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Applied Scientist Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Applied Scientist

San Francisco, CA ยท On-site

$160 - $225/hr

About the Role We're building a new team, Applied Science, and we're looking for our first outside hire. Clipboard is a Sequoia-backed marketplace connecting nurses and healthcare professionals with ...

Applied Scientist

Culver City, CA ยท On-site

$150 - $210/hr

Description As an Applied Scientist, you will have the responsibility of pushing the boundaries of how Causal Inference and AIML can be leveraged to better serve our customers. You will be at the ...

Applied Scientist

San Francisco, CA ยท On-site

$160K - $225K/yr

About the Role We're building a new team, Applied Science, and we're looking for our first outside hire. Clipboard is a Sequoia-backed marketplace connecting nurses and healthcare professionals with ...

Applied Scientist

San Francisco, CA ยท On-site

$128 - $184/hr

We are looking for a handsโ€‘on Applied Data Scientist to help drive a unified view of our multiโ€‘faceted evaluation methodology. This is a highly collaborative, crossโ€‘functional role that sits at ...

Applied Scientist

San Francisco, CA ยท On-site +1

$128K - $184K/yr

We are looking for a hands-on Applied Data Scientist to help drive a unified view of our multi-faceted evaluation methodology. This is a highly collaborative, cross-functional role that sits at the ...

Applied Scientist

San Francisco, CA ยท On-site

$120 - $160/hr

The Role We're looking for an Applied Scientist who thrives at the intersection of applied research and real-world products. You'll push the frontier on efficiency, gradient-free exploration, real ...

Applied Scientist

San Francisco, CA ยท On-site +1

$128K - $184K/yr

We are looking for a hands-on Applied Data Scientist to help drive a unified view of our multi-faceted evaluation methodology. This is a highly collaborative, cross-functional role that sits at the ...

Applied Scientist

San Francisco, CA ยท On-site +1

$128K - $184K/yr

We are looking for a hands-on Applied Data Scientist to help drive a unified view of our multi-faceted evaluation methodology. This is a highly collaborative, cross-functional role that sits at the ...

Applied Scientist

San Francisco, CA ยท On-site +1

$128K - $184K/yr

We are looking for a hands-on Applied Data Scientist to help drive a unified view of our multi-faceted evaluation methodology. This is a highly collaborative, cross-functional role that sits at the ...

Applied Scientist

San Francisco, CA ยท On-site +1

$128K - $184K/yr

We are looking for a hands-on Applied Data Scientist to help drive a unified view of our multi-faceted evaluation methodology. This is a highly collaborative, cross-functional role that sits at the ...

Senior Applied Scientist

San Jose, CA ยท On-site

$107K - $146K/yr

Adobe is dedicated to changing the world through digital experiences, and they are seeking a Senior Applied Scientist to join their Applied Science & Machine Learning group. The role focuses on ...

The Foundational AI (FAI) team is looking for a passionate, talented, and inventive Applied Scientist with a strong deep learning background, to build industry-leading Generative Artificial ...

The Foundational AI (FAI) team is looking for a passionate, talented, and inventive Applied Scientist with a strong deep learning background, to build industry-leading Generative Artificial ...

Senior Applied Scientist

Santa Clara, CA ยท On-site

$167K - $226K/yr

We are an applied science organization building the science behind them. The work sits at the intersection of machine learning research, real world data, and production systems running in industrial ...

Adobe Experience Intelligence Team is looking for an Applied S who will build, deploy, and scale AI ... MS or PhD in Computer Science, Statistics, Machine Learning, or related fields, or equivalent ...

Senior Applied Scientist

Santa Clara, CA ยท On-site

$167 - $226/hr

We are an applied science organization building the science behind them. The work sits at the intersection of machine learning research, real world data, and production systems running in industrial ...

New

Senior Applied Scientist

San Jose, CA ยท On-site

$107K - $146K/yr

Senior Applied Scientist - Brand Intelligence Predict The Opportunity Join us at Adobe as a Senior Applied Scientist 5 on the Adobe Brand Intelligence Predict team in San Jose, CA! Help us build the ...

Senior Applied Scientist

San Jose, CA ยท On-site

$107K - $146K/yr

Adobe Firefly's Applied Science & Machine Learning (ASML) group invites an Applied Scientist / Machine Learning Engineer passionate about post-training and distillation of large generative AI models ...

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Showing results 1-20

Applied Scientist information

See California salary details

$113.1K

$169.5K

$204.7K

How much do applied scientist jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 31, 2026, the average yearly pay for applied scientist in California is $169,488.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $146,884.00 and $192,418.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does an applied scientist do?

An Applied Scientist uses scientific principles, data analysis, and machine learning techniques to solve real-world problems. They work on developing models, conducting experiments, and deploying data-driven solutions in various industries such as technology, healthcare, and finance. Their role often involves collaborating with engineers and product teams to integrate research findings into practical applications. Strong programming skills, statistical knowledge, and domain expertise are essential for success in this field.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an applied scientist?

