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.
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Showing 5 of 283+ Research Engineer jobs
Valencia, CA (Hybrid)
Senior Engineer, Research
Advanced Bionics is seeking a Senior Engineer, Research to support the design and development of in-situ neural measurement and brain health monitoring capabilities within cochlear implant systems. This onsite role applies systems engineering expertise across electronics, embedded firmware, signal acquisition, and hardware design to support translational auditory neuroscience, cognitive health research, feasibility studies, prototype development, and future product innovation.
Responsibilities:
- Contribute to systems architecture for in-situ neural measurement capabilities within cochlear implant platforms
- Design and implement real-time signal acquisition and processing algorithms on embedded CI platforms
- Apply system-level knowledge across electronics, firmware, IC, RF, power, and hardware interfaces to develop research solutions
- Execute feasibility studies for novel measurement modalities, including cortical evoked potentials, EEG measures, cognitive measures, and health biomarkers through CI telemetry
- Develop research prototypes and support projects from concept through clinical validation
- Collaborate with research scientists, engineers, academic partners, clinical collaborators, and cross-functional teams
- Serve as a technical mentor to lower-level engineers by providing guidance, training, and knowledge transfer
More about you:
- Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Neuroscience, or a related field required
- Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Neuroscience, or a related field preferred
- 5+ years of direct work experience with a Bachelor’s degree, or at least 3 years with a Master’s degree, in systems engineering, embedded systems, or neural signal research
- Experience with analog and digital circuits, embedded firmware, feasibility studies, prototype development, or medical device development
- Strong systems-thinking skills with the ability to work across hardware, firmware, and software boundaries
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills for scientific and technical audiences
- Experience with MATLAB, Python, embedded development tools, circuit modeling, C/C++, LabVIEW, or related technical tools preferred
Travel: Up to 10%
A minimum of 200Mb/sec download and 10Mb/sec upload speed internet connectivity is required to support any remote/hybrid employee functionality at Sonova
Don't meet all the criteria? If you’re willing to go all in and learn we'd love to hear from you!
We are looking forward to receiving your application via our online job application platform. For this position only direct applications will be considered. Sonova does not recruit via app, telegram, carrier pigeon or any other format that does not include speaking with an actual human. If you are offered a job without speaking with someone please contact Sonova Human Resources
What we offer:
- Medical, dental and vision coverage*
- Health Savings, Health Reimbursement, Flexible Spending/Dependent Care Accounts
- TeleHealth options
- 401k plan with company match*
- Company paid life/ad&d insurance
- Additional supplemental life/ad&d coverage available
- Company paid Short/Long-Term Disability coverage (STD/LTD)
- STD LTD Buy-ups available
- Accident/Hospital Indemnity coverage
- Legal/ID Theft Assistance
- PTO (or sick and vacation time), floating Diversity Day, & paid holidays*
- Paid parental bonding leave
- Employee Assistance Program (24/7 mental health support hotline, 5 company paid counseling sessions and more)
- Robust Internal Career Growth opportunities
- Tuition reimbursement
- Hearing aid discount for employees and family
- Internal social recognition platform
- Plan rules/offerings dependent upon group Company/location.
This role's pay range is between: $100,320 – $144,210 annually . This role is also commission eligible/bonus eligible.
How we work:
At Sonova, we prioritize the well-being of our employees and foster an inclusive environment that promotes engagement and collaboration. Our team-customized hybrid work model empowers teams to balance individual needs with business goals, offering flexibility and individualized time management. We recognize the importance of life outside of work and strive to create a supportive and motivating workplace where innovation thrives.
Sonova is an equal opportunity employer
We team up. We grow talent. We collaborate with people of diverse backgrounds to win with the best team in the market place. We guarantee every person equal treatment in regard to employment and opportunity for employment, regardless of a candidate’s ethnic or national origin, religion, sexual orientation or marital status, gender, genetic identity, age, disability or any other legally protected status.
