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Clinical Development Scientist Jobs in California

Kite Pharma

Clinical Development Scientist

Foster City, CA · On-site

$146K - $189K/yr

You will play a supportive role in late stage oncology clinical development. Working in collaboration with the Clinical Scientist Lead, you are accountable for various aspects of ongoing clinical ...

Danaher

Sr. Staff Development Scientist

West Sacramento, CA · On-site

$200K - $220K/yr

As a global leader in clinical diagnostics, Beckman Coulter Diagnostics has challenged convention ... The Sr. Staff Development Scientist is responsible for leading complex antimicrobial susceptibility ...

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Clinical Development Scientist information

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How much do clinical development scientist jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 22, 2026, the average hourly pay for clinical development scientist in California is $54.03, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $39.62 and $67.36 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a clinical development scientist do?

A Clinical Development Scientist is responsible for designing, planning, and overseeing clinical trials that test new drugs, therapies, or medical devices. They collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure that clinical studies are scientifically sound, compliant with regulations, and aligned with strategic objectives. Their work involves protocol development, data analysis, and interpretation of results to support regulatory submissions and product approvals. Ultimately, they play a key role in bringing safe and effective treatments to patients.

What skills and qualifications are needed to be a clinical development scientist?

To thrive as a Clinical Development Scientist, you need a solid background in life sciences, clinical research methodologies, and drug development, often supported by an advanced degree such as a PhD or PharmD. Familiarity with regulatory requirements, clinical trial management systems (CTMS), and data analysis tools is essential. Strong analytical thinking, attention to detail, and effective communication skills help you collaborate cross-functionally and drive successful clinical studies. These skills ensure rigorous study design, regulatory compliance, and effective advancement of new therapies through clinical pipelines.

How does a clinical development scientist collaborate with cross-functional teams during a clinical trial?

Clinical Development Scientists play a central role in coordinating with various teams such as clinical operations, regulatory affairs, data management, and biostatistics throughout a clinical trial. They ensure that clinical protocols are scientifically sound and align with regulatory requirements, while also facilitating clear communication between departments to address study challenges and maintain timelines. By serving as the scientific point of contact, they help integrate input from multiple stakeholders, support troubleshooting during trial execution, and contribute to the preparation of study documents and data analysis.

What is the difference between Clinical Development Scientist vs Clinical Research Associate?

AspectClinical Development ScientistClinical Research Associate
Required credentialsBachelor's or Master's in Life Sciences, relevant certificationsBachelor's in Life Sciences or related field, often with certification in clinical trials
Work environmentDesigning and planning clinical trials, collaborating with teamsMonitoring clinical trials at sites, ensuring protocol compliance
Employer and industry usagePharmaceutical companies, biotech firms, CROsPharmaceutical companies, CROs, research institutions
Common search and comparison intentUnderstanding roles in clinical developmentMonitoring and managing clinical trial sites

The Clinical Development Scientist focuses on designing, planning, and analyzing clinical trials, working closely with research teams. In contrast, the Clinical Research Associate primarily monitors trial sites to ensure compliance and data integrity. Both roles are essential in clinical research but differ in responsibilities and daily tasks.

What are popular job titles related to Clinical Development Scientist jobs in California?

For Clinical Development Scientist jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

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

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

What cities in California are hiring for Clinical Development Scientist jobs?

Cities in California with the most Clinical Development Scientist job openings:

Clinical Development Scientist jobs near you
Infographic showing various Clinical Development Scientist job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 86% Full Time, 11% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 89% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $112,386 per year, or $54 per hour.

