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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The Position
A healthier future. It’s what drives us to innovate. To continuously advance science and ensure everyone has access to the healthcare they need today and for generations to come. Creating a world where we all have more time with the people we love. That’s what makes us Genentech, a member of the Roche Group!
As part of Pharma Technical Development (PTD) our organization is committed to deliver the Pharma ambitions by bringing game-changing therapies from clinical phase I into the market to serve every patient, every day. Our core business is to develop safe, innovative and effective drugs using cutting edge technologies for manufacturing process (Drug Substance and Drug Product), clinical supply, formulation, device, packaging, and analytical development.
As an integrated partner within the drug development ecosystem, Global Biologics Pharmaceutical Development is dedicated to effectively developing innovative and patient-centered parenteral drug products including Formulation and Process Development and Drug Delivery Systems.
The Opportunity
The Principal Associate Scientist ensures robust clinical and commercial parenteral drug product process designs for effective process validation and successful commercialization. This includes hands-on work at laboratory, pilot plant, and commercial scale of biopharmaceutical processing facility for process development, scale up, technology transfer and troubleshooting. Examples of pharmaceutical processing are DP liquid filling and finishing, prefilled syringe, drying technologies, bulk freezing and thawing, sterile filtration, mixing, primary container packaging development, etc. In this role, you are expected to work with formulation scientists, device engineers, and manufacturing staff to conduct drug product process development, perform technology transfers to internal and external CMO sites.
The Principal Associate Scientist works within the Global Drug Product Process Engineering group to support the globally harmonized strategy deployment and ensure right-first-time clinical and launch technology transfers. Principal Associate Scientist contributes to assessment of new technologies, activities related to patent applications and manuscripts for external publication, and presentations at conferences or meetings.
Your key responsibilities:
Develop and support Drug Product pharmaceutical processes and technology including freeze/ thaw, mixing, filtration, filling, lyophilization, sterilization, etc.
Design appropriate small scale models to understand mechanisms and derisk at-scale processes.
Interact and collaborate with other functions including PTD, Quality, Regulatory, Commercial, and Manufacturing organizations in cross-functional projects.
Author, review, and approve internal technical, development, validation, and manufacturing documents, including protocols, reports, exceptions, regulatory filings, SOPs etc.
Execute development and qualification studies, technology transfers, and new technology investigations.
Interact with project teams and leadership to communicate results and drive projects.
Who you are
Our ideal candidate will meet the following criteria:
B.S. in chemical engineering, pharmaceutical sciences, chemistry, bioengineering or a related engineering discipline with 2+ years of relevant industry experience
Ability to translate expertise in chemical engineering, chemistry and biology into a first principles understanding of DP processes and the underlying chemistry.
Excellent analytical and problem solving abilities, hands-on experience with protein processing, lab techniques, and instrumentation.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills and the ability to interact and influence in a multi- disciplinary group setting.
Knowledge of GMP documentation principles.
Knowledge of relevant standards, guidance for industry, and regulatory statutes.
Ability to contribute to several multi-faceted, cross-functional projects.
Preferred:
Relevant biopharmaceutical industry experience
Expertise in process development for large molecule parenteral Drug Product pharmaceuticals
Demonstrated experience implementing processes in a clinical or commercial manufacturing facility
Relocation benefits are not available for this job posting.
The expected salary range for this position based on the primary location of South San Francisco, CA is $92,600 - 172,000. Actual pay will be determined based on experience, qualifications, geographic location, and other job-related factors permitted by law. A discretionary annual bonus may be available based on individual and Company performance. This position also qualifies for the benefits detailed at the link provided below.
Benefits
Genentech is an equal opportunity employer. It is our policy and practice to employ, promote, and otherwise treat any and all employees and applicants on the basis of merit, qualifications, and competence. The company's policy prohibits unlawful discrimination, including but not limited to, discrimination on the basis of Protected Veteran status, individuals with disabilities status, and consistent with all federal, state, or local laws.
If you have a disability and need an accommodation in relation to the online application process, please contact us by completing this form Accommodations for Applicants.
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Find Scientist JobsScientist Job Market in San Francisco
Who's Hiring
- Genentech188

- Lila Sciences39

- University of California - San Francisco39

- Merck31

- 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.
Related Jobs in California
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