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Research Engineer Phd Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Mercor

ML Research Engineer - PhD

San Francisco, CA · Remote

$75 - $90/hr

Position: Human Baseliner for Open-Ended ML Research Tasks Type: Contract Compensation: $75-$90 ... Time in a PhD program counts. * Attended a top-100 university or worked at FAANG or a comparable ...

Skild AI

Research Engineer

San Mateo, CA

Preferred Qualifications * BS, MS or PhD degree in Computer Science, Robotics, Engineering or a ... Deep technical knowledge, and research experience in deep learning, reinforcement and/or imitation ...

SID.ai

Research Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

Manage a team of research engineers. Qualifications ... Required : • Not afraid of formulas - a BSc/MSc/PhD is an indicator of this (but isn't the only ...

Nace AI

Research Engineer

Palo Alto, CA · On-site

Preferred : • PhD in Computer Science, Computational Linguistics, or closely related field with focus on language models and adaptive learning systems. • Proven research and engineering ...

Phonic

Research Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

Hands-on experience in ML research or research engineering, industry or PhD-level academia * Proficiency in Python and PyTorch (or JAX), and the ability to implement models cleanly from papers

Solcoa Industries

Research Engineer

Alameda, CA · On-site

$120K - $175K/yr

Typically 3+ years (flexible) as a research engineer/assistant or PhD-level researcher with demonstrated research achievements (papers, patents, prototypes). * Depth in at least one focus area above ...

Socket.dev

Research Engineer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$147 - $211/hr

PhD degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Computer Information Systems, Mathematics, Physics, or ... Apply advanced machine learning models and research to solve high-impact, real-world problems ...

Harmonic

Research Engineer

Palo Alto, CA · On-site

They are seeking a highly motivated Research Engineer to advance mathematical theorem proving ... Preferred : • PhD in Computer Science, Mathematics, or a related field. • Experience in ...

PROPRIUS

AI Research Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

AI Research Engineer Location: San Francisco, CA Sponsorship: No Relocation: No Industry: Data ... PhD. or master's or relevant work experience from research teams in Machine Learning, Computer ...

SA Technologies

Research Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$140 - $200/hr

Research Engineer At SA Technologies Inc., we believe in turning career aspirations into reality ... MS or PhD in ML, CS, or a related quantitative field - or equivalent demonstrated research ...

Nace AI

Research Engineer

Palo Alto, CA · On-site

PhD in Computer Science, Computational Linguistics, or closely related field with focus on language models and adaptive learning systems * Proven research and engineering experience with LLMs/VLMs ...

Via Logic LLC

Research Engineer

San Diego, CA · On-site

$87.10 - $157.45/hr

Description The qualified Research Engineer will be part of a strong team of scientists and ... Masters or PhD in Engineering, Physics, Mathematics, or related scientific field. * Experience in ...

datologyai

Research Engineer

Redwood City, CA · On-site

$180 - $300/hr

About the Role As a Research Engineer, you will play a crucial role in conducting and enabling ... PhD in Computer Science, Machine Learning, or a related technical field preferred Compensation At ...

Waabi

Research Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site +1

$122K - $215K/yr

Bonus/nice to have: - Master/PhD in machine learning, computer science, engineering, or a related ... with research teams to implement and validate deep learning models. - Solid experience with ...

Leidos

Research Engineer

San Diego, CA · On-site

$87K - $157K/yr

The qualified Research Engineer will be part of a strong team of scientists and engineers in our ... Basic Qualifications Masters or PhD in Engineering, Physics, Mathematics, or related scientific ...

Waabi

Research Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site +1

$122K - $215K/yr

Bonus/nice to have: - Master/PhD in machine learning, computer science, engineering, or a related ... with research teams to implement and validate deep learning models. - Solid experience with ...

HeyGen

Research Engineer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

We are in search of passionate Research Scientists with a specialization in Computer Vision to ... A Master's or PhD in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field * 1-3 years of experience in ...

Human Archive

Research Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$100K - $200K/yr

The Opportunity As a Research Engineer, you'll work on multimodal sensing systems and sensor fusion ... Master's or PhD in robotics, computer vision, sensing systems, or related fields * Published ...

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All JobsResearch Engineer Phd JobsResearch Engineer Phd Jobs in California

Research Engineer Phd information

See California salary details

$36.5K

$104.6K

$140.6K

How much do research engineer phd jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 23, 2026, the average yearly pay for research engineer phd in California is $104,624.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $102,600.00 and $102,600.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a research engineer PhD?

