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Research Scientist Computer Science Jobs in California

They are seeking research scientists in Generative AI to conduct cutting-edge research and develop ... D. in Computer Science, AI/ML or related fields • Excellent publication record in Computer ...

Research Scientist, AI

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$150K - $275K/yr

Research Scientist, AI Substrate is addressing one of the most important technological problems ... PhD in Physics, Materials Science, Computer Science, Applied Mathematics, or related field

Research Scientist

Palo Alto, CA · On-site

$180 - $210/hr

PhD in Computer Science, Machine Learning, or related field, or equivalent research experience. * Experience owning the complete research lifestyle: leading and executing a research program from ...

Required : • PhD in Computer Science, Machine Learning, or related field, or equivalent research experience. • Experience owning the complete research lifestyle: leading and executing a research ...

Required : • PhD or equivalent experience in ML, computer science, or a quantitative science. • Deep familiarity with large models and a passion for understanding how they work. • Fluency in ...

PhD degree in Computer Science, Robotics, Engineering or a related field, or equivalent practical experience. * Multiple years of experience in conducting research. * Proficiency in Python and at ...

PhD or MS in Computer Science, Machine Learning, or related field * 3+ years of experience in deep learning and computer vision research * Strong programming skills in Python and experience with ...

Research Scientist Position: Full time Location: Carlsbad office About Us: NTENT provides a ... Graduate degree (PhD preferred) in Computer Science, Linguistics, Statistics, Computational Social ...

Research Scientist Position: Full time Location: Carlsbad office About Us: NTENT provides a ... Graduate degree (PhD preferred) in Computer Science, Linguistics, Statistics, Computational Social ...

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Showing results 1-20

Research Scientist Computer Science information

See California salary details

$49.8K

$128.4K

$171.7K

How much do research scientist computer science jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 24, 2026, the average yearly pay for research scientist computer science in California is $128,413.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $106,100.00 and $170,700.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a research scientist in computer science do?

A Research Scientist in Computer Science explores new theories, models, and technologies to advance the field. They conduct experiments, analyze data, and publish findings in scientific journals or conferences. Their work often involves collaborating with other researchers, developing prototypes, and contributing to innovations in areas like artificial intelligence, machine learning, cybersecurity, or data science. The goal is to solve complex problems and push the boundaries of what computers and algorithms can achieve.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a research scientist in computer science?

To thrive as a Research Scientist in Computer Science, you need advanced knowledge of algorithms, data structures, and computational theory, typically supported by a Ph.D. or relevant graduate degree. Proficiency with programming languages (such as Python, C++, or Java), data analysis tools, and version control systems is essential, and experience with machine learning frameworks or high-performance computing can be advantageous. Critical thinking, creativity, and effective communication are vital soft skills for formulating innovative research questions and collaborating across multidisciplinary teams. These skills enable the development of pioneering solutions, clear dissemination of findings, and significant contributions to the advancement of technology.

How does a research scientist in computer science typically collaborate with other professionals on interdisciplinary projects?

Research Scientists in Computer Science often work closely with experts from diverse fields such as data science, engineering, healthcare, or social sciences, depending on the project's focus. Collaboration usually involves joint problem-solving, sharing domain-specific knowledge, and integrating different methodologies to address complex research questions. Communication skills are crucial, as scientists must translate technical concepts for non-technical stakeholders and ensure all team members are aligned on goals and deliverables. Regular meetings, shared documentation, and collaborative software tools are commonly used to facilitate effective teamwork.

What is the difference between Research Scientist Computer Science vs Data Scientist?

AspectResearch Scientist Computer ScienceData Scientist
Required CredentialsAdvanced degrees in CS or related fields, research experienceDegree in CS, statistics, or related fields; data analysis certifications
Work EnvironmentResearch labs, academia, R&D departmentsCorporate offices, tech companies, analytics firms
Employer & Industry UsageUniversities, research institutions, tech companiesBusiness, finance, healthcare, tech industries
Common Search & Comparison IntentUnderstanding research roles in CSData analysis and application roles

Research Scientist Computer Science focuses on advancing knowledge through research, often in academic or R&D settings, requiring strong research credentials. Data Scientist emphasizes analyzing and interpreting data to inform business decisions, typically in industry settings. While both roles require technical skills, their work environments and objectives differ significantly.

