Intern at Danaher, you'll gain hands-on experience ...

About R&D Roles at Danaher Are you driven by curiosity, discovery, and a desire to contribute to meaningful scientific innovation? As an R&D Intern at Danaher, you'll gain hands-on experience ...

About R&D Roles at Danaher Are you driven by curiosity, discovery, and a desire to contribute to meaningful scientific innovation? As an R&D Intern at Danaher, you'll gain hands-on experience ...

About R&D Roles at Danaher Are you driven by curiosity, discovery, and a desire to contribute to meaningful scientific innovation? As an R&D Intern at Danaher, you'll gain hands-on experience ...

About R&D Roles at Danaher Are you driven by curiosity, discovery, and a desire to contribute to meaningful scientific innovation? As an R&D Intern at Danaher, you'll gain hands-on experience ...

About R&D Roles at Danaher Are you driven by curiosity, discovery, and a desire to contribute to meaningful scientific innovation? As an R&D Intern at Danaher, you'll gain hands-on experience ...

Showing results 21-40

Research Development information

See Tennessee salary details

$44K

$92.4K

$149.8K

How much do research development jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 4, 2026, the average yearly pay for research development in Tennessee is $92,390.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $70,300.00 and $105,700.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is research development?

A Research Development job focuses on identifying funding opportunities, developing research proposals, and fostering collaborations to support research initiatives. Professionals in this role assist researchers in securing grants, managing research projects, and aligning proposals with funding agency priorities. They often work in universities, research institutions, or corporate R&D departments to facilitate innovation and strategic growth. Strong communication, project management, and analytical skills are essential for success in this field.

What are the typical responsibilities of a research development professional?

Research Development professionals are primarily responsible for identifying funding opportunities, assisting with proposal preparation, and supporting strategic research initiatives. They often work closely with researchers, faculty, or scientists to develop competitive grant applications, ensure compliance with guidelines, and facilitate interdisciplinary collaborations. The role may also involve coordinating workshops or trainings, managing research portfolios, and tracking emerging trends in funding. Working in teams and liaising with administrative departments is common, fostering a collaborative and dynamic work environment that supports both individual and institutional research goals.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in research development?

To excel in Research Development, a strong background in scientific research, project management, and grant writing is typically required, often supported by an advanced degree in a relevant field. Familiarity with research administration software, funding databases, and compliance systems such as IRB protocols is highly beneficial. Exceptional communication, problem-solving, and cross-functional collaboration skills help professionals effectively manage complex projects and secure funding. These abilities are essential to drive innovation, streamline research processes, and support institutional or organizational growth.

What do research development professionals do?

Research development professionals support the planning, coordination, and management of research projects, often helping secure funding, develop proposals, and facilitate collaboration among researchers. They may also assist with grant writing, compliance, and project reporting, requiring strong organizational and communication skills. Their work typically occurs in academic, government, or industry research settings.

What are the most commonly searched types of Research Development jobs in Tennessee?

The most popular types of Research Development jobs in Tennessee are:

What cities in Tennessee are hiring for Research Development jobs?

Cities in Tennessee with the most Research Development job openings:

Infographic showing various Research Development job openings in Tennessee as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 89% Full Time, 5% Part Time, and 6% Contract. Highlights an 90% In-person, and 10% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $92,390 per year, or $44.4 per hour.

Postdoctoral Research Associate - Research & Development of Advanced Cement and Concrete Technology

Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Oak Ridge, TN • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 7 days ago


Oak Ridge National Laboratory rating

8.8

Company rating: 8.8 out of 10

Based on 16 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

14th of 121 rated laboratories


Job description

Requisition Id 17001
Overview:
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) is the largest US Department of Energy (DOE) science and energy laboratory, conducting basic and applied research to deliver transformative solutions to compelling problems in energy and security. Within ORNL, the Building Envelope Materials Research (BEMR) Group develops and deploys affordable, advanced, and resilient solutions for building envelopes of new construction and retrofits to enable DOE's energy efficiency goals. Our synergistic research areas include building science, material and system development, and advanced construction. With the support from the U.S. DOE Building Technologies and Industrial Technologies Offices we have the most extensive building envelope research portfolio and manufacturing demonstration facility in the nation. We are seeking to add to our team an energetic and creative postdoctoral research associate.
Major Duties/Responsibilities:
  • Research and develop the next generation of advanced, resilient, and durable cement and concrete technologies for use in construction.
  • Develop experimental setups, conduct experiments, and analyze results.
  • Collaborate in multidisciplinary teams that are composed of ORNL researchers with various backgrounds (e.g., material science, neutron science, chemistry, manufacturing, computing, others).
  • Interact and collaborate with researchers from universities, national laboratories, and private industry.
  • Present research results to ORNL staff, DOE, industry, and academia in the form of invited talks, conference papers, and peer-reviewed journal papers with high impact factors.
  • Assist in the development and preparation of proposals.
  • Ensure compliance with ORNL's environmental, safety, health, and program requirements.
  • Maintain a strong commitment to the implementation and continuation of ORNL's values and ethics.
  • Deliver ORNL's mission by aligning behaviors, priorities, and interactions with our core values of Impact, Integrity, Teamwork, Safety, and Service. Promote equal opportunity by fostering a respectful workplace - in how we treat one another, work together, and measure success.

