AI Data Engineer Jobs in California

AI Data Engineer jobs in California represent one of the most active markets in the country, with demand concentrated in technology, entertainment, healthcare, and financial services and openings at every level from entry-level associate to principal engineer. The highest volume of hiring is in the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, and San Diego, where established employers like Google, Salesforce, and Kaiser Permanente maintain large data engineering teams. The most in-demand specialties are large language model (LLM) pipeline development, real-time feature stores, and MLOps infrastructure. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.

Find AI Data Engineer Jobs

Overview

Open roles1,904+
Top employerApple
Top citySan Francisco, CA
Cities hiring75
Work type78% On-site
Top industryTechnology

Showing 5 of 1,904+ AI Data Engineer jobs

42dot
Senior AI Data Pipeline Engineer
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42dot
Added 1w ago
Senior AI Data Pipeline Engineer
42dot
Sunnyvale, California
Data Engineering
Software Engineering
Cloud & DevOps
AI (Artificial Intelligence)
ML (Machine Learning)
$133k - $254k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's

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Adobe
Senior AI Data Platform Engineer
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Adobe
Added 2mo ago
Senior AI Data Platform Engineer
Adobe
San Jose, California
Data Science & Analytics
Data Engineering
Cloud & DevOps
Software Engineering
Data Science
Cloud Engineering
AI (Artificial Intelligence)
$208k - $302k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's
10,000+

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Microsoft
Member of Technical Staff, AI - Data Research Engineer
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Microsoft
Added 7mo ago
Member of Technical Staff, AI - Data Research Engineer
Microsoft
Mountain View, California
Data Science & Analytics
Data Engineering
Software Engineering
Cloud & DevOps
Data Science
AI (Artificial Intelligence)
$120k - $304k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's
10,000+

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NetApp
Distinguished Engineer - AI Data Engine
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NetApp
Added 3d ago
Distinguished Engineer - AI Data Engine
NetApp
San Jose, California
Software Engineering
Data Engineering
Cloud & DevOps
Technical Product & Program Management
AI (Artificial Intelligence)
Cloud Engineering
Technical Program Management
$266k - $396k/yr
Hybrid
Bachelor's
10,000+

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Adobe
Principal Data & AI Engineer
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Adobe
Added 4mo ago
Principal Data & AI Engineer
Adobe
San Jose, California
Data Science & Analytics
Data Engineering
Software Engineering
Data Science
AI (Artificial Intelligence)
ML (Machine Learning)
$179k - $302k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's
10,000+

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See All 1,904+ AI Data Engineer Jobs in California

Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

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AI Data Engineer Jobs by City in California

Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.

San Francisco
430 jobs
San Jose
265 jobs
Santa Clara
181 jobs
Sunnyvale
145 jobs
Mountain View
142 jobs
Cupertino
138 jobs
Palo Alto
86 jobs
San Diego
58 jobs
Menlo Park
47 jobs

AI Data Engineer Job Market in California

A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.

Who's Hiring

  • Apple
    Apple192
  • TikTok
    TikTok90
  • NVIDIA
    NVIDIA80
  • Amazon
    Amazon59
  • Adobe
    Adobe52

Top Industries Hiring

  • Technology & Software939
  • Electronics & Hardware299
  • Artificial Intelligence156
  • Banking & Financial Services106
  • Consulting & Professional Services73

What California Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in AI data engineer jobs across California.

  • Bachelor's or master's degree in computer science, data engineering, or a related technical field
  • Proficiency building and maintaining data pipelines using Python, SQL, or Scala
  • Hands-on experience with cloud platforms such as Google Cloud, AWS, or Azure
  • Demonstrated ability to design and operationalize machine learning data infrastructure at scale
  • Experience with orchestration tools such as Apache Airflow, dbt, or Spark
  • Familiarity with vector databases and embedding pipelines for generative AI applications

AI Data Engineer Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a ai data engineer in California?

Most California employers require a bachelor's degree in computer science, data science, or a closely related engineering discipline, and many prefer a master's for senior roles. There is no California state license required for this role. The practical path is to build proficiency in Python, SQL, and cloud data platforms, earn widely recognized credentials such as Google Professional Data Engineer or AWS Certified Data Engineer, and complete portfolio projects demonstrating AI pipeline work before applying to California's large technology and healthcare employers.

How much do AI data engineers make in California?

AI data engineers in California earn a median of about $141,590 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $77,480 for the lowest 10% to over $224,920 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.

Which companies hire ai data engineers in California?

Employers hiring ai data engineers in California right now include Apple, TikTok, and NVIDIA, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of June 2026. California's concentration of major technology headquarters, biotech firms, and streaming media companies means the range of industries behind these openings is broader here than in most other states.

Which California cities have the most ai data engineer jobs?

San Francisco, San Jose, and Santa Clara have the most ai data engineer openings in California. The Bay Area leads because of its density of technology headquarters and AI-focused startups, Los Angeles draws demand from entertainment technology and e-commerce companies, and San Diego's concentration of biotech and defense contractors drives consistent hiring in that market.

Are there remote ai data engineer jobs in California?

Yes, and more than most fields. About 22% of ai data engineer openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of June 2026, reflecting how much of this work is performed on cloud infrastructure rather than on-site hardware. Pipeline development, model monitoring, and feature engineering roles tend to be the most remote-friendly, while roles requiring close collaboration with on-site research teams are more likely to require in-office presence.

How can I get hired as a ai data engineer in California with little or no experience?

The most realistic entry path is moving from a data analyst or software engineering role where you already work with pipelines or SQL, then building AI-specific projects publicly to demonstrate readiness. Large California employers including Google, Meta, and Kaiser Permanente run structured associate and rotational data programs that accept recent graduates. Completing a Google Professional Data Engineer certification and contributing to open-source LLM tooling gives your application a concrete edge over candidates without a portfolio.

Where can I find and apply to ai data engineer jobs in California?

You can find and apply to ai data engineer jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings across technology, healthcare, financial services, and other industries. Find the roles that fit your experience and apply directly to the employers posting them.

See All 1,904+ AI Data Engineer Jobs in California

Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

Find AI Data Engineer Jobs