Scientist Jobs in Santa Clara, CA
Scientist jobs in Santa Clara are concentrated in the semiconductor, biotechnology, and semiconductor-adjacent sectors anchored in the Central Expressway corridor, Mission College area, and the dense R&D campuses near the Santa Clara Convention Center district. Employers hiring right now include Amazon Web Services, Oracle, and Amazon. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.
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Who We Are
Applied Materials is the global leader in materials science and engineering solutions that are at the foundation of virtually every new semiconductor chip and advanced display in the world. The equipment that we create and service is essential to advancing AI and accelerating the commercialization of next-generation semiconductor chips. Join us and push the boundaries of materials science and engineering in a company at the foundation of the electronics industry. The work we do together advances the world’s technology.
What We Offer
Salary:
$142,500.00 - $196,500.00
Location:
Santa Clara, CA
You’ll benefit from a supportive work culture that encourages you to learn, develop, and grow your career as you take on challenges and drive innovative solutions for our customers. We empower our team to push the boundaries of what is possible—while learning every day in a supportive leading global company.
At Applied Materials, we care about the health and wellbeing of our employees. We’re committed to providing programs and support that encourage personal and professional growth and care for you at work, at home, or wherever you may go.
Key Responsibilities:
- Works in project teams as subject matter expert to design and develop program methods to consolidate and analyze structured and unstructured, diverse "big data" sources
- Performs ad-hoc statistical and data-mining analysis, using statistical tools like R, SAS and MATLAB; input and design of data acquisition systems, data structure and database design
- Interfaces with internal customers for requirements analysis and compiles data for scheduled or special reports and analysis
- Works in project teams to develop analytical models, algorithms and automated processes, applying SQL understanding and PHP or Python programming, to cleanse, integrate and evaluate large datasets
- Supports the timely development of products for manufacturing and process information by applying sophisticated data analytics, understands the business data gathering processes of the business
Functional Knowledge
- Demonstrates conceptual and practical expertise in own discipline and basic knowledge of related disciplines
Business Expertise
- Has knowledge of best practices and how own area integrates with others; is aware of the competition and the factors that differentiate them in the market
Leadership
- Acts as a resource for colleagues with less experience; may lead small projects with manageable risks and resource requirements
Problem Solving
- Solves complex problems; takes a new perspective on existing solutions; exercises judgment based on the analysis of multiple sources of information
Impact
- Impacts a range of customer, operational, project or service activities within own team and other related teams; works within broad guidelines and policies
Interpersonal Skills
- Explains difficult or sensitive information; works to build consensus
Additional Information
Time Type:
Full time
Employee Type:
Assignee / Regular
Travel:
Yes, 10% of the Time
Relocation Eligible:
Yes
The salary offered to a selected candidate will be based on multiple factors including location, hire grade, job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and with consideration of internal equity of our current team members. In addition to a comprehensive benefits package, candidates may be eligible for other forms of compensation such as participation in a bonus and a stock award program, as applicable.
For all sales roles, the posted salary range is the Target Total Cash (TTC) range for the role, which is the sum of base salary and target bonus amount at 100% goal achievement.
Applied Materials is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, citizenship, ancestry, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, veteran or military status, or any other basis prohibited by law.
In addition, Applied endeavors to make our careers site accessible to all users. If you would like to contact us regarding accessibility of our website or need assistance completing the application process, please contact us via e-mail at Accommodations_Program@amat.com, or by calling our HR Direct Help Line at 877-612-7547, option 1, and following the prompts to speak to an HR Advisor. This contact is for accommodation requests only and cannot be used to inquire about the status of applications.
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Find Scientist JobsScientist Job Market in Santa Clara
Who's Hiring
- Amazon Web Services229

- Oracle98

- Amazon98

- Roche65

- NVIDIA65

Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software65
- Medical Devices33
- Electronics & Hardware33
Scientist Jobs in Santa Clara: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a scientist job in Santa Clara?
Focus your search on Santa Clara's semiconductor, materials science, and life sciences sectors, where hiring is most consistent. The Mission College corridor and Central Expressway tech campuses concentrate the highest density of research and development roles. Candidates with hands-on lab experience, a graduate degree in chemistry, biology, or physics, and familiarity with industry-standard instrumentation stand out in a market that skews heavily toward specialized, bench-level expertise.
Which companies hire scientists in Santa Clara?
Employers hiring scientists in Santa Clara right now include Amazon Web Services, Oracle, and Amazon, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Santa Clara's employer base is dominated by semiconductor manufacturers, medical device firms, and large enterprise technology companies that maintain in-house research divisions alongside smaller specialty labs.
Are there remote scientist jobs in Santa Clara?
Yes, though remote availability is limited for most scientist roles because the work is lab- or equipment-dependent by nature. About 50% of scientist openings tied to Santa Clara are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, with the remote share skewing toward computational, data, or regulatory science roles rather than wet-lab or materials-characterization positions.
How can I get a scientist job in Santa Clara with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path in Santa Clara is through associate scientist or research associate roles at medical device companies and semiconductor firms, many of which hire candidates with a bachelor's degree and strong internship or co-op experience. Contract research positions through staffing firms that serve local tech campuses also provide a common first foothold, often converting to full-time roles after six to twelve months on-site.
Which industries hire the most scientists in Santa Clara?
Most scientist openings in Santa Clara sit in Technology & Software, Medical Devices, and Electronics & Hardware, per current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Santa Clara's position as a global hub for semiconductor fabrication and enterprise hardware development means materials, process, and analytical scientists are in particularly steady demand from the city's large integrated-device manufacturers and their supplier networks.
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