Senior Principal Data Engineer Jobs in California
Senior Principal Data Engineer jobs in California sit at the top of one of the most active data engineering markets in the country, concentrated in enterprise technology, cloud infrastructure, financial services, and biotech across a seniority range from mid-level to staff and principal. The Bay Area, Los Angeles, and San Diego account for the largest share of openings, with anchor employers such as Google, Apple, and Meta consistently hiring at this level. Distributed systems architecture, large-scale data platform design, and real-time streaming pipelines are the most in-demand specialties across California listings. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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If you are looking for a challenging and exciting career in the world of technology, then look no further. Skyworks is an innovator of high-performance analog semiconductors whose solutions are powering the wireless networking revolution. Through our broad technology expertise and one of the most extensive product portfolios in the industry, we are Connecting Everyone and Everything, All the Time.
At Skyworks, you will find a fast-paced environment with a strong focus on global collaboration, minimal layers of management, and the freedom to make meaningful contributions in a setting that encourages creative thinking. We are excited about the opportunity to work with you and glad you want to be part of a team of talented individuals who together are changing the way the world communicates.
Requisition ID: 78473
Description
We are seeking a highly motivated Senior Data Scientist to join our team and drive data-driven decision making across engineering, operations, and business functions. In this role, you will leverage advanced analytics, machine learning, statistical modeling, and large-scale data processing to transform complex datasets into actionable insights that improve products, processes, and business outcomes.
The ideal candidate is passionate about solving challenging problems, working with diverse data sources, and partnering with cross-functional stakeholders to deliver innovative analytical solutions. You will play a key role in designing and implementing scalable data science solutions, developing predictive models, and communicating insights that influence strategic and operational decisions.
Responsibilities
Lead end-to-end data science initiatives from problem definition through deployment, adoption, and value measurement. Develop machine learning, statistical, optimization, and AI solutions for complex engineering and business challenges. Analyze large-scale structured and unstructured data to generate actionable insights and recommendations. Design experiments, predictive models, forecasting systems, and anomaly-detection solutions. Build scalable data pipelines, automated workflows, analytical tools, and reusable data products. Create dashboards and visualizations that enable timely, data-driven decisions. Communicate technical findings and strategic recommendations to stakeholders and leadership.
Required Experience and Skills
Bachelor's degree in Data Science, Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, Engineering, Operations Research, or a related field.
8+ years of experience in Data Science, Machine Learning, Analytics, or a related field.
Solid understanding of statistics, experimental design, hypothesis testing, and predictive modeling.
Proven track record of delivering data-driven solutions that generated measurable business impact.
Experience developing, validating, and deploying machine learning and statistical models, including Regression, Classification, Clustering, Forecasting, Anomaly Detection.
Experience working with large-scale structured and unstructured datasets.
Experience extracting, transforming, integrating, and analyzing data from multiple disparate sources.
Experience collaborating with cross-functional stakeholders to translate business requirements into analytical solutions.
Strong problem-solving and analytical skills.
Ability to influence decision-making through data insights and recommendations.
Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills.
Desired Experience and Skills
Preference for Master's degree or PhD in Data Science, Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, Engineering, Operations Research, or a related field.
Experience leading end-to-end data science projects from problem definition through deployment and business adoption.
Experience defining analytics strategy and influencing organizational direction.
Experience mentoring junior data scientists, analysts, or engineers.
Experience in semiconductor, manufacturing, quality, supply chain, product, or engineering analytics.
Experience applying analytics to Yield improvement, Process optimization, Quality improvement, Forecasting, Capacity planning, Root-cause analysis, Anomaly detection.
Experience with cloud and big data platforms such as Azure, AWS, Databricks, or Spark.
Experience with Generative AI, Large Language Models (LLMs), and AI-assisted analytics solutions.
Expertise in deep learning frameworks such as TensorFlow or PyTorch.
Knowledge of optimization methods, causal inference, advanced forecasting techniques, or reinforcement learning.
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The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is currently USD $135,900 - $295,000 per year. Starting base pay will depend on relevant experience and skills, training and education, business needs, market demands, the ultimate job duties and requirements, and work location. Skyworks has different base pay ranges for different work locations in the U.S. Benefits include access to healthcare benefits (including a premium-free medical plan option), a 401(k) plan and company match, an employee stock purchase plan, paid time off (including vacation, sick/wellness, parental leave), among others. Employees are eligible to participate in an incentive plan, and certain roles are also eligible for additional awards, including recognition and stock. These incentives and awards are based on individual and/or company performance.
Skyworks is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Skyworks strives to create an accessible workplace; if you need an accommodation due to a disability, please contact us at accommodations@skyworksinc.com.
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Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Senior Principal Data Engineer Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring



Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software
- Electronics & Hardware
- Transportation & Logistics
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in senior principal data engineer jobs across California.
- Bachelor's or master's degree in computer science, data engineering, or a related technical field
- Eight or more years of experience designing and leading large-scale data platforms
- Deep expertise in distributed systems and cloud data infrastructure on AWS, GCP, or Azure
- Proficiency in Python, Scala, or Java alongside SQL and big data frameworks like Spark
- Experience mentoring engineers and influencing technical roadmaps across multiple teams
- Demonstrated ownership of real-time streaming pipelines using Kafka or similar technologies
Senior Principal Data Engineer Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a senior principal data engineer in California?
Senior principal data engineer is a senior individual-contributor role that does not require a California state license or credential. The typical path starts with a bachelor's or master's degree in computer science, data engineering, or a closely related field, followed by progressive experience building and leading data infrastructure at scale. California employers at this level look for a demonstrated history of owning platform architecture decisions, leading cross-functional technical initiatives, and mentoring senior engineers across a large organization.
How much do senior principal data engineers make in California?
Senior principal data engineers in California earn a median of about $170,160 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $101,200 for the lowest 10% to over $227,900 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire senior principal data engineers in California?
Employers hiring senior principal data engineers in California right now include Northrop Grumman, Roblox, and Bosch, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. California's concentration of large technology headquarters, enterprise software companies, and data-intensive financial services firms means demand for this role is consistently distributed across both established tech giants and high-growth scale-ups.
Which California cities have the most senior principal data engineer jobs?
San Mateo, Irvine, and San Diego have the most senior principal data engineer openings in California. The Bay Area leads because it is home to the highest density of large technology company headquarters and cloud infrastructure teams in the state, while Los Angeles draws demand from entertainment technology, e-commerce, and fintech employers, and San Diego contributes through its biotech and defense technology sectors.
Are there remote senior principal data engineer jobs in California?
Yes, and more than most fields. Senior principal data engineering is a fully desk-based, analytical, and architectural role, making it well suited to remote arrangements. About 80% of senior principal data engineer openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting the broad adoption of distributed team structures across California's technology sector. Platform architecture, data modeling, and technical leadership functions are the areas most commonly performed remotely.
How can I get hired as a senior principal data engineer in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic path for candidates without senior-level experience is entering through a data engineer or software engineer role at a large California technology or cloud company and building upward. Employers such as Google, Meta, and Salesforce run structured new-graduate programs and associate engineering tracks that develop engineers toward the principal level over time. Adjacent roles in data analytics engineering, platform engineering, or machine learning infrastructure provide lateral entry points, and proficiency in Spark, Kafka, and a major cloud platform strengthens a candidate's positioning significantly.
Where can I find and apply to senior principal data engineer jobs in California?
You can find and apply to senior principal data engineer jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings at this level. Search the listings to find roles that match your experience and specialization, then apply directly to the ones that fit.
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