Basic Qualifications:
  • PhD in chemical engineering, chemistry, mechanical engineering, civil engineering, materials science/engineering or related discipline completed within the last 5 years.
  • Solid academic and research record relevant to science and technology of cementitious materials.
  • Knowledge of analytical characterization techniques and performance testing of cementitious materials.
  • Knowledge on durability evaluation of cementitious materials.
  • Experience setting and conducting laboratory experiments.
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills.
  • Strong interpersonal skills to support team building.
  • Ability to work and demonstrate critical thinking individually and as part of a diverse team.
  • Ability to develop and/or maintain strong relationships with ADD through active participation in professional societies.
  • Ability to function well in a fast-paced research environment, set priorities to accomplish multiple tasks within deadlines, and adapt to ever changing needs.
  • Strong, proven publication record.
  • Self-motivated.

Preferred Qualifications:
  • Expert knowledge of cement chemistry.
  • Experience in materials characterization using advanced analytical tools, such as synchrotron, neutron, and laboratory equipment.
  • Experience in data analytics and modeling tools.

Special Requirements:
Applicants cannot have received their Ph.D. more than five years prior to the date of application and must complete all degree requirements before starting their appointment. The appointment length will be up to 24 months with the potential for extension. Initial appointments and extensions are subject to performance and availability of funding.
  • Letters of Recommendation: Please submit three letters of reference when applying for this position. You may upload these directly to your application or have them sent to Postdocrecruitment@ornl.gov with the position title and number referenced in the subject line.
  • Instructions to upload documents to your candidate profile:
    • Login to your account via jobs.ornl.gov
    • View Profile
    • Under the My Documents section, select Add a Document
  • Security, Credentialing, and Eligbility Requirements: For employment at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), a Real ID compliant form of identification will be required. Additionally, ORNL is subject to Department of Energy (DOE) access restrictions. All employees must also be able to obtain and maintain a federal Personal Identity Verification (PIV) card as mandated by Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12) and Department of Energy (DOE) Order 473.1A, which requires a favorable post-employment background investigation.

To obtain this credential, new employees must successfully complete and pass a Federal Tier 1 background check investigation. This investigation includes a declaration of illegal drug activities, including use, supply, possession, or manufacture within the last year. This includes marijuana and cannabis derivatives, which are still considered illegal under federal law, regardless of state laws.
For foreign national candidates:
If you have not resided in the U.S. for three consecutive years, you are not eligible for the PIV credential and instead will need to obtain a favorable Local Site Specific Only (LSSO) risk determination to maintain employment. Once you meet the three-year residency requirement, you will be required to obtain a PIV credential to maintain employment.
About ORNL:
As a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science national laboratory, ORNL has an impressive 80-year legacy of addressing the nation's most pressing challenges. Our team is made up of over 7,000 dedicated and innovative individuals! Our goal is to create an environment where a variety of perspectives and backgrounds are valued, ensuring ORNL is known as a top choice for employment. These principles are essential for supporting our broader mission to drive scientific breakthroughs and translate them into solutions for energy, environmental, and security challenges facing the nation.
ORNL offers competitive pay and benefits programs to attract and retain individuals who demonstrate exceptional work behaviors. The laboratory provides a range of employee benefits, including medical and retirement plans and flexible work hours, to support the well-being of you and your family. Employee amenities such as on-site fitness, banking, and cafeteria facilities are also available for added convenience.
Other benefits include the following: Prescription Drug Plan, Dental Plan, Vision Plan, 401(k) Retirement Plan, Contributory Pension Plan, Life Insurance, Disability Benefits, Generous Vacation and Holidays, Parental Leave, Legal Insurance with Identity Theft Protection, Employee Assistance Plan, Flexible Spending Accounts, Health Savings Accounts, Wellness Programs, Educational Assistance, Relocation Assistance, and Employee Discounts.
This position will remain open for a minimum of 5 days after which it will close when a qualified candidate is identified and/or hired.
We accept Word (.doc, .docx), Adobe (unsecured .pdf), Rich Text Format (.rtf), and HTML (.htm, .html) up to 5MB in size. Resumes from third party vendors will not be accepted; these resumes will be deleted and the candidates submitted will not be considered for employment.
If you have trouble applying for a position, please email ORNLRecruiting@ornl.gov.
ORNL is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants, including individuals with disabilities and protected veterans, are encouraged to apply. UT-Battelle is an E-Verify employer.

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