A Research Engineer PhD is a professional who has completed a doctoral degree (PhD) and works on developing innovative solutions, conducting advanced experiments, and pushing the boundaries of technology or science. They often work in academic, industrial, or government research settings, applying deep technical expertise to solve complex problems. Their responsibilities typically include designing experiments, analyzing data, publishing findings, and sometimes collaborating with product development teams. Research Engineer PhDs are valued for their ability to combine scientific research with practical engineering applications.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a research engineer PhD?

To thrive as a Research Engineer PhD, you need advanced knowledge in engineering principles, research methodologies, and data analysis, typically supported by a doctoral degree in engineering or a related field. Expertise with simulation software, programming languages (such as Python or MATLAB), and familiarity with publishing tools or laboratory equipment is often required. Strong problem-solving abilities, creativity, and effective communication skills help distinguish top performers in this role. These skills and qualities are essential for driving innovation, producing publishable research, and effectively collaborating within multidisciplinary teams.

What opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration can a research engineer PhD expect in a typical organization?

As a Research Engineer with a PhD, you will frequently collaborate with professionals from various disciplines, such as data scientists, software developers, and product managers. This interdisciplinary work is essential for translating research into practical applications and advancing innovative projects. You can expect to contribute your expertise in scientific methods and advanced technical knowledge while gaining insights from colleagues in adjacent fields. Such collaboration not only enriches project outcomes but also broadens your professional skill set and fosters career growth.

What is the difference between Research Engineer Phd vs Research Scientist?

AspectResearch Engineer PhdResearch Scientist
Required CredentialsPhD in relevant field, advanced technical skillsMaster's or PhD, strong research background
Work EnvironmentLabs, R&D departments, technical project teamsAcademic, corporate R&D, government agencies
Employer & Industry UsageTech companies, engineering firms, research institutionsUniversities, research labs, industry R&D
Common Search & ComparisonOften compared for research roles requiring engineering expertiseBroader research roles, academic positions

Research Engineer Phd and Research Scientist roles both require advanced degrees and involve research activities. However, Research Engineer Phd positions typically focus on applied engineering projects within industry settings, emphasizing technical development and innovation. Research Scientists often work in academic or research institutions, focusing on fundamental research and scientific discovery. The choice depends on whether you prefer industry-focused engineering work or academic research pursuits.

What are popular job titles related to Research Engineer Phd jobs in California?

For Research Engineer Phd jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Research Engineer Phd jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Research Engineer Phd jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Research Engineer Phd jobs?

Cities in California with the most Research Engineer Phd job openings:

Research Engineer Phd jobs near you
Infographic showing various Research Engineer Phd job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 1% As Needed, 87% Full Time, 9% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 83% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 13% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $104,624 per year, or $50.3 per hour.

ML Research Engineer - PhD

Mercor

San Francisco, CA • Remote

$75 - $90/hr

Full-time

Re-posted 23 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: Human Baseliner for Open-Ended ML Research Tasks
Type: Contract
Compensation: $75–$90/hour
Location: Remote
Commitment: 20+ hours/week

Role Responsibilities

  • Attempt open-ended machine learning research tasks under a fixed time and compute budget.
  • Work independently in a sandboxed Linux environment with internet access.
  • Use preferred tools, including IDEs and AI coding assistants like Cursor, Claude Code, and ChatGPT.
  • Record full working sessions via screen recording.
  • Complete pre-task and post-task questionnaires.
  • Submit final work product, screen recording, and completed questionnaires for evaluation.

Qualifications

Must-Have

  • 3+ years of machine learning experience. Time in a PhD program counts.
  • Attended a top-100 university or worked at FAANG or a comparable company.
  • Experience with PyTorch, JAX, or TensorFlow.
  • Deep expertise in at least one focus area: pretraining, PPO, reward shaping, fine-tuning, LoRA, RLHF, architecture design, contrastive training, generative modeling, multilingual experience, or data pipelines.

Required Domain Expertise

  • Practical experience in Pretraining, Reinforcement learning, Post-training, Dataset curation, or Model architecture.

Logistics

  • One baseline attempt per contractor per task.
  • Each task may only be attempted once.
  • All work is confidential and covered by NDA.
  • Compute and environment are provided; no personal GPU required.

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.