AI Researcher Jobs in California
AI Researcher jobs in California are among the most active in the country, concentrated in machine learning, foundation model development, and applied AI across the technology, defense, and life sciences sectors, with openings at every level from entry-level research associate through principal and staff researcher. The deepest hiring activity sits in the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, and San Diego, where companies like Google, Meta, and Qualcomm maintain large research operations with ongoing headcount. The most in-demand specializations are large language model research, computer vision, and reinforcement learning. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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About Workato
Workato delivers enterprise infrastructure for the agentic era, redefining iPaaS and helping enterprises unify data, applications, processes, and AI into a single, governed platform. A leader in Enterprise MCP and trusted by 50% of the Fortune 500, Workato’s cloud-native architecture connects every application, data source, and process to power real-time orchestration at scale. With enterprise-grade security and continuous innovation at its core, Workato provides the trusted foundation for organizations to automate with confidence and operationalize AI across the business.
Why join us?
Ultimately, Workato believes in fostering a flexible, trust-oriented culture that empowers everyone to take full ownership of their roles. We are driven by innovation and looking for team players who want to actively build our company.
But, we also believe in balancing productivity with self-care. That’s why we offer all of our employees a vibrant and dynamic work environment along with a multitude of benefits they can enjoy inside and outside of their work lives.
If this sounds right up your alley, please submit an application. We look forward to getting to know you!
Also, feel free to check out why:
- Business Insider named us an “enterprise startup to bet your career on”
- Forbes’ Cloud 100 recognized us as one of the top 100 private cloud companies in the world
- Deloitte Tech Fast 500 ranked us as the 17th fastest growing tech company in the Bay Area, and 96th in North America
- Quartz ranked us the #1 best company for remote workers
Responsibilities
We are looking for an exceptional AI Research Scientist to join our growing team. In this role, you will be responsible to:
- Explore workflow-aware planning, cost-optimised RAG, tool-use evaluation, and multi-agent collaboration.
- Prototype and benchmark models; present findings internally and externally.
- Collaborate with Product & Engineering to ship research-backed features.
- Contribute to open-source repos and author technical blogs.
Requirements
Qualifications / Experience / Technical Skills
- MS/PhD in Computer Science, ML, or related field—or equivalent experience.
- Hands-on with PyTorch/JAX and modern LLM frameworks.
- Strong publication record in top-tier ML venues (NeurIPS, ICML, ICLR) or demonstrable impactful experimental work; hands-on experience with large-scale model training, transformer architectures, reinforcement-learning techniques, and CUDA.
Soft Skills / Personal Characteristics
- Curiosity-driven and self-directed.
- Ability to explain complex ideas to non-experts.
- Team player who welcomes feedback and knowledge-sharing.
(REQ ID: 2124)
About Workato
Workato delivers enterprise infrastructure for the agentic era, redefining iPaaS and helping enterprises unify data, applications, processes, and AI into a single, governed platform. A leader in Enterprise MCP and trusted by 50% of the Fortune 500, Workato’s cloud-native architecture connects every application, data source, and process to power real-time orchestration at scale. With enterprise-grade security and continuous innovation at its core, Workato provides the trusted foundation for organizations to automate with confidence and operationalize AI across the business.
Why join us?
Ultimately, Workato believes in fostering a flexible, trust-oriented culture that empowers everyone to take full ownership of their roles. We are driven by innovation and looking for team players who want to actively build our company.
But, we also believe in balancing productivity with self-care. That’s why we offer all of our employees a vibrant and dynamic work environment along with a multitude of benefits they can enjoy inside and outside of their work lives.
If this sounds right up your alley, please submit an application. We look forward to getting to know you!
Also, feel free to check out why:
- Business Insider named us an “enterprise startup to bet your career on”
- Forbes’ Cloud 100 recognized us as one of the top 100 private cloud companies in the world
- Deloitte Tech Fast 500 ranked us as the 17th fastest growing tech company in the Bay Area, and 96th in North America
- Quartz ranked us the #1 best company for remote workers
Responsibilities
We are looking for an exceptional AI Research Scientist to join our growing team. In this role, you will be responsible to:
- Explore workflow-aware planning, cost-optimised RAG, tool-use evaluation, and multi-agent collaboration.
