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Research Programmer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Research Engineer San Francisco, CA $750k+ Total Comp. This is a rare opportunity to build production grade AI systems that directly accelerate scientific discovery. You will work at the frontier of ...

Research Engineer San Francisco, CA $750k+ Total Comp. This is a rare opportunity to build production grade AI systems that directly accelerate scientific discovery. You will work at the frontier of ...

Research Engineer San Francisco, CA $750k+ Total Comp. This is a rare opportunity to build production grade AI systems that directly accelerate scientific discovery. You will work at the frontier of ...

Research Engineer San Francisco, CA $750k+ Total Comp. This is a rare opportunity to build production grade AI systems that directly accelerate scientific discovery. You will work at the frontier of ...

Research Engineer San Francisco, CA $750k+ Total Comp. This is a rare opportunity to build production grade AI systems that directly accelerate scientific discovery. You will work at the frontier of ...

Research Engineer San Francisco, CA $750k+ Total Comp. This is a rare opportunity to build production grade AI systems that directly accelerate scientific discovery. You will work at the frontier of ...

Research Engineer San Francisco, CA $750k+ Total Comp. This is a rare opportunity to build production grade AI systems that directly accelerate scientific discovery. You will work at the frontier of ...

Research Engineer San Francisco, CA $750k+ Total Comp. This is a rare opportunity to build production grade AI systems that directly accelerate scientific discovery. You will work at the frontier of ...

Research Engineer San Francisco, CA $750k+ Total Comp. This is a rare opportunity to build production grade AI systems that directly accelerate scientific discovery. You will work at the frontier of ...

Research Engineer San Francisco, CA $750k+ Total Comp. This is a rare opportunity to build production grade AI systems that directly accelerate scientific discovery. You will work at the frontier of ...

As a Research Engineer, you will be responsible for building AI systems that can perform previously impossible tasks and achieve unprecedented levels of performance, requiring strong engineering ...

The Research Engineer will work directly with researchers, technologists, industry partners, and Technology Center staff to design and build experimental systems that connect digital models, physical ...

The Research Engineer will work directly with researchers, technologists, industry partners, and Technology Center staff to design and build experimental systems that connect digital models, physical ...

About The Role As a Research Engineer at Phonic, you'll sit at the intersection of cutting-edge ML research and production engineering, working directly on the core systems that make Phonic's voice ...

Position Overview We are hiring Research Engineers to develop scalable robotic systems aimed at achieving general-purpose robotic intelligence. In this role, you'll work with researchers and ...

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Research Programmer information

See California salary details

$10.9K

$111.3K

$127.3K

How much do research programmer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 16, 2026, the average yearly pay for research programmer in California is $111,322.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $100,700.00 and $127,300.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the highest paid software developer?

Senior software developers, especially those with expertise in specialized fields like artificial intelligence, machine learning, or cybersecurity, tend to be among the highest paid in the industry, with salaries reaching over $150,000 annually in many regions. Highly experienced developers working in leadership roles or at large tech companies can earn significantly more, often exceeding $200,000 or more with bonuses and stock options.

What are research programmers?

Research programmers are professionals who develop software, algorithms, and computational tools to support academic or scientific research projects. They work closely with researchers to design, implement, and optimize code for data analysis, simulations, and experiments. Their role often involves adapting existing software or creating new applications to solve specific research problems, ensuring that the software meets the requirements of the research team. Research programmers may also contribute to writing technical documentation and publishing results.

What is the difference between Research Programmer vs Data Analyst?

AspectResearch ProgrammerData Analyst
Required CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in Computer Science, Data Science, or related fields; programming skillsBachelor's or Master's in Statistics, Data Science, or related fields; analytical skills
Work EnvironmentResearch labs, academic institutions, tech companiesBusiness, healthcare, finance, or marketing sectors
Employer & Industry UsageResearch projects, academic research, R&D departmentsData interpretation, reporting, and decision support in organizations

Research Programmers focus on developing software and tools for research purposes, often working in academic or research settings. Data Analysts interpret data to provide insights for business decisions. While both roles require strong technical skills, Research Programmers emphasize programming and software development, whereas Data Analysts focus on data interpretation and visualization.

