Principal Research Scientist Visa Sponsorship Jobs in California
Principal research scientist jobs in California span biotech firms in South San Francisco, AI labs in the Bay Area, and pharmaceutical companies across San Diego. Employers like Genentech, Google DeepMind, and Pfizer's La Jolla campus actively sponsor visas for senior research roles. California's university pipeline, including UC San Francisco and Stanford, feeds directly into industry hiring.
Find Principal Research Scientist JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 124+ Principal Research Scientist Jobs in California with Visa Sponsorship
See all 124+ Principal Research Scientist Jobs in California with Visa Sponsorship
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Principal Research Scientist Jobs in California with Visa Sponsorship.
Get Access To All JobsCompany Description
About AbbVie
AbbVie's mission is to discover and deliver innovative medicines and solutions that solve serious health issues today and address the medical challenges of tomorrow. We strive to have a remarkable impact on people's lives across several key therapeutic areas including immunology, oncology and neuroscience - and products and services in our Allergan Aesthetics portfolio. For more information about AbbVie, please visit us at www.abbvie.com. Follow @abbvie on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube.
Job Description
AbbVie is seeking an accomplished in vitro preclinical scientist to join the in vivo CAR Biology group as a Principal Research Scientist I. This individual will play a significant role in integrating emerging platform capabilities with novel CAR-T designs and discovery projects to advance next-generation in vivo CAR T-cell therapies from concept through IND-enabling studies.
Responsibilities:
- Function as a Principal Investigator within the in vivo CAR Biology in vitro preclinical team by defining original scientific hypotheses and research and development strategies for novel in vivo CAR T-cell therapies.
- Anticipate and critically evaluate scientific advances or competitive threats and respond with appropriate new research proposals.
- Collaborate with Quantitative Medicine, Biotherapeutics, Genetic Medicine, and Discovery Research mRNA-tLNP groups to design and functionally test novel CAR constructs that address key therapeutic challenges.
- Lead laboratory project execution by translating therapeutic hypotheses into actionable plans; defining integrated timelines, milestones, dependencies, deliverables, and ownership; ensuring adherence and accountability; and partnering with workstream authors to flag schedule risks and implement mitigation plans.
- Represent project teams by providing stakeholders with clear, timely updates on scientific strategy, experimental progress, key decisions, and project risks.
- Mentor/supervise a team of one or more and evaluate the performance of those individuals; is accountable for the effective performance of the team/individuals.
- Demonstrate creative 'out of the box' thinking to solve difficult problems and champion new technologies to achieve project goals.
- Primary author of novel workflows, publications, presentations, regulatory documents and/or primary inventor of patents.
- Present research findings and innovative ideas at leading scientific conferences to strengthen AbbVie’s scientific reputation and engagement with external stakeholders and collaborators.
Qualifications
- BS or equivalent education with typically 14+ years of experience; MS or equivalent education with typically 12+ years of experience; or PhD with typically 6+ years of experience in CAR-T discovery research, cell therapy, or immuno-oncology.
- Expertise in designing, generating, and preclinically evaluating CAR-T candidates; experience developing next-generation in vivo lentiviral CAR-T platforms is strongly preferred.
- Expertise in synthetic biology, T-cell biology, and immuno-oncology applied to CAR design and next-generation in vivo CAR-T platform innovation.
- Experience developing complex, semi-automated experimental and analytical workflows and functional screening assays to improve the throughput, reproducibility, and efficiency of CAR-T candidate discovery, characterization, and selection.
- Demonstrated capacity to function as a Principal Investigator by generating original technical ideas, defining research or development strategies, and leading multidisciplinary teams through execution and scientific decision-making.
- Exceptional project management and prioritization skills, with demonstrated ability to define integrated research timelines, manage dependencies and competing priorities, establish clear ownership, hold contributors accountable, and proactively communicate and mitigate delivery risks.
- Demonstrated success as a primary author of publications, presentations, or regulatory documents and/or as a primary inventor on patents, with a record of communicating complex scientific findings effectively to internal and external audiences.
Additional Information
Applicable only to applicants applying to a position in any location with pay disclosure requirements under state or local law:
- The compensation range described below is the range of possible base pay compensation that the Company believes in good faith it will pay for this role at the time of this posting based on the job grade for this position. Individual compensation paid within this range will depend on many factors including geographic location, and we may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range. This range may be modified in the future.
