Principal Scientist Jobs in California

Principal Scientist jobs in California are among the most active in the country, concentrated in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, semiconductor research, and climate and energy sciences, with demand at every level from early-career researchers to senior principal scientists directing large programs. The San Francisco Bay Area, San Diego, and Los Angeles are the dominant hiring metros, home to anchor employers such as Genentech, Amgen, and Broadcom. The most in-demand specialties are drug discovery, genomics, materials science, and computational research. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.

Find Principal Scientist Jobs

Overview

Open roles108+
Top employerGenentech
Top citySan Francisco, CA
Cities hiring28
Work type65% On-site
Top industryTechnology

Showing 4 of 108+ Principal Scientist jobs

Genentech
Principal Associate Scientist - Pharmaceutical Development
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Genentech
Added 1d ago
Principal Associate Scientist - Pharmaceutical Development
Genentech
San Francisco, California
Engineering (Non-Software)
Manufacturing Engineering
$93k - $172k/yr
Bachelor of Science
10,000+

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Sonova
Principal Scientist
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Sonova
Added 1d ago
Principal Scientist
Sonova
Valencia, California
Business Strategy
Product Management
Project Management
$131k - $165k/yr
Hybrid
Master's degree in health science
10,000+

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Genentech
Principal Scientist, Lab Head, Metabolism Drug Discovery
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Genentech
Added 3d ago
Principal Scientist, Lab Head, Metabolism Drug Discovery
Genentech
San Francisco, California
Clinical Trials
Laboratory Research
Research & Academia
$143k - $266k/yr
Doctoral degree in neuroscience
10,000+

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Gilead Sciences
Principal Scientist, Diagnostics
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Gilead Sciences
Added 3d ago
Principal Scientist, Diagnostics
Gilead Sciences
Foster City, California
Program Management
Project & Program Management
Project Management
$196k - $253k/yr
Bachelor of Science
10,000+

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Principal Scientist Jobs by City in California

Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.

San Diego
9 jobs
Santa Clara
8 jobs
South San Francisco
8 jobs
Mountain View
7 jobs
San Jose
5 jobs
Sunnyvale
5 jobs
Palo Alto
4 jobs
Redwood City
4 jobs

Principal Scientist Job Market in California

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

Who's Hiring

  • Genentech
    Genentech14
  • Amazon
    Amazon7
  • Amgen
    Amgen5
  • Intuit
    Intuit4
  • Oracle
    Oracle3

Top Industries Hiring

  • Technology & Software15
  • Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals12
  • Medical Devices4
  • Healthcare & Medical Services4
  • Retail3

What California Employers Look For

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

  • Ph.D. in a relevant scientific discipline such as biology, chemistry, or materials science
  • Seven or more years of postdoctoral or industry research experience in a related field
  • Demonstrated track of peer-reviewed publications or patented innovations in a core discipline
  • Proficiency in California-relevant regulatory frameworks such as FDA IND or EMA drug development guidelines
  • Experience leading cross-functional research teams and mentoring junior scientists
  • Proficiency with laboratory information management systems and computational data analysis platforms

Principal Scientist Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a principal scientist in California?

Most principal scientists in California hold a Ph.D. in a scientific discipline and complete one or more postdoctoral fellowships before entering industry. California does not issue a state license specifically for principal scientists, but roles in clinical diagnostics or laboratory medicine may require a California Department of Public Health laboratory director or scientist certification. Major California employers typically require a strong publication record or equivalent industry research contributions before promoting or hiring into a principal scientist title.

Which companies hire principal scientists in California?

Employers hiring principal scientists in California right now include Genentech, Amazon, and Amgen, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. California's concentration of biotechnology headquarters, semiconductor firms, and national research laboratories makes it one of the deepest markets in the country for this role.

Which California cities have the most principal scientist jobs?

San Francisco, San Diego, and Santa Clara have the most principal scientist openings in California. The San Francisco Bay Area's density of biotechnology and semiconductor headquarters drives the largest share of listings, while San Diego's pharmaceutical and genomics cluster and Los Angeles's aerospace and climate-science institutions account for a significant portion of the remaining demand.

Are there remote principal scientist jobs in California?

Yes, but they're less common than in purely desk-based roles because principal scientists often need direct access to laboratory equipment, reagents, or specialized instruments. About 35% of principal scientist openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of August 2026. The portions of the role most amenable to remote work include data analysis, grant writing, regulatory documentation, and cross-functional collaboration with commercial or clinical teams.

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

The most realistic entry path is through a postdoctoral research position at a University of California campus such as UC San Francisco, UC San Diego, or UCLA, or at a California national laboratory such as Lawrence Berkeley or SLAC. From there, many researchers transition into associate or staff scientist roles at Bay Area or San Diego biotechnology companies before advancing to principal scientist. Building a publication record, contributing to patent applications, or completing a professional development program run by a California biotech accelerator can accelerate that timeline considerably.

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

You can find and apply to principal scientist jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings. Find roles that fit your background and apply directly through each listing.

See All 108+ Principal Scientist Jobs in California

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

Find Principal Scientist Jobs