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Senior Researcher Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

UX Researcher

Arlington, VA · On-site

$184K/yr

Join us to drive positive, lasting change that moves missions and the government forward! We're reinventing a large enterprise data platform, and we need a senior researcher who can close the loop ...

UX Researcher

Arlington, VA · On-site

$91K - $184K/yr

Join us to drive positive, lasting change that moves missions and the government forward! We're reinventing a large enterprise data platform, and we need a senior researcher who can close the loop ...

Principal UX Researcher

Arlington, VA · On-site

$230K - $320K/yr

We're looking for a Principal UX Researcher, to serve as the most senior researcher on the Product Design team, reporting directly to the VP of Design . This role will define BetterUp's research ...

Senior Research Financial Analyst

Blacksburg, VA · On-site

$75K - $93K/yr

Senior Research Financial Analyst Apply now Back to search results Job no: 535829 Work type: Administrative & Professional Senior management: Vice President for Research Department: Fralin Biomedical ...

Senior Analyst

Arlington, VA · On-site

$101K - $134K/yr

Working Title Sr. Research Analyst Payroll Title Senior Analyst Location BCSA Arlington Office - Arlington, VA 22203 US (Primary) Category Administrative / Clerical Job Type Full-time Job ...

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Showing results 1-20

Senior Researcher information

See Virginia salary details

$28.3K

$76K

$136.3K

How much do senior researcher jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 3, 2026, the average yearly pay for senior researcher in Virginia is $75,950.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $49,600.00 and $97,700.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

How does a senior researcher typically collaborate with junior team members and cross-functional departments?

Senior Researchers often play a mentorship role, guiding junior researchers through project design, data analysis, and publication processes. They frequently collaborate with cross-functional teams such as product development, data science, or policy groups to align research objectives with organizational goals. This often involves regular meetings, sharing insights, and ensuring research findings are effectively translated into actionable strategies. Strong communication and leadership skills are essential for fostering a collaborative, innovative environment.

What is a senior researcher?

Senior Researchers are experienced professionals who lead and oversee research projects within their field of expertise. They are responsible for designing studies, analyzing data, mentoring junior researchers, and publishing findings in academic journals or industry reports. Their work often involves securing funding, collaborating with other experts, and ensuring research meets ethical and methodological standards. Senior Researchers play a crucial role in advancing knowledge and innovation within their organizations or institutions.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a senior researcher?

To thrive as a Senior Researcher, you need advanced analytical skills, subject matter expertise, and typically a PhD or equivalent experience in your field. Familiarity with specialized research software, statistical analysis tools, and data management systems is often required. Strong critical thinking, leadership, and effective communication skills help in managing projects and collaborating with multidisciplinary teams. These competencies are vital for driving innovative research, securing funding, and generating impactful results.

Do I need a PhD to be a senior researcher?

A PhD is often preferred for senior researcher roles, especially in academia and research institutions, as it demonstrates advanced expertise and research skills. However, some organizations may consider candidates with a master's degree combined with extensive experience and a strong publication record. Relevant skills, such as data analysis, project management, and familiarity with research tools, are also important.

What is the difference between Senior Researcher vs Research Scientist?

AspectSenior ResearcherResearch Scientist
Required CredentialsBachelor's or Master's degree, extensive research experienceMaster's or PhD, specialized research skills
Work EnvironmentAcademic, corporate, or government labs; leading projectsResearch-focused roles in labs, industry, or academia
Employer & Industry UsageUniversities, research institutes, corporationsResearch institutions, biotech, tech companies
Common Search & ComparisonSenior ResearcherResearch Scientist

The main difference between a Senior Researcher and a Research Scientist lies in experience level and scope of responsibilities. Senior Researchers often lead projects and mentor junior staff, while Research Scientists focus on conducting specialized research. Both roles require advanced degrees and research expertise, but Senior Researchers typically have more leadership duties and broader project oversight.

