Best Startups in San Diego Hiring Now

Mihailo Bozic
Mihailo Bozic
Updated August 31, 2026 · 7 min read

The top startups in san diego hiring right now on Migrate Mate include Dexcom, Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and Qualys, spanning medical devices, cybersecurity, biopharmaceuticals, cell therapy, and wireless technology. Migrate Mate tracks 98 live open roles across 7 startups in san diego as of August 31, 2026, updated daily. San Diego's concentration of life sciences research institutions, defense contractors, and semiconductor engineering talent makes it one of the most technically dense hiring markets in the country.

The best Startups in San Diego hiring on Migrate Mate right now

Curated by our editorial team · 98 live roles from Migrate Mate, updated daily

  1. 01
    Dexcom

    Dexcom

    Medical DevicesEngineeringCommercial

    Dexcom has 33 open roles on Migrate Mate as of August 31, 2026, the most of any startups in san diego we track, concentrated in specialized engineering (8) and project & program management (5). Dexcom develops continuous glucose monitoring systems that give people with diabetes real-time data about their blood sugar levels. The company combines hardware engineering, software development, and clinical science under one roof, creating a broad range of technical and commercial roles.

    Roles by team

    • Specialized Engineering8
    • Project & Program Management5
    • Engineering (Non-Software)2
    • Software Engineering2
    • Corporate Training & Learning Development2

    +12 roles across other teams

    Open roles33 open
    Supervisor, Manufacturing
    San Diego, CA · On-site
    View Job
    Sr QA Engineer
    San Diego, CA · On-site
    View Job
    Staff SW Development Engineer
    California · Hybrid
    View Job
    Sr Staff SW Development Engineer
    California · Remote
    View Job
    Sr Medical Device Engineer (Process Development, Sensor Focus)
    San Diego, CA · On-site
    View Job
    See all 33 roles at Dexcom
  2. 02
    Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

    Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

    BiopharmaOncologyCommercial

    Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has 14 open roles on Migrate Mate as of August 31, 2026, concentrated in business operations (2) and business strategy (2). Rigel Pharmaceuticals is a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company with approved treatments in hematology and oncology already on the market. Its commercial-stage status means it hires across both scientific and go-to-market functions, not just research.

    Roles by team

    • Business Operations2
    • Business Strategy2
    • Accounting2
    • Compliance & Risk2
    • Account Management2

    +2 roles across other teams

    Open roles14 open
    Vice President, Translational Medicine & Clinical Pharmacology
    South San Francisco, CA · Hybrid
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    Associate Director, Drug Safety Physician
    South San Francisco, CA · Hybrid
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    Associate Director, Field Sales Analytics
    South San Francisco, CA · Hybrid
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    Staff Accountant
    South San Francisco, CA · Hybrid
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    Sr. Medical Science Liaison - NorthEast
    Remote · Remote
    View Job
    See all 14 roles at Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
  3. 03
    Qualys

    Qualys

    CybersecuritySaaSEngineering

    Qualys has 13 open roles on Migrate Mate as of August 31, 2026, concentrated in customer service & support (2) and customer success (2). Qualys delivers cloud-based vulnerability management and compliance monitoring software to enterprise security teams worldwide. Its SaaS architecture and large enterprise customer base make it a stable environment for cybersecurity, engineering, and sales professionals.

    Roles by team

    • Customer Service & Support2
    • Customer Success2
    • Cybersecurity2
    • Sales2
    • Business Strategy1

    +4 roles across other teams

    Open roles13 open
    Account Director
    New York, NY · Remote
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    Account Director
    California · Remote
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    Technical Support Engineer
    Raleigh, NC · On-site
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    Technical Account Manager
    Tennessee, United States · On-site
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    Senior Cloud Infrastructure Engineer
    Raleigh, NC · On-site
    View Job
    See all 13 roles at Qualys
  4. 04
    Vericel Corporation

    Vericel Corporation

    Cell TherapyManufacturingClinical

    Vericel Corporation has 13 open roles on Migrate Mate as of August 31, 2026, concentrated in business operations (3) and community & nonprofit services (2). Vericel develops and manufactures cell therapy products for orthopedic repair and severe burn treatment, with multiple therapies in active clinical use. The company's manufacturing-intensive model creates demand for both scientific and operations talent.

    Roles by team

    • Business Operations3
    • Community & Nonprofit Services2
    • Business Development2
    • Brand & Social Media1
    • Account Management1

    +3 roles across other teams

    Open roles13 open
    Director, Human Resources
    Burlington, MA · On-site
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    Administrative Assistant, Clinical
    Burlington, MA · On-site
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    Associate I, Cell Therapy Manufacturing
    Burlington, MA · On-site
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    Director, Facilities & Engineering
    Cambridge, MA · On-site
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    Maintenance Technician, I
    Cambridge, MA · On-site
    View Job
    See all 13 roles at Vericel Corporation
  5. 05
    Kyowa Kirin

    Kyowa Kirin

    BiopharmaRare DiseaseMedical Affairs

    Kyowa Kirin has 12 open roles on Migrate Mate as of August 31, 2026, concentrated in customer service (2) and business analyst (1). Kyowa Kirin is a biopharmaceutical company with a specialty therapeutics portfolio spanning oncology, nephrology, and rare diseases. Its focus on underserved disease areas means teams work across small patient populations that require deep scientific and medical affairs expertise.

