Regulatory Affairs Lead Jobs in California

Regulatory affairs lead jobs in California are among the most active in the country, concentrated in life sciences, medical devices, and biotechnology across a market that supports roles from associate-level professionals stepping into leadership through senior regulatory directors. The heaviest hiring runs through San Diego, the San Francisco Bay Area, and Los Angeles, where established employers like Johnson & Johnson, Abbott, and Genentech maintain large regulatory functions. The most in-demand specialties are FDA submission management, combination product oversight, and quality system compliance. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.

Find Regulatory Affairs Lead Jobs

Overview

Open roles6+
Top employerRevolution Medicines
Top cityRedwood City, CA
Cities hiring3
Work type100% On-site
Top industryBiotechnology

Showing 5 of 6+ Regulatory Affairs Lead jobs

Apple
International Regulatory Affairs Lead
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Apple
Added 3w ago
International Regulatory Affairs Lead
Apple
Cupertino, California
Compliance & Legal
Healthcare Administration
Compliance & Risk
$214k - $357k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's
10,000+

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Revolution Medicines, Inc.
Director, Regulatory Affairs - US Filing Lead
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Revolution Medicines, Inc.
Added 2mo ago
Director, Regulatory Affairs - US Filing Lead
Revolution Medicines, Inc.
Redwood City, California
Healthcare Administration
Compliance & Legal
Compliance & Risk
$211k - $264k/yr
On-Site
Other

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Revolution Medicines, Inc.
Director, Regulatory Affairs - Global Filing Lead
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Revolution Medicines, Inc.
Added 2mo ago
Director, Regulatory Affairs - Global Filing Lead
Revolution Medicines, Inc.
Redwood City, California
Healthcare Administration
Clinical Trials & Medical Research
Allied Health
Pharmacy
Compliance & Legal
Compliance & Risk
$211k - $264k/yr
On-Site
Associate's

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Revolution Medicines, Inc.
Director, Regulatory Affairs (US Filing Lead)
We won't show you this job again
Revolution Medicines, Inc.
Added 2mo ago
Director, Regulatory Affairs (US Filing Lead)
Revolution Medicines, Inc.
Redwood City, California
Healthcare Administration
Compliance & Legal
Compliance & Risk
$211k - $264k/yr
On-Site
Other

Have you applied for this role?

Revolution Medicines, Inc.
Director, Regulatory Affairs (Global Filing Lead)
We won't show you this job again
Revolution Medicines, Inc.
Added 2mo ago
Director, Regulatory Affairs (Global Filing Lead)
Revolution Medicines, Inc.
Redwood City, California
Healthcare Administration
Compliance & Legal
Compliance & Risk
$211k - $264k/yr
On-Site
Other

Have you applied for this role?

See All 6 Regulatory Affairs Lead Jobs in California

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

Find Regulatory Affairs Lead Jobs

Regulatory Affairs Lead Jobs by City in California

Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Redwood City
4 jobs
Cupertino
1 jobs
South San Francisco
1 jobs

Regulatory Affairs Lead Job Market in California

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

Who's Hiring

  • Revolution Medicines
    Revolution Medicines4
  • Apple
    Apple1
  • Denali Therapeutics
    Denali Therapeutics1

Top Industries Hiring

  • Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals5
  • Electronics & Hardware1

What California Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in regulatory affairs lead jobs across California.

  • Bachelor's degree in life sciences, engineering, pharmacy, or a related field required
  • Minimum five years of regulatory affairs experience in a medical device or pharmaceutical setting
  • Demonstrated experience leading FDA submissions including 510(k), PMA, or NDA filings
  • Working knowledge of FDA 21 CFR Part 820 and ISO 13485 quality system regulations
  • Regulatory Affairs Certification (RAC) from RAPS preferred by most California employers
  • Experience coordinating cross-functional teams across R&D, quality, and clinical operations

Regulatory Affairs Lead Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a regulatory affairs lead in California?

Most regulatory affairs leads in California follow a path that starts with a bachelor's degree in a life science, biomedical engineering, or pharmacy field, followed by several years in a regulatory specialist or analyst role within a medical device, biotech, or pharmaceutical company. California employers look for hands-on experience with FDA submissions and quality systems. Earning the Regulatory Affairs Certification from the Regulatory Affairs Professionals Society strengthens your candidacy significantly in this market.

How much do regulatory affairs leads make in California?

Regulatory affairs leads in California earn a median of about $96,980 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $57,530 for the lowest 10% to over $158,280 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.

Which companies hire regulatory affairs leads in California?

Employers hiring regulatory affairs leads in California right now include Revolution Medicines, Apple, and Denali Therapeutics, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of June 2026. California's dense concentration of medical device headquarters and biotech campuses, particularly in San Diego and the Bay Area, keeps demand for regulatory affairs leads consistently strong across companies of all sizes.

Which California cities have the most regulatory affairs lead jobs?

Redwood City, Cupertino, and South San Francisco have the most regulatory affairs lead openings in California. San Diego and the Bay Area dominate because of their high concentrations of FDA-regulated medical device and biotech employers, while Los Angeles draws openings from pharmaceutical and combination product companies headquartered or operating in the region.

Are there remote regulatory affairs lead jobs in California?

Yes, and more than many technical roles in the industry. About 0% of regulatory affairs lead openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of June 2026, reflecting that much of the work involves document preparation, dossier review, and agency correspondence rather than lab or manufacturing floor activity. Submission-focused and post-market surveillance roles tend to offer the most remote flexibility.

How can I get hired as a regulatory affairs lead in California with little or no experience?

The most realistic entry path is moving into a regulatory affairs coordinator or specialist role first, then building toward a lead position over time. Large California employers like Medtronic, Becton Dickinson, and Thermo Fisher Scientific hire associates and coordinators who come from adjacent roles in quality assurance, clinical operations, or technical writing. Completing an RAC exam preparation course or a regulatory affairs certificate program at a California continuing education institution strengthens a resume without requiring prior lead experience.

Where can I find and apply to regulatory affairs lead jobs in California?

You can find and apply to regulatory affairs lead jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings. Find the roles that fit your experience and apply directly to the ones that match.

See All 6 Regulatory Affairs Lead Jobs in California

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

Find Regulatory Affairs Lead Jobs