What are the most commonly searched types of Researcher jobs in Virginia? The most popular types of Researcher jobs in Virginia are:
What cities in Virginia are hiring for Senior Researcher jobs? Cities in Virginia with the most Senior Researcher job openings:
Infographic showing various Senior Researcher job openings in Virginia as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 2% Locum Tenens, 86% Full Time, 9% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 11% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $75,950 per year, or $36.5 per hour.

SR Researcher for Behavioral Health Projects

Eagle Technologies, Inc.

Arlington, VA

Full-time

Re-posted 23 days ago


Job description

Job Description:

Eagle Technologies, Inc., is hiring a Senior Researcher to support behavioral health projects for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and to engage in other research activities. Eagle has led the way in designing and implementing new technologies to collect, analyze, and disseminate substance use and mental health information to SAMHSA, academics, practitioners, and the general public. Eagle provides government decision-makers with deep, data-driven insights into federal programs' effectiveness, impact, and limitations. Eagle has comprehensive experience managing large-scale projects for the federal government, and expert knowledge of evaluation design, implementation, and data analytics. The senior researcher will lead the activities of designing and implementing evaluations and research studies and developing reports and research products. They will coordinate with team members and clients in support of various project tasks and, as necessary, work under tight deadlines to fulfill client requirements. The successful candidate must have strong writing skills and be able to effectively present data to be viewed by various consumers, including the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, academia, and the general public.

Responsibilities:

  •  Serve as Principal Investigator on federal program evaluation contracts, leading the design, implementation, and reporting of evaluation studies.
  • Manage all aspects of project planning, execution, and delivery, ensuring compliance with contract requirements and timelines.
  • Conduct quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods studies, designing formal experiments and suitable quasi-experiments as needed.
  • Collaborate with clients, stakeholders, and project teams to elicit requirements and information pertinent to the programs being evaluated.
  • Integrate both primary and secondary data sources in analysis, combining data from various sources to provide a comprehensive evaluation.
  • Design, interpret, develop, and execute research studies.
  • Lead and participate in conferences and national webinars to share insights on relevant topics in substance abuse and mental health treatment.
  • Author reports, data briefs, executive summaries, and peer-reviewed articles summarizing research findings.
  • Prepare memos, technical assistance tools/products, webinar presentations, and journal manuscripts.
  • Program and conduct a wide variety of univariate and multivariate statistical analyses.
  • Work with the data analysis and reports team and clients to support various project tasks.
  • Conduct quality control on the results of other researchers.
  • Review existing data sources, perform extensive data profiling and analysis to design and develop data models and research projects to transform data into actionable insights.
  •  Assist with client account management to understand needs, manage expectations, and build long-term relationships (including business development activities).
  •  Use SAS and/or other statistical software to produce graphs and tables and respond to ad hoc data requests.

Requirements:

  • A high level of proficiency in SAS, Stata, or both.
  • Authored at least two peer-reviewed publications in public health, the social sciences, or statistics.
  • Demonstrated record of technical and business writing.
  • Demonstrated expertise in applied research and a strong understanding of statistical analysis methods.
  • Experience working with large data sets and gleaning meaningful insights.
  • High level of proficiency in M.S. Office Suite and Adobe Acrobat.
  • Bring creative ideas for business development and actively participate in submitting proposals and obtaining new projects.
  • Preferred: Prior experience in behavioral health (substance use and/or mental health).
  • Attention to detail, deductive/analytic reasoning.
  • Ability to manage multiple assignments at once.
  • Ability to assess, understand, and adapt to new approaches quickly.
  • Ability to work effectively independently as well as within a team environment.
  • Ability to clearly express ideas orally and in writing.

Education and  Experience:

Master’s or doctoral degree in public health, public policy, epidemiology, behavioral or social sciences, statistics, data analytics, data science, or other relevant disciplines.

A minimum of eight years of relevant professional experience

Work Authorization:

Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. without a VISA sponsorship, both now and in the future.

Background Check:

Candidates who receive a conditional offer of employment will be subject to a background check.

Eagle Technologies, Inc. is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, military status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other protected categories covered under local law.

Employment Type: FULL_TIME