Applied Scientist Jobs in California
Applied Scientist jobs in California are among the most active in the country, concentrated in machine learning, natural language processing, and computer vision across the state's deep technology, life sciences, and e-commerce sectors, with openings at every level from entry-level research engineer to principal applied scientist. The largest hiring markets are the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, and San Diego, where employers like Google, Amazon, and Apple maintain major applied research operations. Demand is especially strong in recommendation systems, large language models, and applied ML for healthcare and autonomous systems. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Showing 5 of 134+ Applied Scientist jobs
DESCRIPTION
AWS, the world-leading provider of cloud services, has fostered the creation and growth of countless new businesses, and is a positive force for good. Our customers bring problems that will give Applied Scientists like you endless opportunities to see your research have a positive and immediate impact in the world. You will have the opportunity to partner with technology and business teams to solve real-world problems, have access to virtually endless data and computational resources, and to world-class engineers and developers that can help bring your ideas into the world. As part of the team, we expect that you will develop innovative solutions to hard problems, and publish your findings at peer reviewed conferences and workshops.
We are looking for world class researchers with experience in one or more of the following areas - autonomous agents, API orchestration, Planning, large multimodal models (especially vision-language models), reinforcement learning (RL) and sequential decision making.
- Define and implement new automated reasoning features that employ scalable and efficient approaches to solve complex problems using neural learning and symbolic/formal reasoning
- Apply software engineering best practices to ensure a high standard of quality for all team deliverables
- Work in an agile, startup-like development environment
- Deliver high-quality scientific artifacts
- Work with the team to help drive business decisions
About the team
Why AWS?
AWS is the world’s most comprehensive and broadly adopted cloud platform. We pioneered cloud computing and never stopped innovating — that’s why customers from the most successful startups to Global 500 companies trust our robust suite of products and services to power their businesses.
Inclusive Team Culture
Here at AWS, it’s in our nature to learn and be curious. Our employee-led affinity groups foster a culture of inclusion that empower us to be proud of our differences. Ongoing events and learning experiences, including our Conversations on Race and Ethnicity (CORE) and AmazeCon conferences, inspire us to never stop embracing our uniqueness.
Mentorship & Career Growth
We’re continuously raising our performance bar as we strive to become Earth’s Best Employer. That’s why you’ll find endless knowledge-sharing, mentorship and other career-advancing resources here to help you develop into a better-rounded professional.
Work/Life Balance
We value work-life harmony. Achieving success at work should never come at the expense of sacrifices at home, which is why we strive for flexibility as part of our working culture. When we feel supported in the workplace and at home, there’s nothing we can’t achieve in the cloud.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- 3+ years of building models for business application experience
- Experience in patents or publications at top-tier peer-reviewed conferences or journals
- Experience programming in Java, C++, Python or related language
- Experience in any of the following areas: algorithms and data structures, parsing, numerical optimization, data mining, parallel and distributed computing, high-performance computing
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience using Unix/Linux
- Experience in professional software development
Amazon is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected veteran status, disability, or other legally protected status.
Los Angeles County applicants: Job duties for this position include: work safely and cooperatively with other employees, supervisors, and staff; adhere to standards of excellence despite stressful conditions; communicate effectively and respectfully with employees, supervisors, and staff to ensure exceptional customer service; and follow all federal, state, and local laws and Company policies. Criminal history may have a direct, adverse, and negative relationship with some of the material job duties of this position. These include the duties and responsibilities listed above, as well as the abilities to adhere to company policies, exercise sound judgment, effectively manage stress and work safely and respectfully with others, exhibit trustworthiness and professionalism, and safeguard business operations and the Company’s reputation. Pursuant to the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.
Our inclusive culture empowers Amazonians to deliver the best results for our customers. If you have a disability and need a workplace accommodation or adjustment during the application and hiring process, including support for the interview or onboarding process, please visit https://amazon.jobs/content/en/how-we-hire/accommodations for more information. If the country/region you’re applying in isn’t listed, please contact your Recruiting Partner.
