Machine Learning Scientist Jobs in California

Machine Learning Scientist jobs in California are among the most active in the country, concentrated in tech, biotech, autonomous systems, and enterprise software across experience levels from entry-level research associate through principal and staff scientist. The largest hiring metros are San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, and San Diego, where companies like Google, Meta, and Qualcomm have deep and lasting research operations. Roles focused on large language models, computer vision, and reinforcement learning are drawing the most consistent demand. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.

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Overview

Open roles89
Top employerMeta
Top citySan Francisco, CA
Cities hiring19
Work type60% On-site
Top industryTechnology

Showing 4 of 89+ Machine Learning Scientist jobs

Data Scientist – Machine Learning Focus
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Added 3d ago
Data Scientist – Machine Learning Focus
Adidev Technologies Inc
San Jose, California
Business Analysis
Data Analytics
Data Science

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Applied Machine Learning Scientist - Vice President
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Added 4d ago
Applied Machine Learning Scientist - Vice President
JPMorganChase
Palo Alto, California
AI (Artificial Intelligence)
Data Science
Research & Academia
$171k - $260k/yr
Master of Science
10,000+

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Research Scientist Intern, Meta Recommendation Systems - Core ML (PhD)
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Added 1w ago
Research Scientist Intern, Meta Recommendation Systems - Core ML (PhD)
Meta
Menlo Park, California
AI (Artificial Intelligence)
Data Science
ML (Machine Learning)
$7,650 - $13k/yr
10,000+

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Research Scientist Intern, AI Core Machine Learning (PhD)
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Added 1w ago
Research Scientist Intern, AI Core Machine Learning (PhD)
Meta
Sunnyvale, California
AI (Artificial Intelligence)
Data Science
ML (Machine Learning)
$7,650 - $13k/yr
Doctoral degree in Computer Science
10,000+

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See All 89 Machine Learning Scientist Jobs in California

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Machine Learning Scientist Jobs by City in California

Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Palo Alto
7 jobs
Menlo Park
5 jobs
Mountain View
5 jobs
San Diego
3 jobs
Sunnyvale
3 jobs
Los Angeles
3 jobs
South San Francisco
3 jobs

Machine Learning Scientist Job Market in California

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

Who's Hiring

Meta9 open roles
Lila Sciences8 open roles
TikTok6 open roles

Top Industries Hiring

  • Technology & Software15
  • Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals10
  • Artificial Intelligence5
  • Electronics & Hardware4
  • Transportation & Logistics3

What California Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in machine learning scientist jobs across California.

  • PhD or master's degree in computer science, statistics, or a related quantitative field
  • Proficiency in Python and machine learning frameworks such as PyTorch or TensorFlow
  • Experience designing and deploying end-to-end machine learning systems in production environments
  • Strong background in statistical modeling, probability theory, and mathematical optimization
  • Demonstrated research contributions through publications, patents, or open-source projects
  • Familiarity with cloud infrastructure such as AWS, Google Cloud, or Azure for model training and deployment

Machine Learning Scientist Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a machine learning scientist in California?

Machine learning scientist roles in California do not require a state-issued license or certification, so the path runs through academic credentials and demonstrated technical skill. Most California employers expect at minimum a master's degree in computer science, applied mathematics, or statistics, with many research-focused roles preferring a PhD. Building a portfolio of published work, open-source contributions, or Kaggle competition results strengthens candidacy considerably in California's research-heavy hiring culture.

How much do machine learning scientists make in California?

Machine learning 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 machine learning scientists in California?

Employers hiring machine learning scientists in California right now include Meta, Lila Sciences, and TikTok, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. California's density of AI research labs, semiconductor companies, and biotech firms means demand comes from a broad range of industries beyond consumer tech.

Which California cities have the most machine learning scientist jobs?

San Francisco, San Jose, and Palo Alto have the most machine learning scientist openings in California. The Bay Area accounts for the largest share, driven by the headquarters concentration of major technology and AI research companies, while Los Angeles has grown significantly through entertainment tech, autonomous vehicles, and a expanding startup ecosystem, and San Diego draws openings from its strong biotech and defense sectors.

Are there remote machine learning scientist jobs in California?

Yes, and more than most fields. About 40% of machine learning scientist openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting how much of the work involves coding, model training, and analysis that can be done from anywhere. Roles focused on foundational research or data pipeline work tend to be the most remote-friendly, while positions requiring access to proprietary hardware or on-site collaboration with product teams are more likely to require in-person presence.

How can I get hired as a machine learning scientist in California with little or no experience?

The most realistic entry path is a research internship or new-graduate program at a California technology or biotech company, which can convert into a full-time role. Large California employers like Google, Apple, and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory run structured research internship pipelines aimed at PhD students and recent graduates. Transitioning from a data scientist, software engineer, or research analyst role is also common, particularly when the candidate can show applied ML work in a portfolio or published paper.

Where can I find and apply to machine learning scientist jobs in California?

You can find and apply to machine learning scientist jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings updated regularly. Search the available roles, find the ones that fit your experience and target location, and apply directly to each employer without leaving the platform.

See All 89 Machine Learning Scientist Jobs in California

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