Research Jobs in San Diego, CA

Research jobs in San Diego are concentrated in biotech and life sciences corridors like Torrey Pines and Sorrento Valley, plus defense and government research clusters in Point Loma and Kearny Mesa, with steady openings across biopharma, clinical, and applied science roles. Employers hiring right now include UC San Diego Health, Scripps Research, and BD. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.

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Overview

Open roles612+
Top employerUC San Diego Health
Work type38% On-site
Top credentialBachelor's degree
Companies hiring28

Showing 5 of 612+ Research jobs

Research and Development Project Engineer
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New 6h 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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Senior Manager, Prospect Management & Research
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Added 1d ago
Senior Manager, Prospect Management & Research
Scripps Research
San Diego, California
Business Operations
Program Management
Project Management
$92k - $115k/yr
Bachelor's degree

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Sr. Research Associate, Molecular Biology
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Added 2d ago
Sr. Research Associate, Molecular Biology
Aspen Neuroscience
San Diego, California
Clinical Support
Healthcare Administration
Medical Specialists
$81k - $100k/yr
Bachelor's degree in biology

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Senior Clinical Research Associate
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Added 2d ago
Senior Clinical Research Associate
Kumquat Biosciences
San Diego, California
Administrative & Office Support
Program Management
Project Management
Remote (US)
Bachelor's degree

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Research Associate, Diagnostic Assay Development
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Added 2d ago
Research Associate, Diagnostic Assay Development
Hologic
San Diego, California
Biotech & Life Sciences
Clinical Support
Laboratory Science
$49k - $73k/yr
Bachelor of Science
5,001-10,000

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Research Job Market in San Diego

Who's Hiring

  • UC San Diego Health97
  • Scripps Research83
  • BD42
  • TikTok28
  • UC San Diego28

Top Industries Hiring

  • Education14
  • Manufacturing14
  • Medical Devices14
  • Technology & Software14
  • Non-Profit & Social Services14

Research Jobs in San Diego: Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get a research job in San Diego?

San Diego's research market is driven by its dense biopharma and biotech sector, federal defense contractors, and university-affiliated institutes, so targeting employers in those clusters gives you the strongest footing. Roles in Torrey Pines, Sorrento Valley, and La Jolla tend to move quickly. Candidates who can show hands-on lab experience, familiarity with GLP or GCP protocols, or a background aligned to a specific therapeutic area stand out in this market.

Which companies hire researchs in San Diego?

Companies currently hiring researchs in San Diego include UC San Diego Health, Scripps Research, and BD, per current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. San Diego's employer mix skews heavily toward biopharma, medical device firms, defense research organizations, and academic medical centers affiliated with UC San Diego and the Scripps Research Institute.

Are there remote research jobs in San Diego?

Yes, though remote availability depends heavily on the type of research work. Bench science and clinical roles almost always require on-site presence, while data analysis, regulatory, and literature-review positions are more remote-compatible. About 62% of research openings tied to San Diego are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, and those positions tend to concentrate in computational biology, biostatistics, and research operations functions.

How can I get a research job in San Diego with little or no experience?

The most realistic entry path in San Diego is landing a research associate or lab technician role at one of the city's many contract research organizations or smaller biotech startups, which hire more entry-level staff than large pharma. Volunteering or interning with UC San Diego research labs or the Sanford Burnham Prebys institute can also open doors. Highlighting any coursework in molecular biology, data collection, or IACUC-regulated animal research gives your application a concrete edge locally.

Which industries hire the most researchs in San Diego?

Most research openings in San Diego sit in Education, Manufacturing, and Medical Devices, per current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. San Diego's identity as a global biotech hub, combined with its large Navy and defense presence and its cluster of genomics and precision medicine companies, keeps sustained demand across those sectors year-round.

See All 612+ Research Jobs in San Diego

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