The base salary range for this position is listed below. Your Amazon package will include sign-on payments and restricted stock units (RSUs). Final compensation will be determined based on factors including experience, qualifications, and location. Amazon also offers comprehensive benefits including health insurance (medical, dental, vision, prescription, Basic Life & AD&D insurance and option for Supplemental life plans, EAP, Mental Health Support, Medical Advice Line, Flexible Spending Accounts, Adoption and Surrogacy Reimbursement coverage), 401(k) matching, paid time off, and parental leave. Learn more about our benefits at https://amazon.jobs/en/benefits.
USA, CA, Santa Clara - 171,600.00 - 222,200.00 USD annually
DESCRIPTION
AWS, the world-leading provider of cloud services, has fostered the creation and growth of countless new businesses, and is a positive force for good. Our customers bring problems that will give Applied Scientists like you endless opportunities to see your research have a positive and immediate impact in the world. You will have the opportunity to partner with technology and business teams to solve real-world problems, have access to virtually endless data and computational resources, and to world-class engineers and developers that can help bring your ideas into the world. As part of the team, we expect that you will develop innovative solutions to hard problems, and publish your findings at peer reviewed conferences and workshops.
We are looking for world class researchers with experience in one or more of the following areas - autonomous agents, API orchestration, Planning, large multimodal models (especially vision-language models), reinforcement learning (RL) and sequential decision making.
- Define and implement new automated reasoning features that employ scalable and efficient approaches to solve complex problems using neural learning and symbolic/formal reasoning
- Apply software engineering best practices to ensure a high standard of quality for all team deliverables
- Work in an agile, startup-like development environment
- Deliver high-quality scientific artifacts
- Work with the team to help drive business decisions
About the team
Why AWS?
AWS is the world’s most comprehensive and broadly adopted cloud platform. We pioneered cloud computing and never stopped innovating — that’s why customers from the most successful startups to Global 500 companies trust our robust suite of products and services to power their businesses.
Inclusive Team Culture
Here at AWS, it’s in our nature to learn and be curious. Our employee-led affinity groups foster a culture of inclusion that empower us to be proud of our differences. Ongoing events and learning experiences, including our Conversations on Race and Ethnicity (CORE) and AmazeCon conferences, inspire us to never stop embracing our uniqueness.
Mentorship & Career Growth
We’re continuously raising our performance bar as we strive to become Earth’s Best Employer. That’s why you’ll find endless knowledge-sharing, mentorship and other career-advancing resources here to help you develop into a better-rounded professional.
Work/Life Balance
We value work-life harmony. Achieving success at work should never come at the expense of sacrifices at home, which is why we strive for flexibility as part of our working culture. When we feel supported in the workplace and at home, there’s nothing we can’t achieve in the cloud.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- 3+ years of building models for business application experience
- Experience in patents or publications at top-tier peer-reviewed conferences or journals
- Experience programming in Java, C++, Python or related language
- Experience in any of the following areas: algorithms and data structures, parsing, numerical optimization, data mining, parallel and distributed computing, high-performance computing
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience using Unix/Linux
- Experience in professional software development
Amazon is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected veteran status, disability, or other legally protected status.
Los Angeles County applicants: Job duties for this position include: work safely and cooperatively with other employees, supervisors, and staff; adhere to standards of excellence despite stressful conditions; communicate effectively and respectfully with employees, supervisors, and staff to ensure exceptional customer service; and follow all federal, state, and local laws and Company policies. Criminal history may have a direct, adverse, and negative relationship with some of the material job duties of this position. These include the duties and responsibilities listed above, as well as the abilities to adhere to company policies, exercise sound judgment, effectively manage stress and work safely and respectfully with others, exhibit trustworthiness and professionalism, and safeguard business operations and the Company’s reputation. Pursuant to the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.
