How to hire a senior project scientist

How to hire a senior project scientist, step by step

Here's a step-by-step senior project scientist hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a senior project scientist job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new senior project scientist
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your senior project scientist job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a senior project scientist for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a senior project scientist to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a senior project scientist that fits the bill.

   This list presents senior project scientist salaries for various positions.

   Type of Senior Project Scientist	Description	Hourly rate
   Senior Project Scientist	Medical scientists conduct research aimed at improving overall human health. They often use clinical trials and other investigative methods to reach their findings.	$36-70
   Research Fellow	A research fellow is an academic researcher who conducts research and analysis of comprehensive literature, data, and results and provides literature reviews. He/She supervises research assistants and recruits study participants to interview them for a particular study... Show more	$18-34
   Fellow	A fellow's responsibility will depend on the organization or industry where one belongs. However, most of the time, a fellow's duty will revolve around conducting research and analysis, presiding discussions and attending dialogues, handle lectures while complying with the guidelines or tasks set by supervisors, and assist in various projects and activities... Show more	$22-44

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • GIS
   • Sample Collection
   • OSHA
   • R
   • Site Assessments
   • Phase II
   • Technical Reports
   • Regulatory Compliance
   • Analytical Methods
   • Development Procedures
   • Project Management
   • Asbestos
   • Water Quality
   • Data Analysis

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage pediatric dose development project, technology transfer project and alternate API supplier qualification project on budget and on schedule
   • Complete health & safety and industrial hygiene oversight for excavation activities relate to utility installations at areas impact with hydrocarbons.
   • Produce ESA report maps utilizing AutoCAD skills.
   • Conduct research programs to identify new ingredients and new test methods to support product IP, consumer concepts and equity claims.
   • Provide technical and regulatory (NEPA) support for natural resources/aquatic environmental/biological projects.

   More senior project scientist duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the senior project scientist job description is a good way to get more applicants. A senior project scientist salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for a senior project scientist in Missouri may be lower than in California, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level senior project scientist. Additionally, a senior project scientist with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average senior project scientist salary

   $106,302yearly

   $51.11 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level senior project scientist salary

   $76,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 21, 2026

   Average senior project scientist salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$144,568	$70
   2	Connecticut	$104,201	$50
   3	Pennsylvania	$96,194	$46
   4	Florida	$90,903	$44
   5	North Carolina	$89,303	$43
   6	Texas	$81,232	$39
   7	Virginia	$79,429	$38
   8	South Carolina	$72,237	$35
   9	Louisiana	$68,410	$33
   10	Georgia	$67,877	$33

   Average senior project scientist salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Amazon	$152,381	$73.26	551
   2	Merck	$108,372	$52.10	129
   3	ERM	$104,531	$50.26	17
   4	Peraton	$100,841	$48.48	41
   5	Advocates for Human Potential	$99,571	$47.87
   6	HRP Associates	$98,538	$47.37	3
   7	Cedars-Sinai	$96,116	$46.21	74
   8	L3Harris	$94,410	$45.39	16
   9	Loureiro Engineering Associates	$94,047	$45.21	3
   10	Vencore	$93,056	$44.74	15
   11	Institute for Energy Research	$88,107	$42.36
   12	Carnegie Mellon University	$86,600	$41.63	18
   13	Wsp USA Buildings Inc.	$84,484	$40.62	19

4. Writing a senior project scientist job description

   A good senior project scientist job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a senior project scientist job description:

   Senior project scientist job description example

   Loureiro Engineering Associates is seeking a Senior Project Scientist or Geologist to add to our Environmental team in Connecticut.
   
   Our goal is to employ the right individuals to be a part of our team, learning and working with experienced professionals who will help provide the formal training and mentoring needed to grow professionally and strive toward the opportunities that Loureiro can offer. You will work on a number of diverse projects and will be able to see how the Company's core values: Customer Focus, Composure, Confidence, initiative, Team Work, Dedication to Others, and Optimism and Energy are instilled in every project and in every employee.
   Responsibilities:
   
   * Overseeing the completion of investigation and/or oversight projects including air, soil, sediment, and groundwater sampling; remedial construction management or oversight; installing, developing and sampling monitoring wells; logging soil borings and collection of soil samples; drum and waste sampling;
   * Ensure technical accuracy as part of a project team performing preliminary assessments, site investigations, remedial investigations/actions, site surveys, feasibility studies as part of providing solutions to clients under CT RSR, CERCLA, RCRA and other environmental compliance regulations;
   * May serve as lead client contact for the technical progress of certain projects and manage scope and schedule of projects.
   * Writing and ensuring technical accuracy of documents, including field oversight documentation reports, field reports, health and safety plans, quality assurance project plans, field sampling plans, data management plans, remedial investigation reports and feasibility studies.
   * Participate in and lead preparation of proposals.
   
   Requirements:
   
   * B.S. in Environmental Engineering, Geology, Environmental Science or another related discipline;
   * 5-10 years' experience in environmental consulting;
   * Phase I and II and Remediation experience a plus;
   * Prior experience overseeing and working with subcontractors (e.g., drillers, construction workers, surveyors, etc.) while performing fieldwork, is a plus;
   * Strong communication, analytical, and technical writing skills;
   * Prior experience with environmental site investigation/remediation;
   * Willingness and ability to travel on short-term assignments as needed;
   * Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic, and demanding environment. Knowledge in organizing, planning, and prioritizing work;
   * OSHA HAZWOPER training preferred.
   
   We are passionate about solving our clients' problems and dedicated to providing them with exceptional service. Our team is intellectually curious and self-driven to advance each activity we undertake with purpose and passion. If this sounds like a fit for you, we'd love to have that first discussion of you joining our team. Candidates must be eligible to work in the USA without Sponsorship.
   
   Loureiro Engineering Associates, Inc. (Loureiro) is an employee owned (ESOP), full-service multi-disciplinary consulting firm with operations in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Missouri, and the District of Columbia. Loureiro' s areas of expertise include the integration of the highest quality engineering, construction, environmental health & safety, energy, laboratory analytical, landscape architecture and waste management services.
   
   EEO/AAP Statement Loureiro Engineering Associates Inc., subsidiaries and affiliates are An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find senior project scientists for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your senior project scientist job on Zippia to find and recruit senior project scientist candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting senior project scientists requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new senior project scientist

   Once you've decided on a perfect senior project scientist candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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