This study empirically analyzed the relationship between career orientation and various task-related outcomes among R&D professionals. The career orientation of R&D professionals encompasses the local-cosmopolitan orientation, and performance was measured in terms of the number of registered patents, job satisfaction, organizational commitment, and perceived team performance. Data were collected from 1,333 R&D professionals working in research institutes and technology development divisions in the domestic electronics industry. Factor analysis revealed that career orientation comprised two dimensions: professional orientation and local (organizational) orientation. The findings from statistical testing revealed the following. First, the correlation between the professional orientation and local orientation dimensions was significantly high. Second, education level, age, and tenure had significant relationships with the formation of career orientation. Third, professional orientation had a significant influence on various task-related outcome variables. Fourth, professional orientation and local orientation exhibited complementary effects under conditions of high task uncertainty. Based on these analytical results, practical implications were discussed, and finally, the limitations of this study and directions for future research were presented.