Research Engineer Jobs in California

Research Engineer jobs in California are among the most active in the country, concentrated in semiconductors, biotech, aerospace, and artificial intelligence across a seniority range from entry-level associate researcher through principal and staff engineer. The largest hiring metros are San Francisco Bay Area, San Diego, and Los Angeles, where companies like Intel, Qualcomm, and Northrop Grumman maintain major research operations. The most in-demand specializations right now are machine learning systems, materials science, and computational biology. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.

Find Research Engineer Jobs

Overview

Open roles319+
Top employerTikTok
Top citySan Francisco, CA
Cities hiring45
Work type45% Hybrid
Top industryTechnology

Showing 5 of 319+ Research Engineer jobs

Research and Development Project Engineer
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New 7h ago
Research and Development Project Engineer
Kyocera International, Inc.
San Diego, California
Customer Success
Program Management
Project & Program Management
Project Management
$79k - $102k/yr
Bachelor's degree in engineering

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NPS Research Engineer (Part Time)
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New 9h ago
NPS Research Engineer (Part Time)
HII
Monterey, California
Project Management
Solutions Engineering & Architecture
Technical Program Management
$73k - $76k.2/yr
Master's degree
10,000+

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Research Engineer – Robotics & Embodied AI
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Added 3d ago
Research Engineer – Robotics & Embodied AI
Elorian
Palo Alto, California
AI (Artificial Intelligence)
Data Science
Hybrid

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Research Engineer - AI Safety Systems and Guardrails
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Added 3d ago
Research Engineer - AI Safety Systems and Guardrails
Meta
Menlo Park, California
Customer Support
Sales
Technical Product & Program Management
$184k - $257k/yr
Doctoral degree in Computer Science
10,000+

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Research Engineer / Scientist, Reinforcement Learning
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Added 3d ago
Research Engineer / Scientist, Reinforcement Learning
HARVEY
San Francisco, California
Clinical Trials
Laboratory Research
Research & Academia
$230k - $450k/yr
Hybrid

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See All 319+ Research Engineer Jobs in California

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

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Research Engineer Jobs by City in California

Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Palo Alto
13 jobs
Sunnyvale
10 jobs
Berkeley
9 jobs
San Diego
9 jobs
Los Angeles
9 jobs

Research Engineer Job Market in California

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

Who's Hiring

  • TikTok23
  • Anthropic21
  • DeepMind14
  • OpenAI13
  • HUD12

Top Industries Hiring

  • Technology & Software36
  • Science & Research17
  • Artificial Intelligence6
  • Electronics & Hardware5
  • Manufacturing3

What California Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in research engineer jobs across California.

  • Bachelor's degree in engineering, computer science, physics, or a closely related technical field
  • Graduate degree preferred for research-focused roles, especially at university-affiliated labs or deep-tech companies
  • Demonstrated experience designing and executing experiments, with peer-reviewed publications or patent contributions a strong plus
  • Proficiency in scientific programming languages such as Python, MATLAB, or C++ for data analysis and modeling
  • Ability to collaborate across cross-functional teams including product, hardware, and clinical or regulatory partners
  • Familiarity with California-prevalent research environments such as national labs, defense contractors, or biotech CROs

Research Engineer Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a research engineer in California?

Most research engineer roles in California require at minimum a bachelor's degree in an engineering or applied science discipline, with many employers, particularly in biotech and defense, expecting a master's or PhD for independent research positions. California does not require a state-specific license for most research engineer titles, though engineers who sign off on public-facing designs may need a Professional Engineer license through the California Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists.

Which companies hire research engineers in California?

Employers hiring research engineers in California right now include TikTok, Anthropic, and DeepMind, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. California's concentration of semiconductor firms, defense primes, and life sciences companies means demand is distributed across both large multinationals and well-funded research startups.

Which California cities have the most research engineer jobs?

San Francisco, San Jose, and Mountain View have the most research engineer openings in California. The Bay Area's concentration of technology headquarters and university spin-outs drives much of the volume, while San Diego's strong biotech and defense corridors and Los Angeles's aerospace and AI ecosystem account for the rest of the distribution.

Are there remote research engineer jobs in California?

Yes, but they're less common than in purely software-focused roles because much research engineering involves lab access, physical prototyping, or on-site equipment. About 60% of research engineer openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of November 2026. The portions of the role most likely to be performed remotely are computational modeling, data analysis, and literature review rather than hands-on experimental work.

How can I get hired as a research engineer in California with little or no experience?

The most realistic entry path is a research internship or co-op during an undergraduate or graduate program, as California employers including Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Genentech, and Lockheed Martin run structured new-grad and intern pipelines that convert to full-time roles. Adjacent positions such as lab technician, research associate, or test engineer are common lateral starting points. Building a portfolio of documented projects, a GitHub repository for computational work, or a graduate thesis publication gives candidates a measurable edge when applying at larger California research institutions.

Where can I find and apply to research engineer jobs in California?

You can find and apply to research engineer jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings. Search the available roles, find the ones that match your background and location preference, and apply directly to each one.

See All 319+ Research Engineer Jobs in California

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

Find Research Engineer Jobs