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In Vitro Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Scientist II

San Mateo, CA · On-site

$60 - $64/hr

Join a dynamic biologics discovery team as a Scientist II, using in vitro display technologies to identify and optimize therapeutic antibodies. You'll design and execute antibody discovery ...

Scientific Director

San Diego, CA · On-site

$130K - $182K/yr

Serve as the subject matter expert (SME) for in vitro immunology and autoimmune diseases pharmacology, supporting the business development team in identifying and developing new business ...

Showing results 21-40

In Vitro information

See California salary details

$5

$16

$20

How much do in vitro jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 18, 2026, the average hourly pay for in vitro in California is $16.26, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $14.23 and $17.55 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is an in vitro job?

In vitro jobs refer to positions that involve conducting experiments or research outside of a living organism, typically in a controlled laboratory environment such as test tubes or petri dishes. These roles are common in the fields of biology, biotechnology, and pharmaceuticals, where scientists study cells, tissues, or biological molecules to understand processes or test the effects of drugs. In vitro specialists may work as research associates, scientists, or laboratory technicians, performing assays, analyzing data, and maintaining laboratory equipment. Their work is critical for advancing medical research, drug development, and diagnostic testing.

What are some common challenges faced by professionals working in in vitro research, and how can they be managed?

Professionals in In Vitro research often face challenges such as maintaining the integrity and reproducibility of experimental results, troubleshooting unexpected outcomes, and keeping up with rapidly evolving laboratory technologies. Managing these challenges involves rigorous attention to detail, strong documentation practices, and continuous learning through professional development. Collaboration with interdisciplinary teams, such as biologists, chemists, and data analysts, is also key to successfully navigating complex projects and advancing research objectives.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an in vitro laboratory scientist, and why are they important?

To thrive as an In Vitro Laboratory Scientist, you need a solid background in cell biology, biochemistry, and laboratory techniques, typically supported by a degree in life sciences or a related field. Familiarity with laboratory instruments (e.g., PCR, ELISA, cell culture systems), data analysis software, and regulatory compliance (such as GLP or GMP) is crucial. Precision, attention to detail, and strong problem-solving skills are key soft skills for ensuring accurate experimental results. These skills and qualities are essential for producing reliable data that drive scientific research and product development.

What is the difference between In Vitro vs In Vivo Research Scientist?

AspectIn Vitro Research ScientistIn Vivo Research Scientist
Work EnvironmentLaboratories with cell cultures and test tubesAnimal facilities and live subject testing
Required CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in biology, biochemistry, or related fieldsBachelor's or Master's in biology, pharmacology, or related fields
Industry UsagePharmaceutical, biotech, academic researchPharmaceutical, biotech, academic research
Research FocusCell-based experiments, molecular analysisWhole organism studies, physiological responses

In Vitro and In Vivo Research Scientists both work in biomedical research but differ in their focus. In Vitro scientists conduct experiments in controlled lab environments using cell cultures, while In Vivo scientists study live organisms. Both roles require similar educational backgrounds and are common in pharmaceutical and biotech industries, but their work environments and research methods vary significantly.

What are popular job titles related to In Vitro jobs in California?

For In Vitro jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What cities in California are hiring for In Vitro jobs?

Cities in California with the most In Vitro job openings:

Infographic showing various In Vitro job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 52% Full Time, 32% Part Time, and 16% Contract. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $33,826 per year, or $16.3 per hour.

Principal Scientist, Inflammation

Amgen

South San Francisco, CA

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement

Re-posted 2 days ago


Job description

Career CategoryScientificJob Description

Join Amgen's Mission of Serving Patients

At Amgen, if you feel like you're part of something bigger, it's because you are. Our shared mission-to serve patients living with serious illnesses-drives all that we do.

Since 1980, we've helped pioneer the world of biotech in our fight against the world's toughest diseases. With our focus on four therapeutic areas -Oncology, Inflammation, General Medicine, and Rare Disease- we reach millions of patients each year. Amgen is advancing a broad and deep pipeline of medicines to treat cancer, heart disease, inflammatory conditions, rare diseases, and obesity and obesity-related conditions. As a member of the Amgen team, you'll help make a lasting impact on the lives of patients as we research, manufacture, and deliver innovative medicines to help people live longer, fuller happier lives.

Our award-winning culture is collaborative, innovative, and science based. If you have a passion for challenges and the opportunities that lay within them, you'll thrive as part of the Amgen team. Join us and transform the lives of patients while transforming your career.

Principal Scientist, InflammationWhat you will do

Let's do this. Let's change the world. In this vital role you will lead discovery and translational biology efforts for a novel immune-targeting therapeutic platform focused on selective modulation of pathogenic immune-cell populations in autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.

This role will emphasize in vitro and ex vivo immune cell-assay development, mechanistic characterization and in vivo translational pharmacology to support candidate advancement. You will play a central role in defining the experimental and translational framework required to translate early platform concepts into therapeutic candidates capable of delivering robust and durable immune pharmacology.

