Research Jobs in San Francisco, CA

Research jobs in San Francisco concentrate in Mission Bay, South of Market, and the Financial District, where life sciences, biotech, and technology employers run active hiring programs year-round. Roles open regularly across clinical, market, and policy research with demand from OpenAI, University of California - San Francisco, and Pluralis Research. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.

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Overview

Open roles578+
Top employerOpenAI
Work type59% Hybrid
Top credentialMaster's degree
Companies hiring39

Showing 5 of 578+ Research jobs

Charles Schwab
Quantitative Software Engineer - Research Platform
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Charles Schwab
Added 1d ago
Quantitative Software Engineer - Research Platform
Charles Schwab
San Francisco, California
AI (Artificial Intelligence)
Data Science
$175k - $230k/yr
Hybrid
Bachelor's degree in engineering
10,000+

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Socket
Vulnerability Research Software Engineer
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Socket
Added 1d ago
Vulnerability Research Software Engineer
Socket
San Francisco, California
Clinical Trials
Laboratory Research
Research & Academia
$110k - $170k/yr
Remote (US)
11-50

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H
Research Engineer, Privacy and Anonymization
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H
Added 1d ago
Research Engineer, Privacy and Anonymization
HUD
San Francisco, California
Engineering (Non-Software)
Mechanical Engineering
Product Management
On-Site

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Financial Technology Partners
2027 Equity Research Summer Analyst
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Financial Technology Partners
Added 1d ago
2027 Equity Research Summer Analyst
Financial Technology Partners
San Francisco, California
Clinical Trials
Laboratory Research
Research & Academia
2-10

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City and County of San Francisco
Policy & Research Fellow
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City and County of San Francisco
Added 1d ago
Policy & Research Fellow
City and County of San Francisco
San Francisco, California
Research & Academia
Business Analysis
Project & Program Management
Tax
$29.88/hr
On-Site
Bachelor's

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See All 578+ Research Jobs in San Francisco

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Research Job Market in San Francisco

Who's Hiring

  • OpenAI
    OpenAI186
  • University of California - San Francisco
    University of California - San Francisco60
  • P
    Pluralis Research40
  • Merck
    Merck20
  • Decagon
    Decagon20

Top Industries Hiring

  • Education13
  • Science & Research7
  • Government & Public Sector7

Research Jobs in San Francisco: Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get a research job in San Francisco?

Focus on San Francisco's densest hiring corridors: biotech and life sciences firms clustered in Mission Bay, technology and product research teams in SoMa, and policy and social research organizations in the Civic Center area. Candidates who can point to hands-on lab experience, published work, or demonstrated data analysis skills move to the front of the line. Networking through UCSF, UC Berkeley extension programs, and local industry meetups also gives San Francisco applicants a concrete edge.

Which companies hire researchs in San Francisco?

San Francisco research roles are posted by OpenAI, University of California - San Francisco, and Pluralis Research and others right now, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. The city's hiring base is wide, pulling from pharmaceutical and biotech firms in Mission Bay, enterprise technology companies in SoMa, and policy-focused nonprofits and research institutes downtown.

Are there remote research jobs in San Francisco?

Yes, though remote availability depends heavily on role type: analytical, market, and policy research positions are commonly remote, while lab-based or clinical roles require on-site presence. About 85% of research openings tied to San Francisco are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, reflecting the city's strong technology and knowledge-economy employer base. Desk-based quantitative and UX research roles are the most likely to offer flexible arrangements.

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

The most realistic entry path in San Francisco is a research coordinator or research assistant role at UCSF, a Mission Bay biotech startup, or one of the city's health-focused nonprofits, where structured mentorship and on-the-job training are common. Lateral moves from data analyst or lab technician positions also open doors locally. A portfolio of independent projects, a relevant internship, or demonstrated familiarity with tools like R, Python, or clinical data systems helps entry-level candidates stand out in a competitive pool.

Which industries hire the most researchs in San Francisco?

San Francisco research roles concentrate in Education, Science & Research, and Government & Public Sector, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. The city's position as a global biotech hub anchored by UCSF and a dense cluster of early-stage and growth-stage life sciences companies, combined with its technology sector's appetite for UX and market research, keeps demand consistently high across those fields.

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