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Biological Systems Engineering Jobs in California

Exthymic

Head of Systems Engineering

San Diego, CA · On-site

Partner with scientists and engineers to decompose biological and process performance targets into system-level requirements, flow them down to subsystems, and maintain traceability as the target ...

Exthymic

Head of Systems Engineering

San Diego, CA

Partner with scientists and engineers to decompose biological and process performance targets into system-level requirements, flow them down to subsystems, and maintain traceability as the target ...

Exthymic

Head of Systems Engineering

San Diego, CA · On-site

Partner with scientists and engineers to decompose biological and process performance targets into system-level requirements, flow them down to subsystems, and maintain traceability as the target ...

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All JobsBiological Systems Engineering JobsBiological Systems Engineering Jobs in California

Biological Systems Engineering information

See California salary details

$30.6K

$41.6K

$55.3K

How much do biological systems engineering jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 28, 2026, the average yearly pay for biological systems engineering in California is $41,554.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $37,000.00 and $45,900.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is Biological Systems Engineering?

Biological Systems Engineering is an interdisciplinary field that applies engineering principles to biological and agricultural systems. Professionals in this field work on developing sustainable solutions for food production, environmental protection, bioenergy, and resource management. They integrate biology, chemistry, and engineering to design systems and technologies that improve the efficiency and sustainability of processes involving living organisms. Careers can include work in agriculture, environmental consulting, biotechnology, and renewable energy industries.

What are some common interdisciplinary collaborations for Biological Systems Engineers within an organization?

Biological Systems Engineers frequently work alongside professionals from a variety of fields, such as agronomists, environmental scientists, mechanical engineers, and computer scientists. These collaborations often focus on developing sustainable solutions for agricultural production, environmental protection, or bioenergy systems. Working in cross-functional teams helps Biological Systems Engineers address complex real-world challenges, integrate new technologies, and ensure that project outcomes are practical and scalable. Effective communication and teamwork are essential, as projects may involve coordinating fieldwork, data analysis, and system optimization.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Biological Systems Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Biological Systems Engineer, you need a solid background in engineering principles, biology, and mathematics, generally supported by a degree in biological systems engineering or a related field. Familiarity with CAD software, modeling tools like MATLAB, and knowledge of relevant industry standards or certifications (such as FE/EIT) is often required. Strong problem-solving, teamwork, and communication skills help professionals excel in multidisciplinary projects and effectively convey complex ideas. These skills and qualifications ensure engineers can develop sustainable solutions to biological and agricultural challenges, bridging the gap between engineering and life sciences.

What is the difference between Biological Systems Engineering vs Agricultural Engineer?

AspectBiological Systems EngineeringAgricultural Engineer
CredentialsBachelor's in Biological Systems Engineering or related fieldBachelor's in Agricultural Engineering or related field
Work EnvironmentResearch labs, manufacturing, environmental systemsFarms, agricultural facilities, rural settings
Industry UsageBiotech, environmental, healthcare, manufacturingAgriculture, food production, rural infrastructure

Biological Systems Engineering focuses on applying engineering principles to biological systems across various industries, including healthcare and environmental management. Agricultural Engineers primarily work within the agriculture sector, designing systems for farming, irrigation, and food production. While both roles require similar credentials, their work environments and industry applications differ significantly.

What are popular job titles related to Biological Systems Engineering jobs in California? For Biological Systems Engineering jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Biological Systems Engineering jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Biological Systems Engineering jobs in California are:
Biological Systems Engineering jobs near you
Infographic showing various Biological Systems Engineering job openings in California as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 1% As Needed, 85% Full Time, 12% Part Time, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 92% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 7% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $41,554 per year, or $20 per hour.

Developmental Systems Lead (Fluidics/Perfusion)

Becoming

San Francisco, CA • On-site

Full-time

Posted 21 days ago

Job description

About Becoming

Becoming is building Developmental Intelligence: AI for predicting how organisms change over time.

Most experimental systems fail when metabolic demands become too high. We are building systems that don’t — enabling sustained, controllable biological processes over long time horizons so that development, adaptation, and failure can be observed, perturbed, and predicted.

Physiology is central to this effort. Without stable, well-characterized physiological function, long-horizon prediction is impossible.

The Role

We are hiring a Developmental Systems Lead to own making externally sustained developmental systems run stably, repeatably, and predictably over days to weeks.

This role is for someone who thinks in systems, not endpoints — someone who understands how transport, metabolism, signaling, mechanics, and homeostasis interact over time. You will lead the design and operation of systems that integrate perfusion, physiology, sensing, actuation, and closed-loop control to sustain and perturb development in ways that generate meaningful, causal data.

This is a high-agency role. You will be expected to define measurements, interpret dynamics, and drive improvements in system-level function.

What You’ll Own
  • End-to-end responsibility for externally sustained developmental systems operating over days to weeks
  • Definition of what “success” means beyond “alive,” including how stability, drift, and failure are measured over time
  • Identification, characterization, and mitigation of long-horizon failure modes (e.g., drift, interface breakdown)
  • Design and refinement of closed-loop control strategies for complex biological systems
  • Integration of perfusion hardware, sensors, and control software into durable platforms
  • Decisions about when systems are sufficiently stable to perturb, compare, and learn from
  • Close collaboration with developmental biology, hardware, and ML / modeling teams
  • Building systems that improve with iteration, not systems that require constant manual expert intervention
Who You Are

You are someone who:

  • Operates with high agency — you identify what needs to be measured and why
  • Takes ownership of outcomes, not just data collection
  • Brings high energy to complex, dynamic biological systems
  • Acts with high integrity — you are honest about uncertainty, limits, and tradeoffs
  • Communicates directly and clearly, especially when systems are not behaving as expected
  • Is self-aware about your strengths and gaps, proactively fills them and open to feedback
  • Thinks like a systems integrator, not a siloed specialist

Is comfortable working where physiology, engineering, and modeling intersect

Requirements

Required

  • Deep, hands-on experience with long-running biological or physiological systems (days+, not hours)
  • PhD or equivalent experience in physiology, engineering, or a related field
  • Experience with several of the following:
    • Perfusion systems
    • Fluid dynamics, flow, pressure, and shear — and their biological consequences
    • Inflammation, coagulation, hemolysis, or endothelial failure in sustained systems
    • Closed-loop control of noisy, drifting systems
    • Real-time instrumentation and sensing in biological environments
    • Diagnosing failure modes that emerge gradually, not catastrophically
  • Ability to work fluently with developmental biologists and/or physiologists
  • At least 1 year of industry or applied systems experience

Strong Signals

  • Background in perfusion, ECMO, organ support, or organ preservation
  • Physiology-driven systems engineering experience
  • Experience with complex robotics or control systems operating in irreversible environments
  • History of systems that failed — and improved because of it

Benefits

  • Competitive salary and meaningful equity depending on experience level
  • Full benefits
  • High-trust, high-ownership environment
  • Rapid growth in scope and responsibility