Valencia, CA (Hybrid)
Senior Engineer, Research
Advanced Bionics is seeking a Senior Engineer, Research to support the design and development of in-situ neural measurement and brain health monitoring capabilities within cochlear implant systems. This onsite role applies systems engineering expertise across electronics, embedded firmware, signal acquisition, and hardware design to support translational auditory neuroscience, cognitive health research, feasibility studies, prototype development, and future product innovation.
Responsibilities:
- Contribute to systems architecture for in-situ neural measurement capabilities within cochlear implant platforms
- Design and implement real-time signal acquisition and processing algorithms on embedded CI platforms
- Apply system-level knowledge across electronics, firmware, IC, RF, power, and hardware interfaces to develop research solutions
- Execute feasibility studies for novel measurement modalities, including cortical evoked potentials, EEG measures, cognitive measures, and health biomarkers through CI telemetry
- Develop research prototypes and support projects from concept through clinical validation
- Collaborate with research scientists, engineers, academic partners, clinical collaborators, and cross-functional teams
- Serve as a technical mentor to lower-level engineers by providing guidance, training, and knowledge transfer
More about you:
- Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Neuroscience, or a related field required
- Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Neuroscience, or a related field preferred
- 5+ years of direct work experience with a Bachelor’s degree, or at least 3 years with a Master’s degree, in systems engineering, embedded systems, or neural signal research
- Experience with analog and digital circuits, embedded firmware, feasibility studies, prototype development, or medical device development
- Strong systems-thinking skills with the ability to work across hardware, firmware, and software boundaries
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills for scientific and technical audiences
- Experience with MATLAB, Python, embedded development tools, circuit modeling, C/C++, LabVIEW, or related technical tools preferred
Travel: Up to 10%
A minimum of 200Mb/sec download and 10Mb/sec upload speed internet connectivity is required to support any remote/hybrid employee functionality at Sonova
Don't meet all the criteria? If you’re willing to go all in and learn we'd love to hear from you!
We are looking forward to receiving your application via our online job application platform. For this position only direct applications will be considered. Sonova does not recruit via app, telegram, carrier pigeon or any other format that does not include speaking with an actual human. If you are offered a job without speaking with someone please contact Sonova Human Resources
What we offer:
- Medical, dental and vision coverage*
- Health Savings, Health Reimbursement, Flexible Spending/Dependent Care Accounts
- TeleHealth options
- 401k plan with company match*
- Company paid life/ad&d insurance
- Additional supplemental life/ad&d coverage available
- Company paid Short/Long-Term Disability coverage (STD/LTD)
- STD LTD Buy-ups available
- Accident/Hospital Indemnity coverage
- Legal/ID Theft Assistance
- PTO (or sick and vacation time), floating Diversity Day, & paid holidays*
- Paid parental bonding leave
- Employee Assistance Program (24/7 mental health support hotline, 5 company paid counseling sessions and more)
- Robust Internal Career Growth opportunities
- Tuition reimbursement
- Hearing aid discount for employees and family
- Internal social recognition platform
- Plan rules/offerings dependent upon group Company/location.
This role's pay range is between: $100,320 – $144,210 annually . This role is also commission eligible/bonus eligible.
How we work:
At Sonova, we prioritize the well-being of our employees and foster an inclusive environment that promotes engagement and collaboration. Our team-customized hybrid work model empowers teams to balance individual needs with business goals, offering flexibility and individualized time management. We recognize the importance of life outside of work and strive to create a supportive and motivating workplace where innovation thrives.
Sonova is an equal opportunity employer
We team up. We grow talent. We collaborate with people of diverse backgrounds to win with the best team in the market place. We guarantee every person equal treatment in regard to employment and opportunity for employment, regardless of a candidate’s ethnic or national origin, religion, sexual orientation or marital status, gender, genetic identity, age, disability or any other legally protected status.
See All 283+ Research Engineer Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Research Engineer JobsResearch Engineer Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Research Engineer Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Apple23
- Anthropic18
- TikTok17
- NVIDIA10
- DeepMind8
Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software51
- Science & Research25
- Electronics & Hardware13
- Artificial Intelligence9
- Manufacturing5
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 Apple, Anthropic, and TikTok, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 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 Santa Clara 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 43% of research engineer openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of August 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 283+ Research Engineer Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Research Engineer Jobs