This chapter conceptualizes scientific careers as unfolding within an occupational field shaped by the interaction of the career field for scientists and the organizational field of universities. Drawing on Bourdieu’s field theory, it explains how field rules distribute valued forms of capital and define legitimate pathways for advancement. Universities and scientists mutually reinforce symbolic capital: universities provide titles and visibility, while reputable scholars enhance institutional standing. The chapter highlights contemporary dynamics—globalization, mobility, competition and cooperation, governance change, and metrification—and derives resulting career requirements such as publications, grants, and awards. Five career narratives illustrate how scholars navigate these pressures and trade-offs.