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Drug Development Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Amgen

Business Development Senior Manager

Thousand Oaks, CA

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

This is an attractive opportunity for someone with sound scientific knowledge and drug development experience who enjoys a dynamic and entrepreneurial environment, and a highly visible role that ...

Amgen

Business Development Senior Manager

Thousand Oaks, CA

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

This is an attractive opportunity for someone with sound scientific knowledge and drug development experience who enjoys a dynamic and entrepreneurial environment, and a highly visible role that ...

Amgen SA

Business Development Senior Manager

Thousand Oaks, CA · On-site

$150 - $200/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

This is an attractive opportunity for someone with sound scientific knowledge and drug development experience who enjoys a dynamic and entrepreneurial environment, and a highly visible role that ...

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Showing results 1-20

All JobsDrug Development JobsDrug Development Jobs in California

Drug Development information

See California salary details

$32.6K

$76.4K

$131.3K

How much do drug development jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 17, 2026, the average yearly pay for drug development in California is $76,424.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $57,700.00 and $89,300.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is drug development?

Drug development is the process of bringing a new pharmaceutical drug to market. It involves several stages, including drug discovery, preclinical research, clinical trials, and regulatory approval. Each stage is designed to ensure the safety, efficacy, and quality of the drug before it can be made available to patients. The entire process can take several years and requires collaboration between scientists, clinicians, regulatory agencies, and pharmaceutical companies.

What are the typical stages of collaboration between different teams in a drug development role?

In drug development, professionals regularly collaborate across multidisciplinary teams, including research scientists, clinical trial coordinators, regulatory affairs specialists, and manufacturing experts. Early stages involve close work with research and discovery teams to identify promising compounds, followed by coordination with clinical teams during trial phases, and finally with regulatory and production teams as the drug moves toward approval and commercialization. Effective communication and cross-functional teamwork are essential, as each stage relies on timely data sharing and joint problem-solving to navigate complex challenges.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in drug development, and why are they important?

To thrive in Drug Development, you need a strong background in pharmaceutical sciences, biology, or chemistry, often supported by an advanced degree (e.g., PhD, PharmD, or MSc). Familiarity with regulatory compliance, clinical trial management systems, and data analysis software such as SAS or R is typically required. Excellent problem-solving, project management, and cross-functional communication skills help professionals excel in this multidisciplinary field. These competencies ensure that new drugs are developed safely, efficiently, and in accordance with regulatory standards.

What is the difference between Drug Development vs Pharmacologist?

AspectDrug DevelopmentPharmacologist
Required CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemistry, or related fields; often requires experience in clinical trialsDegree in Pharmacology, Pharmacy, or related fields; may require licensing or certification for clinical practice
Work EnvironmentResearch labs, pharmaceutical companies, clinical trial sitesResearch labs, hospitals, academic institutions, regulatory agencies
Industry UsageDeveloping new drugs, overseeing clinical trials, regulatory submissionsStudying drug effects, mechanisms, safety, and efficacy; advising on drug use

While both roles are integral to the pharmaceutical industry, Drug Development focuses on creating and bringing new drugs to market through research, testing, and regulatory processes. Pharmacologists primarily study how drugs interact with biological systems, often working in research or clinical settings to understand drug effects and safety. The two roles often collaborate but differ in their core responsibilities and career focus.

How much do drug development professionals make?

Drug development professionals, including roles such as research scientists and clinical trial managers, typically earn salaries ranging from $70,000 to over $130,000 annually, depending on experience, education, and location. Senior positions or those with specialized skills and certifications can earn higher salaries, especially in biotech and pharmaceutical companies.

Is drug development a good career?

Drug development is a challenging and rewarding career that involves research, clinical trials, and regulatory processes to bring new medications to market. It requires strong scientific knowledge, attention to detail, and often collaboration across multidisciplinary teams. The field offers opportunities for growth, innovation, and contributing to public health, but can also involve long hours and high responsibility.

What career develops drugs?

A career in drug development typically involves roles such as pharmacologist, medicinal chemist, clinical researcher, or regulatory affairs specialist. These professionals work in laboratories, research facilities, or pharmaceutical companies to discover, test, and bring new drugs to market, often requiring knowledge of biology, chemistry, and regulatory processes.

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

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

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

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

What cities in California are hiring for Drug Development jobs?

Cities in California with the most Drug Development job openings:

Drug Development jobs near you
Infographic showing various Drug Development job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 89% Full Time, and 11% Part Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $76,424 per year, or $36.7 per hour.

Epidemiologist - Drug Development Expert

Mercor

San Francisco, CA • Remote

$175 - $275/hr

Full-time

Posted 5 days ago

Job description

About the job

Mercor connects elite creative and technical talent with leading AI research labs. Headquartered in San Francisco, our investors include Benchmark, General Catalyst, Peter Thiel, Adam D'Angelo, Larry Summers, and Jack Dorsey.

Position: Epidemiologist — Patient Population Sizing
Type: Contract
Compensation: $175–$275/hour
Location: Remote
Duration: 1–2 week pilot
Commitment: 10–20 hours

Role Responsibilities

  • Create and critique rubrics that analyze commercial drugs and drug-development programs.
  • Size the patient population for a given drug or indication, including prevalence and incidence.
  • Judge the soundness and sourcing of patient-population estimates, flagging over- or under-counting.
  • Apply expertise across the pilot's set of drugs and indications.
  • Work independently and asynchronously to meet deadlines while improving AI model performance.

Qualifications

Must-Have

  • US-based epidemiologist.
  • Familiarity with biotech/pharma development programs.
  • Experience turning real-world data (claims, EHR, registries) into patient funnels.
  • 5+ years practicing epidemiology with a graduate degree in epidemiology, biostatistics, or public health.

Compensation & Legal

  • Hourly contractor

Application Process (Takes 20–30 mins to complete)

  • Upload resume
  • AI interview based on your resume
  • Submit form

Resources & Support

  • For details about the interview process and platform information, please check: https://talent.docs.mercor.com/welcome
  • For any help or support, reach out to: support@mercor.com

PS: Our team reviews applications daily. Please complete your AI interview and application steps to be considered for this opportunity.