- Prototype and benchmark models; present findings internally and externally.
- Collaborate with Product & Engineering to ship research-backed features.
- Contribute to open-source repos and author technical blogs.
Requirements
Qualifications / Experience / Technical Skills
- MS/PhD in Computer Science, ML, or related field—or equivalent experience.
- Hands-on with PyTorch/JAX and modern LLM frameworks.
- Strong publication record in top-tier ML venues (NeurIPS, ICML, ICLR) or demonstrable impactful experimental work; hands-on experience with large-scale model training, transformer architectures, reinforcement-learning techniques, and CUDA.
Soft Skills / Personal Characteristics
- Curiosity-driven and self-directed.
- Ability to explain complex ideas to non-experts.
- Team player who welcomes feedback and knowledge-sharing.
(REQ ID: 2124)
See All 370+ AI Researcher Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find AI Researcher JobsAI Researcher Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
AI Researcher Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Apple34
- TikTok26
- Meta23
- ByteDance21
- NVIDIA13
Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software194
- Electronics & Hardware61
- Artificial Intelligence59
- Science & Research42
- Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals18
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in AI researcher jobs across California.
- PhD or master's degree in computer science, machine learning, or a closely related field
- Demonstrated publication record in peer-reviewed AI or machine learning conferences
- Proficiency in Python and deep learning frameworks such as PyTorch or JAX
- Experience designing and running large-scale experiments on distributed computing infrastructure
- Ability to translate research findings into production-ready models or engineering handoffs
- Strong written and verbal communication skills for cross-functional collaboration and publication
AI Researcher Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a ai researcher in California?
Most ai researcher roles in California require at minimum a master's degree, and the majority of positions at leading California technology and defense firms expect a PhD in computer science, statistics, or a closely related field. California has no state-issued license or registration specific to this role. Candidates typically build their profile through graduate research, publications at top venues like NeurIPS or ICML, and internships at California-based research labs or technology companies before moving into full-time positions.
How much do AI researchers make in California?
AI researchers in California earn a median of about $159,100 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $88,920 for the lowest 10% to over $275,320 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire ai researchers in California?
Employers hiring ai researchers in California right now include Apple, TikTok, and Meta, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of June 2026. California's concentration of major technology headquarters, semiconductor companies, and defense contractors means openings appear across a wider range of industries than most states.
Which California cities have the most ai researcher jobs?
San Francisco, San Jose, and Mountain View have the most ai researcher openings in California. The Bay Area dominates because of the density of major technology headquarters and research labs in San Francisco, Mountain View, and Menlo Park, while Los Angeles draws hiring from entertainment AI and aerospace firms, and San Diego's activity is driven largely by Qualcomm and a growing cluster of defense and biotech employers.
Are there remote ai researcher jobs in California?
Yes, and more than most fields. About 13% of ai researcher openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of June 2026, reflecting how much of the core work involves writing code, running experiments, and producing papers rather than being physically on site. Fully remote positions are most common at companies whose research teams are already distributed, while roles that require access to proprietary hardware clusters or on-site collaboration tend to require at least partial presence.
How can I get hired as a ai researcher in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is a research internship or PhD residency at a California-based technology or defense lab, which many large employers use as their primary pipeline for converting junior talent into full-time hires. Companies like Google, Meta, and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory run structured research internship programs open to graduate students without prior industry experience. Candidates who lack a PhD can strengthen their profile through published or preprint work, open-source contributions to recognized projects, and applying for research engineer or applied scientist roles, which often sit adjacent to pure research positions and require less prior publication history.
Where can I find and apply to ai researcher jobs in California?
You can find and apply to ai researcher jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings across technology, defense, life sciences, and other sectors. Search the available roles, find the ones that fit your background and location preferences, and apply directly through the listings.
See All 370+ AI Researcher Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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