How do Research Programmers typically collaborate with researchers and other team members during a project?

Research Programmers often work closely with principal investigators, data scientists, and subject matter experts to develop, test, and optimize software solutions tailored to research needs. Collaboration is highly iterative and may involve regular meetings to align on project goals, troubleshoot technical challenges, and adapt code to evolving research requirements. Effective communication and a flexible approach are key, as programmers frequently translate complex research concepts into functional code and may also assist with data analysis or visualization tasks.

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

To thrive as a Research Programmer, you need a strong background in computer science, programming languages (such as Python, Java, or C++), and a relevant bachelor's or master's degree. Familiarity with scientific computing tools, version control systems (like Git), and data analysis platforms is typically required. Analytical thinking, problem-solving abilities, and effective communication skills help you collaborate with research teams and translate complex requirements into code. These skills enable you to develop robust software solutions that advance research goals and ensure project success.

How much does a programmer analyst make in the US?

A programmer analyst in the US typically earns between $70,000 and $100,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and industry. They often require proficiency in programming languages, systems analysis, and problem-solving skills, with salaries increasing with certifications and specialized expertise.

What are the highest paying jobs in research?

Research programmers working in specialized fields such as data science, artificial intelligence, or bioinformatics often earn high salaries, especially with advanced skills in programming languages like Python or R and experience with large datasets. Senior roles, such as research scientists or lead data engineers, tend to have higher compensation, particularly in industries like technology, pharmaceuticals, and finance.

What do research software engineers do?

Research software engineers develop, test, and maintain software tools and applications used in scientific research. They often collaborate with researchers to create data analysis pipelines, implement algorithms, and optimize code for high-performance computing environments, utilizing programming languages like Python, C++, or Java. Their work supports data collection, analysis, and visualization to advance scientific discoveries.
What cities in California are hiring for Research Programmer jobs? Cities in California with the most Research Programmer job openings:
Research Engineer

Research Engineer

Harnham

Fremont, CA • On-site

Other

This job post has expired today. Applications are no longer accepted.


Job description

Research Engineer

San Francisco, CA

$750k+ Total Comp.


This is a rare opportunity to build production grade AI systems that directly accelerate scientific discovery. You will work at the frontier of applied AI, owning end to end agent development and seeing your work used daily by researchers across industry and academia. The environment is fast moving, highly technical, and designed for people who want real ownership and impact.


The Company

They are a venture backed AI research and engineering organisation building autonomous AI agents to transform how science is done. Their platform automates complex research workflows across life sciences, combining literature synthesis, data analysis, hypothesis generation, and experimental design. Backed by significant funding, they are scaling quickly with the ambition to become the default AI platform for scientific research.


The Role

As a Research Engineer focused on Applied AI, you will be a core builder of production AI agents used by external research teams.

  • Design, build, and maintain AI agents from prototype through to production
  • Develop agent architectures, prompting strategies, tool integrations, and evaluation frameworks
  • Build reusable infrastructure such as agent skills, tool use pipelines, and benchmarks
  • Work closely with internal science, engineering, and product teams to shape capabilities
  • Spend time with external R and D partners to understand real workflows and validate solutions
  • Translate field insights into clear technical and product priorities


Your Skills and Experience

  • Strong commercial experience shipping production software systems used by real users
  • Hands on experience building and deploying LLM powered applications in practice
  • Proven experience with agentic AI, including agent orchestration, RAG, and tool use pipelines
  • Strong engineering foundations in computer science or a related technical discipline
  • Proficiency in Python and or TypeScript, with the ability to learn new tools quickly
  • Comfortable working across research, engineering, and product in ambiguous environments
  • A builder mindset with a track record of owning systems end to end


Nice to have:

  • Exposure to life sciences, biomedical research, or scientific computing workflows
  • Experience designing evaluation or benchmarking frameworks for AI systems
  • Contributions to open source AI or scientific tooling


What They Offer

  • Flexibility on compensation for exceptional candidates
  • Comprehensive healthcare coverage
  • Strong support for career progression as the team and platform scale
  • An in office culture in San Francisco with close collaboration across disciplines


How to Apply

If you are excited by building applied AI systems at the edge of scientific research, apply to learn more about this opportunity.