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 roles212+
Top employerAmazon Web Services
Top citySan Francisco, CA
Cities hiring39
Work type51% Hybrid
Top industryTechnology

Showing 5 of 212+ AI Data Engineer jobs

Enterprise Sales Director — Data & AI Services and SaaS
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New 2h ago
Enterprise Sales Director — Data & AI Services and SaaS
Aviana Global Technologies
Yorba Linda, California
Business Operations
Revenue Operations & Enablement
Sales
$130k - $160k/yr
Hybrid

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Marcom Data Strategist, AI Program
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New 9h ago
Marcom Data Strategist, AI Program
Apple
Sunnyvale, California
Corporate Training & Learning Development
Learning & Development
Program Management
$207k - $373k/yr
Master data management
10,000+

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AI Data Program Manager, Marcom
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New 9h ago
AI Data Program Manager, Marcom
Apple
Sunnyvale, California
Corporate Training & Learning Development
Learning & Development
Program Management
$207k - $373k/yr
10,000+

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Product Manager - Generative AI, Ai & Data Platforms (AiDP)
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Product Manager - Generative AI, Ai & Data Platforms (AiDP)
Apple
Sunnyvale, California
Compliance & Risk
Cybersecurity
Security Engineering
$145k - $218k/yr
Bachelor's degree in engineering
10,000+

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Senior Data Scientist, Data Quality and AI Evaluation
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Added 2d ago
Senior Data Scientist, Data Quality and AI Evaluation
NVIDIA
Santa Clara, California
AI (Artificial Intelligence)
Data Science
ML (Machine Learning)
Software Engineering
$224k - $431k/yr
Bachelor's degree
10,000+

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See All 212+ 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 Jose
26 jobs
Foster City
12 jobs
Sunnyvale
11 jobs
Palo Alto
9 jobs
Mountain View
8 jobs

AI Data Engineer Job Market in California

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

Who's Hiring

  • Amazon Web Services13
  • Google10
  • Meta6
  • Visa6
  • Apple6

Top Industries Hiring

  • Technology & Software11
  • Manufacturing2
  • Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals2
  • Staffing & Recruiting1
  • Electronics & Hardware1

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 Amazon Web Services, Google, and Meta, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 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 Los Angeles 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 68% of ai data engineer openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of November 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 212+ 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