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.

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Overview

Open roles164+
Top employerRevolution Medicines
Top cityRedwood City, CA
Cities hiring47
Work type50% On-site
Top industryBiotechnology

Showing 5 of 164+ Regulatory Affairs Lead jobs

Regulatory Affairs and Compliance Senior I/II
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Regulatory Affairs and Compliance Senior I/II
San Diego Gas & Electric
Sacramento, California
Business Operations
Customer Service
Project Management
$104k - $164k/yr
Bachelor's degree in public policy
1,001-5,000

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Regulatory Affairs Specialist II – Lingo (on-site)
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Added 3d ago
Regulatory Affairs Specialist II – Lingo (on-site)
Abbott
Alameda, California
Customer Support
IT Support
Technical Program Management
$82k - $141k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's degree in biology
10,000+

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Director of Government and Regulatory Affairs
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Added 3d ago
Director of Government and Regulatory Affairs
Pacific Coast Producers
Lodi, California
Brand Marketing
Community & Nonprofit Services
Growth Marketing
$200k - $225k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's degree in food science
1,001-5,000

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Manager, Regulatory Data and Content, Regulatory Affairs CMC
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Added 3d ago
Manager, Regulatory Data and Content, Regulatory Affairs CMC
Gilead Sciences
Foster City, California
Data Analytics
Data Science
$147k - $190k/yr
Master's degree in business administration
10,000+

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Associate Director, Operational and Digital Enablement, Regulatory Affairs CMC
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Added 3d ago
Associate Director, Operational and Digital Enablement, Regulatory Affairs CMC
Gilead Sciences
Foster City, California
Business Development
Events & Tourism
Executive Leadership & C-Suite
Project Management
$182k - $236k/yr
Master's degree in business administration
10,000+

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Regulatory Affairs Lead Jobs by City in California

Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Redwood City
20 jobs
Irvine
18 jobs
San Diego
15 jobs
San Francisco
14 jobs
Alameda
9 jobs
Foster City
8 jobs
South San Francisco
6 jobs
San Jose
5 jobs
Brisbane
4 jobs

Regulatory Affairs Lead Job Market in California

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

Who's Hiring

  • Revolution Medicines17
  • Abbott8
  • Gilead Sciences7
  • Katalyst Healthcares & Life Sciences6
  • AbbVie5

Top Industries Hiring

  • Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals32
  • Medical Devices4
  • Retail2
  • Technology & Software2
  • Healthcare & Medical Services2

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, Abbott, and Gilead Sciences, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 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, Irvine, and San Diego 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 50% of regulatory affairs lead openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of November 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 164+ 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