Director Research Engineering
Salary surveys & compensation benchmarks
3 compensation survey reports publish salary benchmarks for Director Research Engineering. Compare what each vendor covers and pick the right one for your organization.
Role summary
Manages, directs, or supervises staff responsible for conducting engineering research activities that support the development of new technologies, prototypes, materials, and engineering solutions that can be translated into future products, manufacturing processes, or services. Oversees the planning, coordination, and execution of engineering research programs and ensures projects align with the organization’s innovation strategy, technology roadmap, and product development objectives. Works closely with research scientists, product development, manufacturing, quality, and business leadership to identify market opportunities and apply engineering research to practical commercial applications. May coordinate research activities with universities, government laboratories, and external research institutions to evaluate emerging technologies and engineering advancements. Responsible for allocating resources, monitoring project progress, and ensuring research initiatives meet technical, financial, and timeline objectives. Depending on level, may oversee research laboratories, specialized engineering teams, or major research programs supporting long-term technology development. Typically requires a degree in a relevant engineering discipline and significant experience in engineering research and development.
Job summary sourced from the Empsight benchmark job library.
Reports covering Director Research Engineering
Director Research Engineering salary survey FAQ
- Which compensation surveys cover Director Research Engineering pay?
- 3 surveys publish Director Research Engineering benchmarks, including data from Empsight. The full list is on this page; click into any one for scope, methodology, and pricing.
- How does Director Research Engineering pay vary by industry and geography?
- Compensation for Director Research Engineering varies by industry, region, company size, and revenue. Most surveys above publish cuts on those dimensions. Industry-specific surveys (healthcare, tech, financial services, etc.) typically report meaningfully different ranges than cross-industry surveys for the same role.
- What is the typical salary range for Director Research Engineering?
- CompShop is a directory of compensation-survey publishers, not a salary aggregator. Actual Director Research Engineering ranges live in the surveys listed on this page. Most publishers report 25th, 50th, 75th, and 90th percentile salary data plus total cash compensation.
- How often should I refresh Director Research Engineering pay benchmarks?
- Annually is the standard cadence for primary roles. Survey data older than two years is generally too stale for setting current pay ranges, especially in hot segments. Most publishers above release annual editions; a few offer semi-annual updates for fast-moving markets.