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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Overview

Open roles108+
Top employerGenentech
Work type73% On-site
Top credentialDoctorate
Companies hiring12

Showing 4 of 108+ Principal Scientist jobs

Genentech
Principal Associate Scientist - Pharmaceutical Development
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Genentech
Added 2d 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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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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Genentech
Senior Principal DSX Data Scientist, AI
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Genentech
Added 5d ago
Senior Principal DSX Data Scientist, AI
Genentech
San Francisco, California
Clinical Support
Healthcare Administration
Medical Specialists
$207k - $385k/yr
Doctoral degree in statistics
10,000+

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Warner Bros. Discovery
Principal Data Scientist
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Warner Bros. Discovery
Added 6d ago
Principal Data Scientist
Warner Bros. Discovery
San Francisco, California
Solutions Architecture
Solutions Engineering & Architecture
Technical Program Management
$228k - $423k/yr
Master's degree in physics
10,000+

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See All 108+ Principal Scientist Jobs in San Francisco

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Principal Scientist Job Market in San Francisco

Who's Hiring

  • Genentech
    Genentech56
  • Lila Sciences
    Lila Sciences12
  • Merck
    Merck4
  • AbbVie
    AbbVie4
  • Atlassian
    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.

See All 108+ Principal Scientist Jobs in San Francisco

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