- We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including paid time off (vacation, holidays, sick), medical/dental/vision insurance and 401(k) to eligible employees.
- This job is eligible to participate in our long-term incentive programs.
Note: No amount of pay is considered to be wages or compensation until such amount is earned, vested, and determinable. The amount and availability of any bonus, commission, incentive, benefits, or any other form of compensation and benefits that are allocable to a particular employee remains in the Company's sole and absolute discretion unless and until paid and may be modified at the Company’s sole and absolute discretion, consistent with applicable law.
AbbVie is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to operating with integrity, driving innovation, transforming lives and serving our community. Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled.
US & Puerto Rico only - to learn more, visit https://www.abbvie.com/join-us/equal-employment-opportunity-employer.html
US & Puerto Rico applicants seeking a reasonable accommodation, click here to learn more:
https://www.abbvie.com/join-us/reasonable-accommodations.html
Company Description
About AbbVie
AbbVie's mission is to discover and deliver innovative medicines and solutions that solve serious health issues today and address the medical challenges of tomorrow. We strive to have a remarkable impact on people's lives across several key therapeutic areas including immunology, oncology and neuroscience - and products and services in our Allergan Aesthetics portfolio. For more information about AbbVie, please visit us at www.abbvie.com. Follow @abbvie on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube.
Job Description
AbbVie is seeking an accomplished in vitro preclinical scientist to join the in vivo CAR Biology group as a Principal Research Scientist I. This individual will play a significant role in integrating emerging platform capabilities with novel CAR-T designs and discovery projects to advance next-generation in vivo CAR T-cell therapies from concept through IND-enabling studies.
Responsibilities:
- Function as a Principal Investigator within the in vivo CAR Biology in vitro preclinical team by defining original scientific hypotheses and research and development strategies for novel in vivo CAR T-cell therapies.
- Anticipate and critically evaluate scientific advances or competitive threats and respond with appropriate new research proposals.
- Collaborate with Quantitative Medicine, Biotherapeutics, Genetic Medicine, and Discovery Research mRNA-tLNP groups to design and functionally test novel CAR constructs that address key therapeutic challenges.
- Lead laboratory project execution by translating therapeutic hypotheses into actionable plans; defining integrated timelines, milestones, dependencies, deliverables, and ownership; ensuring adherence and accountability; and partnering with workstream authors to flag schedule risks and implement mitigation plans.
- Represent project teams by providing stakeholders with clear, timely updates on scientific strategy, experimental progress, key decisions, and project risks.
- Mentor/supervise a team of one or more and evaluate the performance of those individuals; is accountable for the effective performance of the team/individuals.
- Demonstrate creative 'out of the box' thinking to solve difficult problems and champion new technologies to achieve project goals.
- Primary author of novel workflows, publications, presentations, regulatory documents and/or primary inventor of patents.
- Present research findings and innovative ideas at leading scientific conferences to strengthen AbbVie’s scientific reputation and engagement with external stakeholders and collaborators.
Qualifications
- BS or equivalent education with typically 14+ years of experience; MS or equivalent education with typically 12+ years of experience; or PhD with typically 6+ years of experience in CAR-T discovery research, cell therapy, or immuno-oncology.
- Expertise in designing, generating, and preclinically evaluating CAR-T candidates; experience developing next-generation in vivo lentiviral CAR-T platforms is strongly preferred.
- Expertise in synthetic biology, T-cell biology, and immuno-oncology applied to CAR design and next-generation in vivo CAR-T platform innovation.
- Experience developing complex, semi-automated experimental and analytical workflows and functional screening assays to improve the throughput, reproducibility, and efficiency of CAR-T candidate discovery, characterization, and selection.
- Demonstrated capacity to function as a Principal Investigator by generating original technical ideas, defining research or development strategies, and leading multidisciplinary teams through execution and scientific decision-making.
- Exceptional project management and prioritization skills, with demonstrated ability to define integrated research timelines, manage dependencies and competing priorities, establish clear ownership, hold contributors accountable, and proactively communicate and mitigate delivery risks.
