This study examines the personal characteristics, organizational attitudes, technical performances, and reward preferences of R&D professionals with Ph.D. degree in large private companies in Korea. Based on survey data from 887 professionals in nine different R&D organizations, the following results are found; 1) R&D professionals with Ph.D. degree exhibit higher autonomy preference, need for achievement, self-efficacy, technical career orientation, and performance proficiency than other R&D professionals; 2) As their organizational tenure increases, performance proficiency and transfer career orientation increases but their socialized level of organizational goals and values does not change; 3) They produce more technical publications and exhibit more positive organizational attitude than other R&D professionals; 4) They are more likely to prefer job content, professional, and job security rewards. These empirical findings suggest several theoretical and practical implications for the management of R&D professionals with Ph.D. degree in the large Korean firms.