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 roles905+
Top employerLam Research
Top citySan Francisco, CA
Cities hiring51
Work type84% On-site
Top industryTechnology

Showing 5 of 905+ Research Engineer jobs

Apple
Machine Learning Research Engineer
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Apple
Added 2d ago
Machine Learning Research Engineer
Apple
Cupertino, California
Software Engineering
Data Science & Analytics
AI (Artificial Intelligence)
ML (Machine Learning)
Data Science
$147k - $272k/yr
On-Site
Master's
10,000+

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BD
Senior Clinical Research Engineer
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BD
Added 4d ago
Senior Clinical Research Engineer
BD
Laguna Canyon, California
Clinical Trials & Medical Research
Healthcare Administration
Clinical Trials
$130k - $207k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's
10,000+

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RoboForce
Senior / Staff AI Research Engineer, Data Infrastructure
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RoboForce
Added 6d ago
Senior / Staff AI Research Engineer, Data Infrastructure
RoboForce
Milpitas, California
Data Science & Analytics
Data Engineering
Software Engineering
Data Science
AI (Artificial Intelligence)
On-Site
Bachelor's

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Mastech Digital
Product Security Research Engineer
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Mastech Digital
Added 1w ago
Product Security Research Engineer
Mastech Digital
San Jose, California
Cybersecurity
Software Engineering
Data Science & Analytics
Security Engineering
Data Science
Remote (US)
None

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Meta
Research Engineer Robotics
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Meta
Added 1w ago
Research Engineer Robotics
Meta
Burlingame, California
Software Engineering
Specialized Engineering
AI (Artificial Intelligence)
Engineering (Non-Software)
$184k - $257k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's
10,000+

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See All 905+ 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.

San Francisco
185 jobs
San Jose
164 jobs
Fremont
90 jobs
Santa Clara
71 jobs
Mountain View
66 jobs
Palo Alto
44 jobs
Cupertino
41 jobs
Sunnyvale
30 jobs
San Diego
25 jobs

Research Engineer Job Market in California

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

Who's Hiring

  • Lam Research
    Lam Research87
  • ByteDance
    ByteDance66
  • TikTok
    TikTok58
  • Apple
    Apple52
  • OpenAI
    OpenAI39

Top Industries Hiring

  • Technology & Software380
  • Electronics & Hardware186
  • Science & Research127
  • Artificial Intelligence83
  • Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals48

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 Lam Research, ByteDance, and TikTok, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of June 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 Fremont 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 16% of research engineer openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of June 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 905+ Research Engineer Jobs in California

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

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