Data Science Lead Jobs in California
Data Science Lead jobs in California represent one of the most active markets in the country, with strong demand concentrated in technology, healthcare, financial services, and entertainment analytics at every level from senior individual contributor through principal and director-adjacent lead roles. The heaviest hiring is in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego, where employers like Apple, Kaiser Permanente, and Wells Fargo maintain significant data science organizations. The most sought-after specialties are machine learning platform leadership, causal inference for product and marketing, and health data science. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Overview
Intuit’s Identity Data Science Team is looking for a hands-on Senior Data Scientist who is a creative problem solver with a passion to deliver advanced data-driven solutions. You will work alongside other Data Scientists, Product Managers, Designers, Engineers, Architects, and Program Managers to evolve Intuit’s Identity capabilities within Intuit’s Platform. As a key member of the data science team, you will have a strong track record of combining advanced analytical skills with exceptional business and entrepreneurial acumen. You will also have an ownership mindset with a strong willingness to take on new challenges with enthusiasm.
This is an exciting time to join the Identity Data Science Team at Intuit as we are building many new cutting-edge capabilities. These include a next-generation Verified Identity Network, password-less authentication powered through passkeys, Generative AI experiences, modern and sophisticated fraud prevention, centralized user and account management, and much more. Data is central to Intuit’s decision-making process, and data scientists are a critical component to evangelize data-driven decisions as we transform and scale Identity capabilities to power Intuit’s future growth.
Responsibilities
- Partner with cross functional teams to drive data-backed decisions and actionable insights
- Use a hypothesis-driven approach to drive design, implementation, and analysis of A/B experiments. Then provide executive level recommendations on next steps based on the test results and insights
- Communicate analytical findings and recommendations in a clear and concise way to non-technical audiences, both in writing and through oral presentations
- Provide guidance and thought leadership to business leaders and stakeholders on how best to harness available data to support business goals
- Ensure data collection and data processing is optimized to provide crystal-clear visibility into the impact and value of new initiatives and product releases
- Identify opportunities for developing new data sources, and provide technical leadership around making those data sources high-quality and broadly available
- Pursue data quality, troubleshoot data anomalies, validate data accuracy, and drive issues to resolution
- Share responsibility for owning and maintaining the data science backlog, connecting directly with partners and stakeholders to communicate and align on priorities
Qualifications
- 5+ years of experience working in web, marketing, product, analytics, or other related data science fields with a strong knowledge of statistics
- Exceptional SQL skills and experience working with granular web and native clickstream data
- Highly proficient in Tableau, Qliksense, Quicksight or similar software
- Exceptional ability to take initiative, be a self-starter, and solve problems
- Outstanding communications skills with the ability to influence decision makers and build consensus with stakeholder teams
- Proactive and inquisitive learner who seeks out and capitalizes on opportunities for change that enhance the business, rather than reacting to circumstances
- Strong organizational skills, time management, accountability, and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously to meet objectives and key deadlines
- Love for mentoring and guiding others on best practices. Passionate about the advancement of the whole team
- Experience in programming languages, automation tools, and stats packages (e.g. Python) is a plus; comfortable creating re-usable data pipelines
Intuit provides a competitive compensation package with a strong pay for performance rewards approach. This position may be eligible for a cash bonus, equity rewards and benefits, in accordance with our applicable plans and programs (see more about our compensation and benefits at Intuit®: Careers | Benefits). Pay offered is based on factors such as job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and work location. To drive ongoing fair pay for employees, Intuit conducts regular comparisons across categories of ethnicity and gender.
San Diego $149,500 - $202,500
See All 122+ Data Science Lead Jobs in California
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Find Data Science Lead JobsData Science Lead Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Data Science Lead Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Intuit10

- TikTok9

- Meta8

- AbbVie6

- Amazon5

Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software11
- Education2
- Banking & Financial Services2
- Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals2
- Retail1
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in data science lead jobs across California.
- Bachelor's or master's degree in statistics, computer science, or a quantitative field required
- Five or more years of hands-on data science experience with at least two in a lead or senior role
- Proficiency in Python or R alongside SQL for large-scale data manipulation and modeling
- Demonstrated experience leading cross-functional teams or mentoring junior data scientists
- Expertise in machine learning frameworks such as TensorFlow, PyTorch, or scikit-learn
- Experience deploying production ML models and working within cloud environments like AWS or GCP
Data Science Lead Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a data science lead in California?
The path to a data science lead role in California typically starts with a bachelor's or master's degree in statistics, computer science, mathematics, or a related quantitative discipline. California does not require a state-issued license for data science leads. Most employers expect several years of individual contributor experience before promoting to lead, along with a portfolio demonstrating end-to-end project ownership, cross-functional collaboration, and mentorship of junior team members.
How much do data science leads make in California?
Data science leads 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 data science leads in California?
Employers hiring data science leads in California right now include Intuit, TikTok, and Meta, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. California's mix of major tech headquarters, large healthcare systems, and established financial institutions means demand is spread across multiple industries rather than concentrated in a single sector.
Which California cities have the most data science lead jobs?
San Francisco, San Jose, and San Diego have the most data science lead openings in California. San Francisco leads because of its density of technology headquarters and venture-backed companies, Los Angeles reflects growth in entertainment analytics, ad tech, and healthcare data, and San Diego is driven by its life sciences and defense technology industries, which have expanded their data science teams significantly in recent years.
Are there remote data science lead jobs in California?
Yes, and more than most fields. Data science lead work is almost entirely analytical and collaborative by nature, making it well suited to remote and hybrid arrangements. About 64% of data science lead openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting broader technology industry norms. The parts of the role most commonly done remotely include model development, code review, and stakeholder reporting, while on-site presence is sometimes expected for leadership meetings or quarterly planning.
How can I get hired as a data science lead in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is through a senior data scientist or data scientist II role at a mid-size or large California employer, then demonstrating project leadership before applying to explicit lead titles. Large California employers including technology companies in the Bay Area and healthcare systems like Kaiser Permanente and Sutter Health run structured new-grad and rotational analytics programs that accelerate this trajectory. Building a public portfolio on GitHub, contributing to open-source ML projects, and earning credentials in cloud ML platforms give candidates a measurable edge when competing for first lead roles.
Where can I find and apply to data science lead jobs in California?
You can find and apply to data science lead jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings updated regularly. Search the listings for roles that match your experience and specialty, then apply directly to the ones that fit.
See All 122+ Data Science Lead Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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