Scientist Jobs

Ireland's research and science sector draws from a unique ecosystem of world-class universities, pharmaceutical manufacturers, and environmental consultancies, with 78 active roles spread across Dublin, Westmeath, Kildare, Galway, Cork, and Limerick.

Thermo Fisher Scientific and Trinity College Dublin each lead with 9 positions — representing the commercial and academic poles of scientific research. Thermo Fisher recruits analytical chemists, bioprocess scientists, and laboratory technicians for its Irish manufacturing and R&D operations. Trinity recruits research fellows and post-doctoral scientists across its science and engineering faculties, offering fixed-term research positions funded by SFI (Science Foundation Ireland), HRB, and EU Horizon programmes.

The pharmaceutical and diagnostics cluster adds significant depth. Danaher has 5 science positions across its life sciences and diagnostics businesses. Viatris recruits 4 scientists for its manufacturing operations. Almac Group adds pharmaceutical development roles. In Westmeath, where 10 science positions are currently tracked, the pharma manufacturing corridor creates steady demand for analytical and formulation scientists.

Environmental and engineering science is a growing field. WSP recruits 4 environmental scientists from its Naas, Co. Kildare base for consulting projects across water, waste, and sustainability. AECOM and Jacobs both hire science professionals for infrastructure and environmental impact assessment work. Huawei brings a telecoms research dimension from its Dublin R&D centre, while Canonical recruits technical documentation and research roles for its open source platform.

What qualifications do you need? A minimum of a Level 8 degree in a relevant science discipline (chemistry, biology, environmental science, pharmaceutical science) is standard. For research roles at universities, a PhD is typically required or strongly preferred. Key skills include laboratory techniques (HPLC, GC, spectroscopy), GMP/GLP compliance, scientific writing, and statistical analysis using tools like Minitab or JMP. The career path runs from Research Assistant and Laboratory Technician through Scientist and Senior Scientist to Principal Scientist and Head of R&D — with the pharmaceutical track offering particularly strong career stability given Ireland's position as one of the world's largest pharma exporters.