Senior Regulatory Affairs Specialist Jobs in California

Senior Regulatory Affairs Specialist jobs in California represent one of the most active markets in the country, concentrated in life sciences, medical devices, biotechnology, and pharmaceuticals, with demand from entry-level regulatory coordinators through principal specialists. The largest hiring metros are San Diego, the San Francisco Bay Area, and Los Angeles, where established employers like Johnson & Johnson, Abbott, and Genentech maintain significant regulatory operations. The most in-demand specializations include FDA submissions, 510(k) and PMA filings, and combination product regulation. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.

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Overview

Open roles164+
Top employerRevolution Medicines
Top cityRedwood City, CA
Cities hiring47
Work type50% On-site
Top industryBiotechnology

Showing 5 of 164+ Senior Regulatory Affairs Specialist jobs

Regulatory Affairs and Compliance Senior I/II
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Regulatory Affairs and Compliance Senior I/II
San Diego Gas & Electric
Sacramento, California
Business Operations
Customer Service
Project Management
$104k - $164k/yr
Bachelor's degree in public policy
1,001-5,000

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Regulatory Affairs Specialist II – Lingo (on-site)
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Regulatory Affairs Specialist II – Lingo (on-site)
Abbott
Alameda, California
Customer Support
IT Support
Technical Program Management
$82k - $141k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's degree in biology
10,000+

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Director of Government and Regulatory Affairs
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Director of Government and Regulatory Affairs
Pacific Coast Producers
Lodi, California
Brand Marketing
Community & Nonprofit Services
Growth Marketing
$200k - $225k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's degree in food science
1,001-5,000

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Manager, Regulatory Data and Content, Regulatory Affairs CMC
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Added 3d ago
Manager, Regulatory Data and Content, Regulatory Affairs CMC
Gilead Sciences
Foster City, California
Data Analytics
Data Science
$147k - $190k/yr
Master's degree in business administration
10,000+

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Associate Director, Operational and Digital Enablement, Regulatory Affairs CMC
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Associate Director, Operational and Digital Enablement, Regulatory Affairs CMC
Gilead Sciences
Foster City, California
Business Development
Events & Tourism
Executive Leadership & C-Suite
Project Management
$182k - $236k/yr
Master's degree in business administration
10,000+

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See All 164+ Senior Regulatory Affairs Specialist Jobs in California

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Senior Regulatory Affairs Specialist Jobs by City in California

Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Redwood City
20 jobs
Irvine
18 jobs
San Diego
15 jobs
San Francisco
14 jobs
Alameda
9 jobs
Foster City
8 jobs
South San Francisco
6 jobs
San Jose
5 jobs
Brisbane
4 jobs

Senior Regulatory Affairs Specialist Job Market in California

A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.

Who's Hiring

  • Revolution Medicines17
  • Abbott8
  • Gilead Sciences7
  • Katalyst Healthcares & Life Sciences6
  • AbbVie5

Top Industries Hiring

  • Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals32
  • Medical Devices4
  • Retail2
  • Technology & Software2
  • Healthcare & Medical Services2

What California Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in senior regulatory affairs specialist jobs across California.

  • Bachelor's degree in life sciences, engineering, chemistry, or a related field required
  • Five or more years of regulatory affairs experience in medical devices or pharmaceuticals
  • Direct experience with FDA submissions including 510(k), PMA, or BLA filings
  • Familiarity with California-based manufacturing site compliance and state CDPH requirements
  • Proficiency with regulatory information management systems such as Veeva Vault
  • Strong cross-functional collaboration skills with R&D, quality, and clinical teams

Senior Regulatory Affairs Specialist Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a senior regulatory affairs specialist in California?

Most senior regulatory affairs specialists in California start with a bachelor's degree in a life science, engineering, or health-related field, then build experience in regulatory coordination or quality assurance roles within the state's dense biotech or medical device sector. California does not issue a state license for regulatory affairs, but the Regulatory Affairs Professionals Society offers the RAC credential, which California employers in the FDA-regulated device and pharma space consistently recognize as a mark of professional competency.

How much do senior regulatory affairs specialists make in California?

Senior regulatory affairs specialists in California earn a median of about $96,980 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $57,530 for the lowest 10% to over $158,280 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.

Which companies hire senior regulatory affairs specialists in California?

Employers hiring senior regulatory affairs specialists in California right now include Revolution Medicines, Abbott, and Gilead Sciences, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. California's dense concentration of FDA-regulated medical device and biopharmaceutical companies means regulatory talent is in consistent demand across both large multinationals and well-funded emerging companies.

Which California cities have the most senior regulatory affairs specialist jobs?

The cities with the most senior regulatory affairs specialist openings in California are Redwood City, Irvine, and San Diego. San Diego and the Bay Area lead because they anchor California's two largest life sciences and biotech clusters, while Los Angeles draws openings from a mix of diagnostics, combination products, and pharmaceutical companies that have established regulatory functions there.

Are there remote senior regulatory affairs specialist jobs in California?

Yes, and more than many comparable roles, since regulatory work is primarily document-driven and does not require physical lab or manufacturing presence. About 50% of senior regulatory affairs specialist openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting broader flexibility in this function. Submissions management, regulatory strategy, and labeling review are the sub-areas most consistently offered as fully remote.

How can I get hired as a senior regulatory affairs specialist in California with little or no experience?

The most realistic entry path is moving into a regulatory affairs coordinator or quality assurance associate role at a California medical device or biotech company, where hands-on exposure to FDA filings begins immediately. Large California employers like Becton Dickinson and Align Technology hire quality and regulatory associates who grow into specialist roles internally. Pursuing the RAC credential while in an adjacent role, such as clinical operations, quality control, or technical writing, meaningfully accelerates the transition for candidates without direct submissions experience.

Where can I find and apply to senior regulatory affairs specialist jobs in California?

You can find and apply to senior regulatory affairs specialist jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings from employers actively hiring for this role. Find roles that fit your background and apply directly from each listing.

See All 164+ Senior Regulatory Affairs Specialist Jobs in California

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