To thrive as an Applied Scientist, you need a solid background in mathematics, statistics, data analysis, and programming, usually supported by an advanced degree in a relevant field. Familiarity with programming languages like Python or R, machine learning frameworks, and tools such as TensorFlow or PyTorch is typically required. Strong problem-solving abilities, collaborative skills, and effective communication help you stand out in this role. These skills and qualities are vital for developing innovative solutions, interpreting complex data, and effectively conveying insights to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Do you need a PhD to be an Applied Scientist?

A PhD is not strictly required to become an Applied Scientist, but many roles prefer candidates with advanced degrees in fields like computer science, machine learning, or data science. Relevant skills, experience, and proficiency with tools such as Python, TensorFlow, or cloud platforms are often more important for hiring decisions.

How much does an applied scientist make?

Applied scientists typically earn a median salary ranging from $100,000 to $150,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and industry. Senior roles or those with specialized skills in machine learning, data analysis, or programming may have higher compensation, often exceeding $180,000 per year.

What is the job of an applied scientist?

An applied scientist conducts research to develop practical solutions by applying scientific principles, often in fields like machine learning, data analysis, or engineering. They design experiments, analyze data, and create models or algorithms to solve real-world problems, frequently using tools like programming languages and statistical software.

What are the most commonly searched types of Applied Scientist jobs in California?

The most popular types of Applied Scientist jobs in California are:

What job categories do people searching Applied Scientist jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Applied Scientist jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Applied Scientist jobs?

Cities in California with the most Applied Scientist job openings:

Infographic showing various Applied Scientist job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 74% Full Time, 24% Part Time, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 10% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $169,488 per year, or $81.5 per hour.

Applied Scientist

Visa Hunt

San Francisco, CA โ€ข On-site

$160 - $225/hr

Other

This job post hasย expired today.ย Applications are no longer accepted.


Job description

About Clipboard

Our mission is to uplift as many communities as possible. We do this through our app-based marketplace that connects healthcare professionals with the workplaces that need amazing workers. This enables hundreds of thousands of people to achieve financial stability for themselves and their families while providing essential care to millions of people across the U.S.


Founded in 2016, we are a remote-first team of over 1,000 people building a top Y-Combinator company and have been profitable since 2022. Weโ€™re the leader in Long-Term Care staffing and are rapidly expanding into Home Health, Hospitals, and more, meaning we have more work to do than people to do it, and are growing our team to support millions more people and their communities.

About the Role

We're building a new team, Applied Science, and we're looking for our first outside hire.

Clipboard is a Sequoia-backed marketplace connecting nurses and healthcare professionals with long-term care facilities, with over $800M in annual transactions. You'd be joining a three-person quantitative pod with a dedicated engineering rotation that has spent the last year shipping auction systems in a live, two-sided market. We're now formalizing that work into a dedicated Applied Science function. The team owns the quantitative infrastructure underneath the marketplace: pricing algorithms, auction mechanisms, causal models, metric definitions, and experiment frameworks. Some of that work ships as product; some becomes the analytical substrate every team in the company depends on.

About the Work

You'll be designing systems where the analytical choices are the product decisions. Concretely, youโ€™ll be building pricing algorithms, designing auction mechanisms that shape how supply and demand interact, developing attendance and reliability models that determine worker-workplace relationships, and constructing the experiment frameworks the rest of the org runs its ideas through. When a key metric moves and the cause isn't obvious, you'll run the investigation.

Methods in play include causal identification (diff-in-diff, IV, regression discontinuity), cluster-randomized trial design, discrete-time hazard modeling, mechanism design, and anomaly detection on marketplace time series. You'll work directly with engineers to take models from prototype to production, and write clearly enough to make your reasoning legible to PMs and leadership.

Minimum Requirements
  • Bachelorโ€™s degree in quantitative field: economics, statistics, engineering, mathematics, etc or commensurate practical experience.
  • Experience building and deploying quantitative models (in applied or research settings)
  • Comfort querying data directly (SQL or equivalent)
  • Experience designing and analyzing controlled experiments
Who thrives here
  • PhD in economics, econometrics, operations research, statistics, engineering, or a closely related field. Equivalent depth from a quant research or trading environment.
  • Track record of building applied models, not just publishing them; you've taken something from whiteboard to production.
  • Sharp experimental intuition: you know the difference between a valid identification strategy and a plausible-sounding one, and you've defended that distinction in front of a skeptical audience.
  • Background in quant finance, economic consulting, or marketplace work is a strong signal. We want people comfortable collaborating with competing ideas in high-stakes data environments.
Compensation

$160K-$225K base + $50K-$150K equity. Range reflects experience; we'll be direct about where you'd land.

Work Location

This will be a hybrid role, with the expectation of working at least three days per week out of our office in San Francisco.

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