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Research Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

ThirdLayer, Inc.

Research Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$140 - $210/hr

The Role As a Research Engineer, you'll build the systems that let us post-train models continuously: the training pipelines, environment infrastructure, and evaluation harnesses that turn research ...

New

University of California

Research Engineer

Pasadena, CA · On-site

$80 - $104.70/hr

As a Research Engineer in the LIGO Laboratory, you will have the opportunity to apply your skills to the design and implementation of technologies that increase the LIGO detector sensitivity and ...

New

Dayhoff Labs

Research Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

The role You'll be a generalist research engineer, moving fluidly across our maintenance and research projects wherever leverage is highest. The through-line is using LLMs and agents to build ...

Posted today

Caltech

Research Engineer

Pasadena, CA · On-site

As a Research Engineer in the LIGO Laboratory, you will have the opportunity to apply your skills to the design and implementation of technologies that increase the LIGO detector sensitivity and ...

Nace AI

Research Engineer

Palo Alto, CA · On-site

... research and engineering teams. Qualifications : Required : • Direct experience working with Large Language Models (LLMs) or Vision-Language Models (VLMs) in research or production settings. • ...

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. As a CMMI Level 5 and Great Place to Work ® Certified global IT consulting and services company--and ...

Acceler8 Talent

Research Engineer

Alameda, CA · On-site

$300K/yr

Founding Research Engineer - AI & Defence 📍 San Francisco | Onsite I'm working with a highly ambitious defense AI startup building technology to detect and conduct a novel class of AI-powered ...

Acceler8 Talent

Research Engineer

Santa Clara, CA · On-site

$300K/yr

Founding Research Engineer - AI & Defence 📍 San Francisco | Onsite I'm working with a highly ambitious defense AI startup building technology to detect and conduct a novel class of AI-powered ...

Acceler8 Talent

Research Engineer

Fremont, CA · On-site

$300K/yr

Founding Research Engineer - AI & Defence 📍 San Francisco | Onsite I'm working with a highly ambitious defense AI startup building technology to detect and conduct a novel class of AI-powered ...

Acceler8 Talent

Research Engineer

San Jose, CA · On-site

$300K/yr

Founding Research Engineer - AI & Defence 📍 San Francisco | Onsite I'm working with a highly ambitious defense AI startup building technology to detect and conduct a novel class of AI-powered ...

Acceler8 Talent

Research Engineer

Santa Rosa, CA · On-site

$300K/yr

Founding Research Engineer - AI & Defence 📍 San Francisco | Onsite I'm working with a highly ambitious defense AI startup building technology to detect and conduct a novel class of AI-powered ...

Acceler8 Talent

Research Engineer

Sonoma, CA · On-site

$300K/yr

Founding Research Engineer - AI & Defence 📍 San Francisco | Onsite I'm working with a highly ambitious defense AI startup building technology to detect and conduct a novel class of AI-powered ...

Acceler8 Talent

Research Engineer

Sunnyvale, CA · On-site

$300K/yr

Founding Research Engineer - AI & Defence 📍 San Francisco | Onsite I'm working with a highly ambitious defense AI startup building technology to detect and conduct a novel class of AI-powered ...

Waabi

Research Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site +1

$122K - $215K/yr

To learn more visit: www.waabi.ai As a Research Engineer, you will be at the forefront of advancing and deploying artificial intelligence algorithms for our self-driving vehicles. You will work ...

Acceler8 Talent

Research Engineer

San Mateo, CA · On-site

$300K/yr

Founding Research Engineer - AI & Defence 📍 San Francisco | Onsite I'm working with a highly ambitious defense AI startup building technology to detect and conduct a novel class of AI-powered ...

Waabi

Research Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site +1

$122K - $215K/yr

To learn more visit: www.waabi.ai As a Research Engineer, you will be at the forefront of advancing and deploying artificial intelligence algorithms for our self-driving vehicles. You will work ...

Decagon

Research Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$200 - $400/hr

About the Role As a Research Engineer, you'll be responsible for building industry-leading conversational AI models that power Decagon's agent, and taking them all the way from idea to production.

Socket.dev

Research Engineer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$147 - $211/hr

... a Research Engineering- related occupation. * Position requires experience in the following: Python or C++; Algorithm design for machine learning applications; Statistical analysis for machine ...

New

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Showing results 21-40

All JobsResearch Engineer JobsResearch Engineer Jobs in California

Research Engineer information

See California salary details

$36.5K

$104.6K

$140.6K

How much do research engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 21, 2026, the average yearly pay for research engineer 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?

Research engineers are professionals who apply scientific and engineering principles to conduct research, develop new products, and improve existing technologies. They typically work in laboratories, research and development departments, or academic settings, collaborating with scientists and other engineers. Their work often involves designing experiments, analyzing data, and creating prototypes to solve technical problems or advance knowledge in their field.

How do research engineers typically collaborate with cross-functional teams during a project?