Key Responsibilities

  • Lead in vitro and ex vivo biological strategy for a next-generation immune-targeting therapeutic platform, establishing experimental approaches to evaluate immune effector activity and target cell elimination in relevant in vitro and preclinical models.
  • Design and execute in vivo studies evaluating lymphocyte-mediated target cell depletion, immune pharmacology, and durability of therapeutic responses in mouse models of inflammatory disease.
  • Develop and optimize in vitro and ex vivo functional immune-cell assays, including co-culture systems, cytotoxicity or target-cell modulation assays and readouts of immune-cell activation, expansion, persistence, target engagement and pharmacodynamic response.
  • Build translational biology capabilities including immune cell profiling, biodistribution studies, and pharmacodynamic biomarker development to support candidate optimization.
  • Integrate in vitro and in vivo datasets to generate mechanistic insights that inform platform optimization and candidate selection.
  • Advance lead therapeutic candidates toward development by delivering preclinical efficacy and mechanistic datasets supporting program progression.
  • Collaborate with discovery biology, protein engineering, delivery sciences, in vivo pharmacology and translational safety to design, perform, and analyze laboratory experiments encompassing in vitro, ex vivo, in silico, and in vivo methodologies.
  • Serve as key scientific contributor on cross-functional project teams by synthesizing data, presenting conclusions, documenting results and communicating recommendations to internal and external scientific audiences.
  • Exhibit excellent organizational, verbal, and written communication skills, produce reliable and reproducible results, multitask efficiently, and coordinate multiple projects confidently.
What we expect of you

We are all different, yet we all use our unique contributions to serve patients. The dynamic professional we seek is a research leader with these qualifications.

Basic Qualifications:

Doctorate degree PhD

OR

PharmD

OR MD [and relevant post-doc where applicable] and 2 years of experience in drug discovery or academic settings

OR

Master's degree and 5 years of experience in drug discovery or academic settings

OR

Bachelor's degree and 7 years of experience in drug discovery or academic settings experience

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Research Experience: PhD with deep expertise in lymphocyte biology and immune effector mechanisms and over 5 years of experience in immunology-related research in industry or academic settings.
  • Scientific Contributions: Demonstrated track record of independent scientific contributions in immunology, as evidenced by publications in high-impact journals.
  • Technical Skills: Strong expertise in in vitro and ex vivo immunology, including primary immune- cell assays, co-culture systems, immune mediated cytotoxicity or target cell depletion assays, and high parameter flow cytometry. Experience characterizing lymphocyte activation states, effector function, persistence, target engagement and pharmacodynamic responses is highly desirable. Experience with preclinical mouse models of immune-mediated target-cell modulation. Familiarity with small and large molecule drug discovery, mechanism of action studies, ELISA, MSD, and flow cytometry-based immune cell profiling, single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-Seq), CRISPR/Cas9, and omics data analysis experience a plus.
  • Collaborative Skills: Proven ability to work effectively in team environments with strong documentation and laboratory management skills. Excellent written and oral communication skills to clearly articulate scientific proposals and results, lead discussions, and make presentations in multidisciplinary meetings.
  • Innovative Thinking: A creative and innovative approach to identify and validate novel targets and therapeutic approaches. This includes staying abreast of current trends, literature, and new developments in pre-clinical and clinical development.
What you can expect of us

As we work to develop treatments that take care of others, we also work to care for your professional and personal growth and well-being. From our competitive benefits to our collaborative culture, we'll support your journey every step of the way.

The expected annual salary range for this role in the U.S. (excluding Puerto Rico) is posted. Actual salary will vary based on several factors including but not limited to, relevant skills, experience, and qualifications.

In addition to the base salary, Amgen offers a Total Rewards Plan, based on eligibility, comprising of health and welfare plans for staff and eligible dependents, financial plans with opportunities to save towards retirement or other goals, work/life balance, and career development opportunities that may include:

  • A comprehensive employee benefits package, including a Retirement and Savings Plan with generous company contributions, group medical, dental and vision coverage, life and disability insurance, and flexible spending accounts
  • A discretionary annual bonus program, or for field sales representatives, a sales-based incentive plan
  • Stock-based long-term incentives
  • Award-winning time-off plans
  • Flexible work models where possible. Refer to the Work Location Type in the job posting to see if this applies.
Apply now and make a lasting impact with the Amgen team.careers.amgen.com

In any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information such as age, date of birth, or dates of school attendance or graduation. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.

Application deadline

Amgen does not have an application deadline for this position; we will continue accepting applications until we receive a sufficient number or select a candidate for the position.

Sponsorship

Sponsorship for this role is not guaranteed.

As an organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for people around the world, Amgen fosters an inclusive environment of diverse, ethical, committed and highly accomplished people who respect each other and live the Amgen values to continue advancing science to serve patients. Together, we compete in the fight against serious disease.

Amgen is an Equal Opportunity employer and will consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, or any other basis protected by applicable law.

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

Amgen will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance.

Salary Range

153,524.45USD -207,709.55USD