    Roles by team

    • Customer Service2
    • Business Analyst1
    • Business Development1
    • IT Support1
    • Corporate Training1

    +6 roles across other teams

    Open roles12 open
    Associate Director, Data Governance-Commercial Operations
    Princeton, NJ · On-site
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    Data Scientist
    Princeton, NJ · On-site
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    Associate Director, Global Project Management- Drug Development
    Princeton, NJ · On-site
    View Job
    Maintenance Specialist
    Sanford, NC · On-site
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    Sr Specialist, Quality Control-Microbiology
    Sanford, NC · On-site
    View Job
    See all 12 roles at Kyowa Kirin
  6. Editor’s note

    What to look for in a San Diego startup

    San Diego's startup ecosystem splits across two distinct tracks: life sciences companies with long regulatory timelines and hardware or software companies with faster iteration cycles. Before applying, identify which track the company sits on, because the pace, funding structure, and career trajectory differ considerably. Reviewing a company's product stage, most recent funding round, and the mix of technical versus commercial roles currently open tells you a lot about where it is in its growth arc.

    Product Stage

    A company with products already approved and generating revenue offers more stability than one still in development. Commercial-stage roles tend to have clearer success metrics and more predictable team structures.

    Funding Runway

    Check when the company last raised capital and how long that typically sustains operations at its current size. Earlier-stage companies can move fast but carry more funding risk than later-stage or public ones.

    Role Concentration

    A company hiring heavily in one function, such as manufacturing or sales, signals where its current growth pressure is. Joining a team that is actively expanding usually means faster responsibility and more room to grow.

  7. 06
    BRAIN

    BRAIN

    BiotechAIResearch

    BRAIN has 9 open roles on Migrate Mate as of August 31, 2026, concentrated in program management (2) and creative & design (1). BRAIN applies artificial intelligence to biological research and development, working at the intersection of computational methods and life sciences. The dual technical domain means the company hires people with backgrounds in both software and biology.

    Roles by team

    • Program Management2
    • Creative & Design1
    • Business Strategy1
    • Business Operations1
    • Cloud Engineering1

    +3 roles across other teams

    Open roles9 open
    Private Equity Engagement Lead
    San Francisco, CA · Hybrid
    View Job
    Machine Learning Engineer, Platform
    San Francisco, CA · Hybrid
    View Job
    Business Operations Lead
    San Francisco, CA · Hybrid
    View Job
    AI Deployment Lead - GTM
    San Francisco, CA · Hybrid
    View Job
    AI Platform Engineer, DevX
    San Francisco, CA · On-site
    View Job
    See all 9 roles at BRAIN
  8. 07
    Airgain

    Airgain

    Wireless TechHardwareEngineering

    Airgain has 4 open roles on Migrate Mate as of August 31, 2026, concentrated in product management (1) and administrative & office support (1). Airgain designs and manufactures antenna systems and wireless connectivity hardware for commercial vehicles, public safety, and industrial applications. Its focus on physical hardware rather than software gives it a distinctive engineering profile compared to most San Diego tech employers.

    Roles by team

    • Product Management1
    • Administrative & Office Support1
    • Accounting1
    • Business Development1
    Open roles4 open
    Head of Operations/VP of Operations
    San Diego, CA · On-site
    View Job
    Temporary Executive Assistant (On-Site)
    San Diego, CA · On-site
    View Job
    Supply Chain Manager
    San Diego, CA · On-site
    View Job
    Sales Representative
    Jonestown, TX · On-site
    View Job
    See all 4 roles at Airgain

How startups in San Diego pay and equity works

Compensation at San Diego startups typically combines a base salary with an equity component, and the balance between the two shifts depending on the company's stage. Later-stage and publicly traded companies tend to anchor base pay closer to large-employer benchmarks, while earlier-stage private companies often offer larger option grants alongside more modest cash compensation. Benefits like health coverage, 401(k) matching, and paid leave are standard at commercial-stage companies but vary more widely at seed and Series A firms. The day-to-day trade-off at most San Diego startups is broader ownership of work in exchange for less organizational structure. Teams tend to be smaller, which means individuals carry more surface area across a role than they would at a large corporation. In life sciences specifically, that can mean contributing to regulatory submissions, manufacturing decisions, or clinical operations that a larger company would separate into distinct departments. For people who want to see the full scope of how a product gets built or brought to market, that breadth is one of the genuine draws of working at this scale.

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Startups in San Diego: Frequently Asked Questions

Which startups in san diego are hiring the most right now?

Dexcom is hiring the most, with 33 open roles on Migrate Mate as of August 31, 2026, followed by Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (14) and Qualys (13). Migrate Mate tracks 98 live roles across 7 startups in san diego in total, updated daily, so the order shifts as companies open and close positions.

Do startups in san diego pay well compared to larger tech companies?

Generally, yes. Growth-stage startups in San Diego are usually competitive with large tech and life sciences employers on base salary, particularly at the commercial stage. The difference shows up in how total compensation is structured: more of the package sits in equity, whether restricted stock units at public companies or stock options at private ones. Earlier-stage companies tend to offer lower base salaries paired with larger option grants, while later-stage and post-IPO companies close the gap on cash comp considerably.

What kinds of roles do startups in san diego typically hire for?

Startups in san diego hire most heavily in specialized engineering, business operations, and project & program management. Across the 7 startups in san diego Migrate Mate tracks, specialized engineering is the largest function at 8 of 98 open roles as of August 31, 2026, followed by business operations (6) and project & program management (5).

Do startups in san diego hire remotely?

It depends on the company and the function. Of the roles Migrate Mate tracks across these 7 startups in san diego, 37% are remote or hybrid as of August 31, 2026. Remote availability varies by team and role, so each Migrate Mate listing shows its work location before you apply.