Principal Scientist Jobs in San Francisco, CA
Principal Scientist jobs in San Francisco are concentrated in Mission Bay, SoMa, and the Dogpatch biotech corridor, with strong demand across biopharma, diagnostics, and AI-driven drug discovery. Employers hiring right now include Genentech, Lila Sciences, and Merck. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.
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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 Job Market in San Francisco
Who's Hiring
- Genentech56

- Lila Sciences12

- Merck4

- AbbVie4

- Atlassian4

Top Industries Hiring
- Medical Devices16
- Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals16
- Technology & Software12
- Retail4
- Healthcare & Medical Services4
Principal Scientist Jobs in San Francisco: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a principal scientist job in San Francisco?
The strongest path is targeting San Francisco's dense biopharma and biotech ecosystem in Mission Bay and the Dogpatch, where companies regularly hire at the principal level for drug discovery, genomics, and translational research. Candidates who combine deep domain expertise with cross-functional experience leading project teams stand out most. A network built through UCSF events, QB3, or local industry meetups adds a real edge in this market.
Which companies hire principal scientists in San Francisco?
San Francisco principal scientist roles are posted by Genentech, Lila Sciences, and Merck and others right now, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. The city draws a mix of large biopharma firms, clinical-stage biotechs, and well-funded startups, particularly those anchored near the UCSF Mission Bay campus.
Are there remote principal scientist jobs in San Francisco?
Yes, though it depends heavily on the role: computational, data science, and regulatory affairs-focused principal scientist positions tend to be remote-friendly, while lab-based or research-execution roles almost always require on-site presence. About 27% of principal scientist openings tied to San Francisco are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, with hybrid arrangements most common at mid-to-large biotech firms in Mission Bay.
How can I get a principal scientist job in San Francisco with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is through a postdoctoral fellowship at UCSF or a research associate role at one of San Francisco's early-stage biotechs, which frequently promote from within as programs advance. Companies in the QB3 incubator ecosystem and clinical-stage startups in the Dogpatch are more likely to consider candidates building toward the principal level. Demonstrating independence through publications, patents, or a defined research project significantly strengthens your position here.
Which industries hire the most principal scientists in San Francisco?
Most principal scientist openings in San Francisco sit in Medical Devices, Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals, and Technology & Software, per current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. San Francisco's proximity to UCSF and a dense cluster of venture-backed biotechs makes it one of the most active markets in the country for life sciences research talent at the principal level.
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