Our inclusive culture empowers Amazonians to deliver the best results for our customers. If you have a disability and need a workplace accommodation or adjustment during the application and hiring process, including support for the interview or onboarding process, please visit https://amazon.jobs/content/en/how-we-hire/accommodations for more information. If the country/region you’re applying in isn’t listed, please contact your Recruiting Partner.
The base salary range for this position is listed below. Your Amazon package will include sign-on payments and restricted stock units (RSUs). Final compensation will be determined based on factors including experience, qualifications, and location. Amazon also offers comprehensive benefits including health insurance (medical, dental, vision, prescription, Basic Life & AD&D insurance and option for Supplemental life plans, EAP, Mental Health Support, Medical Advice Line, Flexible Spending Accounts, Adoption and Surrogacy Reimbursement coverage), 401(k) matching, paid time off, and parental leave. Learn more about our benefits at https://amazon.jobs/en/benefits.
USA, CA, Santa Clara - 171,600.00 - 222,200.00 USD annually
See All 134+ Applied Scientist Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Applied Scientist JobsApplied Scientist Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Applied Scientist Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Amazon55
- Amazon Web Services22
- TikTok9
- Meta5
- SentiLink4
Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software24
- Retail5
- E-Commerce & Online Marketplaces4
- Distribution & Wholesale3
- Energy1
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in applied scientist jobs across California.
- Master's or PhD in computer science, statistics, or a closely related quantitative field
- Proficiency in Python and machine learning frameworks such as PyTorch or TensorFlow
- Demonstrated experience building and deploying ML models in production environments
- Strong foundation in statistics, probability, and experimental design including A/B testing
- Experience with large-scale distributed data systems and cloud platforms such as AWS or GCP
- Ability to collaborate cross-functionally with product, engineering, and data teams
Applied Scientist Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a applied scientist in California?
Becoming an applied scientist in California typically requires a graduate degree in computer science, statistics, applied mathematics, or a related field, though strong candidates with a bachelor's degree and extensive project or research experience do get hired. California has no state-issued license for applied scientists, so employers focus on demonstrated technical skill, a portfolio of applied ML work or published research, and hands-on experience with real-world datasets and production systems.
How much do applied scientists make in California?
Applied scientists 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 applied scientists in California?
Employers hiring applied scientists in California right now include Amazon, Amazon Web Services, and TikTok, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. California's concentration of major technology headquarters, biotech research hubs, and defense contractors means the employer base is unusually broad, covering consumer platforms, enterprise software, and life sciences.
Which California cities have the most applied scientist jobs?
Sunnyvale, San Francisco, and Santa Clara have the most applied scientist openings in California, driven by the Bay Area's dense concentration of technology headquarters and AI research labs, Los Angeles's growing ad-tech, entertainment-tech, and autonomous-vehicle sector, and San Diego's strong biotech and defense research presence that generates consistent demand for applied ML and data science expertise.
Are there remote applied scientist jobs in California?
Yes, and more than most fields. About 49% of applied scientist openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting how much of this work involves modeling, experimentation, and code that can be done entirely off-site. Roles focused on research, experimentation, and modeling tend to be the most remote-friendly, while positions requiring close integration with hardware, robotics, or on-site data collection are more likely to require in-person presence.
How can I get hired as a applied scientist in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is through a university research or internship program, since California's large technology employers including Google, Meta, and Amazon run structured internship and new-grad programs that convert directly to full-time applied scientist roles. Adjacent roles like data analyst, machine learning engineer, or research assistant give candidates hands-on model-building experience that transfers well. Building a public portfolio of end-to-end ML projects, contributing to open-source research, or completing a relevant graduate specialization at a UC campus can all strengthen an early-career application significantly.
Where can I find and apply to applied scientist jobs in California?
You can find and apply to applied scientist jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings across industries and experience levels. Find roles that fit your background and apply directly to the ones that match.
See All 134+ Applied Scientist Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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