Cognitive rigidities have long been a serious concern in innovation research, such as disruptive innovation studies and not-invented-here syndrome studies. The existing literature, however, lacks a theoretical perspective and empirical evidence regarding why cognitive rigidities develop and how to deal with the problem. To address this paucity, this study investigates the role that research and development (R&D) personnel's adaptive expertise plays in coping with cognitive rigidities by analyzing its direct effect on career success and its path of influence through career adaptability. On the basis of a survey of 262 R&D personnel in South Korea, this study shows the direct effect of adaptive expertise on the career success of R&D personnel and the mediation effect of career adaptability on the relationship between the two variables. This research provides various theoretical and practical implications to cognitive rigidities in innovation studies, career development studies, and human resource management of R&D personnel.