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.
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The Position
A healthier future. It’s what drives us to innovate. To continuously advance science and ensure everyone has access to the healthcare they need today and for generations to come. Creating a world where we all have more time with the people we love. That’s what makes us Genentech, a member of the Roche Group!
As part of Pharma Technical Development (PTD) our organization is committed to deliver the Pharma ambitions by bringing game-changing therapies from clinical phase I into the market to serve every patient, every day. Our core business is to develop safe, innovative and effective drugs using cutting edge technologies for manufacturing process (Drug Substance and Drug Product), clinical supply, formulation, device, packaging, and analytical development.
As an integrated partner within the drug development ecosystem, Global Biologics Pharmaceutical Development is dedicated to effectively developing innovative and patient-centered parenteral drug products including Formulation and Process Development and Drug Delivery Systems.
The Opportunity
The Principal Associate Scientist ensures robust clinical and commercial parenteral drug product process designs for effective process validation and successful commercialization. This includes hands-on work at laboratory, pilot plant, and commercial scale of biopharmaceutical processing facility for process development, scale up, technology transfer and troubleshooting. Examples of pharmaceutical processing are DP liquid filling and finishing, prefilled syringe, drying technologies, bulk freezing and thawing, sterile filtration, mixing, primary container packaging development, etc. In this role, you are expected to work with formulation scientists, device engineers, and manufacturing staff to conduct drug product process development, perform technology transfers to internal and external CMO sites.
The Principal Associate Scientist works within the Global Drug Product Process Engineering group to support the globally harmonized strategy deployment and ensure right-first-time clinical and launch technology transfers. Principal Associate Scientist contributes to assessment of new technologies, activities related to patent applications and manuscripts for external publication, and presentations at conferences or meetings.
Your key responsibilities:
Develop and support Drug Product pharmaceutical processes and technology including freeze/ thaw, mixing, filtration, filling, lyophilization, sterilization, etc.
Design appropriate small scale models to understand mechanisms and derisk at-scale processes.
Interact and collaborate with other functions including PTD, Quality, Regulatory, Commercial, and Manufacturing organizations in cross-functional projects.
Author, review, and approve internal technical, development, validation, and manufacturing documents, including protocols, reports, exceptions, regulatory filings, SOPs etc.
Execute development and qualification studies, technology transfers, and new technology investigations.
Interact with project teams and leadership to communicate results and drive projects.
Who you are
Our ideal candidate will meet the following criteria:
B.S. in chemical engineering, pharmaceutical sciences, chemistry, bioengineering or a related engineering discipline with 2+ years of relevant industry experience
Ability to translate expertise in chemical engineering, chemistry and biology into a first principles understanding of DP processes and the underlying chemistry.
Excellent analytical and problem solving abilities, hands-on experience with protein processing, lab techniques, and instrumentation.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills and the ability to interact and influence in a multi- disciplinary group setting.
Knowledge of GMP documentation principles.
Knowledge of relevant standards, guidance for industry, and regulatory statutes.
Ability to contribute to several multi-faceted, cross-functional projects.
Preferred:
Relevant biopharmaceutical industry experience
Expertise in process development for large molecule parenteral Drug Product pharmaceuticals
Demonstrated experience implementing processes in a clinical or commercial manufacturing facility
Relocation benefits are not available for this job posting.
The expected salary range for this position based on the primary location of South San Francisco, CA is $92,600 - 172,000. Actual pay will be determined based on experience, qualifications, geographic location, and other job-related factors permitted by law. A discretionary annual bonus may be available based on individual and Company performance. This position also qualifies for the benefits detailed at the link provided below.
Benefits
Genentech is an equal opportunity employer. It is our policy and practice to employ, promote, and otherwise treat any and all employees and applicants on the basis of merit, qualifications, and competence. The company's policy prohibits unlawful discrimination, including but not limited to, discrimination on the basis of Protected Veteran status, individuals with disabilities status, and consistent with all federal, state, or local laws.
If you have a disability and need an accommodation in relation to the online application process, please contact us by completing this form Accommodations for Applicants.
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Find Principal Scientist JobsPrincipal Scientist Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Principal Scientist Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Genentech14

- Amazon7

- Amgen5

- Intuit4

- 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
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