- Demonstrated success as a primary author of publications, presentations, or regulatory documents and/or as a primary inventor on patents, with a record of communicating complex scientific findings effectively to internal and external audiences.
Additional Information
Applicable only to applicants applying to a position in any location with pay disclosure requirements under state or local law:
- The compensation range described below is the range of possible base pay compensation that the Company believes in good faith it will pay for this role at the time of this posting based on the job grade for this position. Individual compensation paid within this range will depend on many factors including geographic location, and we may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range. This range may be modified in the future.
- We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including paid time off (vacation, holidays, sick), medical/dental/vision insurance and 401(k) to eligible employees.
- This job is eligible to participate in our long-term incentive programs.
Note: No amount of pay is considered to be wages or compensation until such amount is earned, vested, and determinable. The amount and availability of any bonus, commission, incentive, benefits, or any other form of compensation and benefits that are allocable to a particular employee remains in the Company's sole and absolute discretion unless and until paid and may be modified at the Company’s sole and absolute discretion, consistent with applicable law.
AbbVie is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to operating with integrity, driving innovation, transforming lives and serving our community. Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled.
US & Puerto Rico only - to learn more, visit https://www.abbvie.com/join-us/equal-employment-opportunity-employer.html
US & Puerto Rico applicants seeking a reasonable accommodation, click here to learn more:
https://www.abbvie.com/join-us/reasonable-accommodations.html
Principal Research Scientist Job Roles in California
See all 124+ Principal Research Scientist Jobs in California
Sign up for free to filter by visa type, set job alerts, and find employers with verified sponsorship history.
Search Principal Research Scientist Jobs in CaliforniaPrincipal Research Scientist Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies sponsor visas for principal research scientists in California?
Major California employers with consistent principal research scientist sponsorship histories include Genentech, Gilead Sciences, and Amgen in biotech, alongside Google, Meta, and Apple in AI and machine learning research. Pharmaceutical companies with San Diego campuses, such as AstraZeneca and Takeda, also file regularly. Large research-intensive employers are generally the most active sponsors because they maintain dedicated immigration support teams for senior scientific roles.
What visa types realistically fit principal research scientist roles in California?
Principal research scientist roles typically qualify as specialty occupations requiring a directly related advanced degree, making the H-1B visa the most common path. Workers from Chile or Singapore may qualify for the H-1B1 visa, which is not subject to the H-1B lottery. Australian nationals can pursue the E-3 visa. For candidates with exceptional recognition in their field, the O-1A is a cap-exempt alternative. Most senior research roles also support EB-1 or EB-2 green card pathways, including the National Interest Waiver for independent researchers.
Which cities in California have the most principal research scientist sponsorship jobs?
San Francisco Bay Area cities, particularly South San Francisco and the broader Peninsula corridor, concentrate the highest volume of sponsored principal research scientist positions, driven by the region's biotech and technology clusters. San Diego is a strong second hub, anchored by its pharmaceutical and genomics industries. Los Angeles, while less research-dense, has growing roles tied to USC, UCLA, and biotech campuses in Thousand Oaks.
How to find principal research scientist visa sponsorship jobs in California?
Migrate Mate lists California employers with verified visa sponsorship history for principal research scientist and senior scientific roles, so you can focus on companies already familiar with sponsoring this position type. Filtering by California narrows results to Bay Area biotech hubs, San Diego pharmaceutical campuses, and technology research labs. Because principal research scientist is a senior role, employer sponsorship track records matter more than raw job volume when evaluating where to apply.
Are there state-specific or role-specific considerations for principal research scientists pursuing sponsorship in California?
California's high concentration of NIH-funded research institutions and venture-backed biotech startups creates sponsorship patterns that differ from other states. Startups may offer strong research missions but sometimes lack dedicated immigration infrastructure, making sponsorship timelines less predictable than at established firms. California also has a large university-to-industry pipeline through UC campuses, and many candidates transition from postdoctoral OPT or STEM OPT directly into principal scientist roles at industry employers in the state.
What is the prevailing wage for sponsored principal research scientist jobs in California?
U.S. employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the prevailing wage, which is what workers in the same role, area, and experience level typically earn. The Department of Labor sets this rate to make sure companies aren't hiring foreign workers simply because they'd accept lower pay than a U.S. worker. It varies by job title, location, and experience. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search page.