Research Engineers often work closely with scientists, data analysts, product managers, and software engineers to develop and implement innovative solutions. Collaboration usually involves regular meetings to align on project goals, sharing technical findings, and integrating research outcomes into product development. Effective communication and the ability to translate complex research concepts into actionable insights are key to ensuring the project progresses smoothly and meets its objectives.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a research engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Research Engineer, a strong background in engineering principles, advanced mathematics, and scientific research—often supported by a relevant degree or postgraduate study—is essential. Familiarity with data analysis tools like MATLAB or Python, CAD software, and laboratory instrumentation is typically required, along with experience in technical report writing. Strong analytical thinking, creativity, and effective collaboration skills help Research Engineers excel in multidisciplinary teams. These competencies are vital for developing innovative solutions, advancing technology, and ensuring rigorous, impactful research outcomes.

What is the difference between Research Engineer vs Data Scientist?

AspectResearch EngineerData Scientist
Required CredentialsTypically requires a master's or Ph.D. in engineering, computer science, or related fieldsUsually holds a master's or Ph.D. in statistics, computer science, or related areas
Work EnvironmentResearch labs, R&D departments, technology companiesData analysis teams, analytics departments, tech firms
Employer & Industry UsageUsed in engineering, manufacturing, aerospace, and tech industriesCommon in finance, healthcare, marketing, and tech sectors

Research Engineers focus on developing new technologies, prototypes, and engineering solutions, often working on hardware or system design. Data Scientists analyze large datasets to extract insights, build predictive models, and support decision-making. While both roles require strong technical skills and advanced degrees, their core functions and industry applications differ significantly.

Do I need a PhD to be a research engineer?

A PhD is not always required to become a research engineer, as many roles value relevant experience, technical skills, and a bachelor's or master's degree in engineering, computer science, or related fields. However, some specialized research positions or advanced projects may prefer or require a doctoral degree. Practical skills, problem-solving ability, and familiarity with tools like MATLAB or Python are also important for success in this role.
More about Research Engineer jobs

What are the most commonly searched types of Research Engineer jobs in California?

The most popular types of Research Engineer jobs in California are:

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

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

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

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

What cities in California are hiring for Research Engineer jobs?

Cities in California with the most Research Engineer job openings:

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

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

Research Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Research Engineer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $104,624 per year, or $50.3 per hour.

Founding Research Engineer (San Francisco)

Adam

San Francisco, CA • On-site

$160K - $249K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 23 days ago

Job description

Join to apply for the Founding Research Engineer role at Adam

Join to apply for the Founding Research Engineer role at Adam

This range is provided by Adam. Your actual pay will be based on your skills and experience — talk with your recruiter to learn more.

Base pay range

$160,000.00/yr - $249,998.00/yr

We’re building the founding research team at Adam.
At Adam, we’re tackling a frontier problem: training AI models to intelligently interpret and edit parametric CAD in 3D space. This demands creativity, deep technical ability, and novel thinking.
As Part Of The Founding Research Team, You May

  • Train models that generate CAD from natural language
  • Build effective vector representations of CAD features
  • Design evals to measure geometric accuracy in 3D space
  • Optimize inference for faster CAD edits
  • Create RL environments to teach long-horizon agents to perform design tasks end-to-end
We Are Looking For People Who
  • Are excited to explore and push the boundaries of LLMs, especially in the domain of 3D and CAD generation
  • Have trained and served state-of-the-art models.
  • Can own the full AI stack, from data collection to model training, evaluation, and inference
  • Have a track record of original contributions in ML (first-author papers, open-source projects, or shipped systems)
  • Operate with high agency and own problems end-to-end
At Adam, you will be given the autonomy to do some of the best work of your life and redefine how the physical world is built. Seniority level
  • Seniority levelEntry level
Employment type
  • Employment typeFull-time
Job function
  • Job functionEngineering and Information Technology
  • IndustriesSoftware Development

Referrals increase your chances of interviewing at Adam by 2x

Get notified about new Research Engineer jobs in San Francisco, CA.

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Research Scientist, Rodent Neural ImagingMachine Learning Data Scientist, Forecasting

Walnut Creek, CA $90,000.00-$140,000.00 1 month ago

San Francisco, CA $120,000.00-$200,000.00 7 hours ago

Research Engineer/Research Scientist, RL/ReasoningResearch Engineer / Research Scientist - Agents

San Francisco, CA $100,000.00-$300,000.00 2 weeks ago

Research Engineer / Research Scientist, Post-TrainingResearch Engineer - Machine Learning (ML)Research Scientist - Computational Chemistry

Oakland, CA $150,000.00-$185,000.00 1 month ago

San Francisco, CA $100,000.00-$300,000.00 2 weeks ago

Research Engineer/Scientist, Strategic Deployment

San Francisco, CA $104,979.00-$165,000.00 3 months ago

San Francisco, CA $100,000.00-$300,000.00 2 weeks ago

Research Engineer / Research Scientist - Model BehaviorResearch Engineer / Scientist, Multimodal

San Francisco, CA $310,000.00-$460,000.00 2 weeks ago

San Francisco, CA $150,000.00-$350,000.00 8 months ago

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