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.

Find Jobs

Overview

Open roles362+
Top employerAmazon
Top citySan Francisco, CA
Cities hiring38
Work type80% On-site
Top industryTechnology

Showing 5 of 362+ Machine Learning Scientist jobs

Genentech
Machine Learning Scientist
We won't show you this job again
Genentech
Added 2d ago
Machine Learning Scientist
Genentech
San Francisco, California
Software Engineering
Data Science & Analytics
AI (Artificial Intelligence)
ML (Machine Learning)
Data Science
$148k - $311k/yr
On-Site
Doctorate
10,000+

Have you applied for this role?

Spotter
Machine Learning Scientist
We won't show you this job again
Spotter
Added 2d ago
Machine Learning Scientist
Spotter
Culver City, California
Data Science & Analytics
Software Engineering
Data Science
AI (Artificial Intelligence)
$167k - $185k/yr
On-Site
Master's

Have you applied for this role?

Genentech
Machine Learning Scientist
We won't show you this job again
Genentech
Added 3d ago
Machine Learning Scientist
Genentech
San Francisco, California
Software Engineering
Data Science & Analytics
AI (Artificial Intelligence)
ML (Machine Learning)
Data Science
$148k - $311k/yr
On-Site
Doctorate
10,000+

Have you applied for this role?

Genentech
Senior/Principal Machine Learning Scientist
We won't show you this job again
Genentech
Added 5d ago
Senior/Principal Machine Learning Scientist
Genentech
San Francisco, California
Software Engineering
Data Science & Analytics
AI (Artificial Intelligence)
ML (Machine Learning)
Data Science
Data Analytics
$148k - $320k/yr
On-Site
Doctorate
10,000+

Have you applied for this role?

Hinge Health
Staff Machine Learning Scientist
We won't show you this job again
Hinge Health
Added 1w ago
Staff Machine Learning Scientist
Hinge Health
San Francisco, California
Software Engineering
Data Science & Analytics
Technical Product & Program Management
AI (Artificial Intelligence)
ML (Machine Learning)
Data Science
Data Analytics
$205k - $307k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's

Have you applied for this role?

See All 362+ Machine Learning Scientist Jobs in California

Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

Find Jobs

Machine Learning Scientist Jobs by City in California

Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.

San Francisco
65 jobs
San Jose
61 jobs
Mountain View
40 jobs
Sunnyvale
40 jobs
Santa Clara
20 jobs
Palo Alto
19 jobs
Cupertino
14 jobs
San Diego
14 jobs
Menlo Park
11 jobs

Machine Learning Scientist Job Market in California

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

Who's Hiring

  • Amazon
    Amazon38
  • TikTok
    TikTok34
  • Intuit
    Intuit19
  • Apple
    Apple15
  • Adobe
    Adobe12

Top Industries Hiring

  • Technology & Software158
  • Electronics & Hardware41
  • Artificial Intelligence27
  • Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals24
  • Media & Entertainment14

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 Amazon, TikTok, and Intuit, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of June 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 Mountain View 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 20% of machine learning scientist openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of June 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 362+ Machine Learning Scientist Jobs in California

Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

Find Jobs