Scientist Jobs in San Francisco, CA

Scientist jobs in San Francisco are in strong demand, concentrated in the Mission Bay biotech corridor, South of Market, and the Dogpatch district across life sciences, pharmaceuticals, and environmental research. Employers hiring right now include Genentech, Lila Sciences, and University of California - San Francisco. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.

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Overview

Open roles751+
Top employerGenentech
Work type48% On-site
Top credentialMaster's degree
Companies hiring51

Showing 3 of 751+ Scientist jobs

Genentech
Principal Associate Scientist - Pharmaceutical Development
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Genentech
Added 1d ago
Principal Associate Scientist - Pharmaceutical Development
Genentech
San Francisco, California
Engineering (Non-Software)
Manufacturing Engineering
$93k - $172k/yr
Bachelor of Science
10,000+

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Watershed Technology
Climate Data Scientist, Sustainability
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Watershed Technology
Added 2d ago
Climate Data Scientist, Sustainability
Watershed Technology
San Francisco, California
Software Engineering
Solutions Engineering & Architecture
Technical Product & Program Management
Technical Program Management
$194k - $202k/yr
Remote (US)
Master's degree

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Genentech
Senior Scientist (Drug Metabolism & Pharmacokinetics)
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Genentech
Added 2d ago
Senior Scientist (Drug Metabolism & Pharmacokinetics)
Genentech
San Francisco, California
Business Strategy
Compliance & Risk
Consulting & Professional Services
$124k - $231k/yr
Doctoral degree in pharmaceutical sciences
10,000+

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Scientist Job Market in San Francisco

Who's Hiring

  • Genentech
    Genentech188
  • Lila Sciences
    Lila Sciences39
  • University of California - San Francisco
    University of California - San Francisco39
  • Merck
    Merck31
  • Meta
    Meta23

Top Industries Hiring

  • Medical Devices47
  • Science & Research23
  • Technology & Software23
  • Education8
  • Healthcare & Medical Services8

Scientist Jobs in San Francisco: Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get a scientist job in San Francisco?

The strongest hiring in San Francisco is in biotech and life sciences firms clustered around Mission Bay, environmental consulting firms operating out of the Embarcadero area, and research-driven pharmaceutical companies in South San Francisco just outside the city limits. Candidates who stand out locally typically have hands-on wet lab experience, familiarity with FDA-regulated workflows, or specialized expertise in genomics, cell biology, or environmental science. Targeting research institutes affiliated with UCSF also opens doors that general job searches miss.

Which companies hire scientists in San Francisco?

Employers hiring scientists in San Francisco right now include Genentech, Lila Sciences, and University of California - San Francisco, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. San Francisco's employer mix skews heavily toward biotech startups and mid-size life sciences companies, alongside established pharmaceutical firms and environmental consulting practices with Bay Area operations.

Are there remote scientist jobs in San Francisco?

Yes, but only for certain specialties. Hands-on lab and field roles require on-site presence by nature, while data science, bioinformatics, and regulatory affairs positions are far more remote-friendly. About 52% of scientist openings tied to San Francisco are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, reflecting how differently wet-bench and computational roles operate. Analytical and regulatory scientist roles account for the largest share of remote opportunities in the local market.

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

The most realistic entry path in San Francisco is a research associate or lab technician role at one of the Mission Bay biotech firms or a UCSF-affiliated research program, where structured mentorship and defined career ladders exist for early-career candidates. Contract research organizations operating in the Bay Area also hire junior scientists for defined project terms, which builds credentials quickly. A strong academic project portfolio and any internship at a Bay Area research institution will give you a clear edge over candidates without local exposure.

Which industries hire the most scientists in San Francisco?

Most scientist openings in San Francisco sit in Medical Devices, Science & Research, and Technology & Software, per current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. San Francisco's concentration of venture-backed biotech companies, a major academic medical center in UCSF, and proximity to environmental and cleantech firms along the Bay all sustain consistent hiring pressure across those sectors.

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