Clinical Development Scientist/Senior Clinical Development Scientist

Tenvie Therapeutics, Inc

Brisbane, CA • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 27 days ago

Job description

Clinical Development Scientist/Senior Clinical Development Scientist
Tenvie Therapeutics is developing precision-engineered small molecule therapies to address core drivers of neurological and peripheral diseases: neuroinflammation and cellular dysfunction. Leveraging its proprietary product engine, Tenvie has the unique ability to advance both fully CNS-penetrant and peripherally restricted products across a broad portfolio. Tenvie's most advanced programs, TNV262 and TNV108, are in Phase 1 clinical development. TNV262 is a fully CNS-penetrant NLRP3 inhibitor targeting cardiometabolic and neuroinflammatory indications, including obesity and cardiovascular disease, and multiple sclerosis. TNV108 is a peripherally restricted SARM1 allosteric inhibitor targeting peripheral neuropathies. Tenvie's clinical pipeline is complemented by discovery-stage programs across a range of related indications.
Tenvie Therapeutics is seeking a scientifically rigorous and highly collaborative Clinical Scientist to support the design and execution of early clinical development programs in cardiometabolic disease and related indications. This role is ideal for candidates with a strong background in human pathophysiology and clinical trial design who are motivated to translate biology into impactful therapies. The Clinical Scientist will work closely with Clinical Development, Clinical Operations, Biometrics, Translational Science, and Regulatory to ensure high-quality clinical plans, protocols, and data readouts. This role can be remote, hybrid, or on-site, and reports within the Clinical Development group.
JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:
  • Contribute to clinical strategy and study design
    • Support development of clinical development plans, target product profiles, and indication prioritization
    • Lead or co-lead the scientific design of Phase 1-2 studies (e.g., FIH, dose-finding, PoC) including objectives, endpoints, inclusion/exclusion criteria, and biomarker strategy, with emphasis on cardiometabolic risk factors and outcomes
    • Integrate nonclinical, translational, and clinical data to inform dose selection, schedule, and patient population
  • Lead development of core clinical documents
    • Author or co-author clinical sections of protocols, protocol amendments, IBs, ICFs, CSRs, and relevant regulatory documents (e.g., briefing books, responses to health authority questions)
    • Develop and maintain study-level documents including synopsis, statistical analysis-relevant endpoint definitions, and data review plans
    • Partner with Biostatistics and Clinical Pharmacology on endpoint hierarchy, PK/PD modeling plans, and interim analyses
  • Drive study conduct and data quality
    • Serve as Clinical Scientist lead on cross-functional study teams for selected trials
    • Provide clinical and scientific input into site selection, eligibility adjudication, and key study tools (e.g., manuals, training decks, CRFs)
    • Participate in ongoing medical and scientific data review (safety, PK/PD, biomarkers, efficacy signals); help define and track key data review listings and visualizations
    • Support development and execution of safety review / dose escalation committees and data monitoring activities
  • Lead data interpretation and communication
    • Lead or co-lead integrated analyses of clinical, PK/PD, and biomarker data to generate clear conclusions and next-step recommendations
    • Prepare data summaries and presentations for internal governance, external collaborators, and advisory boards
    • Contribute to abstracts, posters, and manuscripts for scientific meetings and peer-reviewed journals
  • Interface with investigators and external partners
    • Provide scientific support to investigators and study sites (e.g., training, protocol clarification, scientific Q&A)
    • Participate in KOL and expert advisory boards, contributing to agenda, content, and follow-up
    • Collaborate with CROs, central labs, imaging/biomarker vendors, and other partners to ensure alignment on scientific and operational expectations
  • Contribute to portfolio and organizational excellence
    • Support cross-program learnings and standardization of endpoints, assessments, and data structures across cardiometabolic and related indications
    • Help refine internal processes and templates for protocols, charters, and data review
    • Mentor junior team members as appropriate; model a high-accountability, low-ego, cross-functional working style

QUALIFICATIONS:
  • Education
    • PhD in life sciences, pharmacology, physiology, or related field strongly preferred; MD, PharmD, or equivalent clinical degree also considered
    • Strong foundation in cardiometabolic biology (e.g., obesity, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, NAFLD/NASH, cardiovascular risk) is highly preferred
  • Experience
    • Typically 3-7+ years of relevant experience in clinical development, clinical pharmacology, or translational medicine within biotech/pharma or equivalent academic clinical research environment
    • Demonstrated experience contributing to design and execution of early-phase (Phase 1-2) clinical trials
    • Cardiometabolic and/or obesity clinical trial experience preferred, including familiarity with standard endpoints (e.g., glycemic control, body weight, lipids, blood pressure, imaging or functional assessments)
    • Experience working on cross-functional teams with Clinical Operations, Biometrics, Regulatory, and Translational/Discovery
    • Prior involvement in regulatory submissions (e.g., IND/CTA, briefing packages, responses to queries) is a plus
  • Technical skills
    • Strong understanding of clinical trial methodology, GCP, and the overall drug development pathway from FIH through proof-of-concept
    • Comfort interpreting PK/PD, biomarker, and clinical efficacy/safety data, and working with statisticians and pharmacometricians
    • Experience with cardiometabolic risk scoring, metabolic biomarker panels, or imaging modalities is an advantage
    • Excellent scientific writing skills with a track record of clear, structured documents and presentations
  • Core competencies
    • Highly organized, with the ability to manage multiple studies or workstreams in parallel in a fast-paced environment
    • Strong analytical and critical-thinking skills; able to move from complex data to clear, actionable recommendations
    • Effective communicator, able to tailor scientific messages to diverse audiences (clinicians, scientists, operations, leadership, regulators)
    • Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and constructively across disciplines and with external partners
    • Comfortable operating with ambiguity and evolving data; proactive in identifying risks and proposing solutions
    • Commitment to high ethical standards, patient safety, and data integrity

Expected salary range:
  • $125,000-180,000 annual base salary

Tenvie is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our goal is to have a diverse workforce. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, age, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status or disability or any other status protected under federal, state or local law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit and business need.

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