What job categories do people searching Research Scientist Computer Science jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Research Scientist Computer Science jobs in California are:

Infographic showing various Research Scientist Computer Science job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 78% Full Time, 16% Part Time, 4% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 73% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 25% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $128,413 per year, or $61.7 per hour.

Research Scientist, Google Research

Google Inc.

Mountain View, CA • On-site

$174 - $252/hr

Other

Re-posted 14 days ago


Google rating

8.8

Company rating: 8.8 out of 10

Based on 103 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

49th of 246 rated software companies


Job description

Share Research Scientist, Google Research

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corporate_fare Google Mountain View, CA, USA

Mid

Experience driving progress, solving problems, and mentoring more junior team members; deeper expertise and applied knowledge within relevant area.

Share Research Scientist, Google Research

  • PhD in Computer Science, a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
  • 2 years of experience leading a research agenda.
  • Experience with LLM training and generative models.
  • One of more scientific publication submission(s) for conferences, journals, or public repositories (such as CVPR, ICCV, NeurIPS, ICML, ICLR, etc.).
Preferred qualifications:
  • 2 years of coding experience.
  • 1 year of experience leading research efforts and influencing other researchers.
About the job

As an organization, Google maintains a portfolio of research projects driven by fundamental research, new product innovation, product contribution and infrastructure goals, while providing individuals and teams the freedom to emphasize specific types of work. As a Research Scientist, you'll setup large-scale tests and deploy promising ideas quickly and broadly, managing deadlines and deliverables while applying the latest theories to develop new and improved products, processes, or technologies. From creating experiments and prototyping implementations to designing new architectures, our research scientists work on real-world problems that span the breadth of computer science, such as machine (and deep) learning, data mining, natural language processing, hardware and software performance analysis, improving compilers for mobile platforms, as well as core search and much more.

As a Research Scientist, you'll also actively contribute to the wider research community by sharing and publishing your findings, with ideas inspired by internal projects as well as from collaborations with research programs at partner universities and technical institutes all over the world.

This team measures and improves key capabilities like multi-turn, factuality, and search for Gemini, working at the frontier of post-training for large foundational models. Modern LLMs are required to support long interactions with users, such as chat and informational dialogs, code development, image editing and video sessions. In this role, you will research new approaches for analyzing, evaluating and training LLMs to enhance their multi-turn capabilities.Google Research is building the next generation of intelligent systems for all Google products. To achieve this, we’re working on projects that utilize the latest computer science techniques developed by skilled software developers and research scientists. Google Research teams collaborate closely with other teams across Google, maintaining the flexibility and versatility required to adapt new projects and foci that meet the demands of the world's fast-paced business needs. Individual pay is determined by factors including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.

US: $174000 - $252000 (USD) + 15% bonus target + equity + benefits

Learn more about benefits at Google .

  • Scope and drive research efforts to improve complex frontier Gemini capabilities, such as multi-turn, factuality and tool-use.
  • Review the latest literature to guide research and experimental directions.
  • Curate and generate data to evaluate and improve Gemini capabilities.
  • Design and implement both human and automated evaluation strategies.
  • Design and conduct supervised fine-tuning and reinforcement learning experiments to improve the performance of Gemini capabilities such as multi-turn and factuality.

Google is proud to be an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. We are committed to building a workforce that is representative of the users we serve, creating a culture of belonging, and providing an equal employment opportunity regardless of race, creed, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, national origin, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy or related condition (including breastfeeding), expecting or parents-to-be, criminal histories consistent with legal requirements, or any other basis protected by law. See also Google's EEO Policy , Know your rights: workplace discrimination is illegal , Belonging at Google , and How we hire .

Google is a global company and, in order to facilitate efficient collaboration and communication globally, English proficiency is a requirement for all roles unless stated otherwise in the job posting.

Equity is granted exclusively and discretionarily by Alphabet Inc. on the basis of an agreement concluded between you and Alphabet Inc. Alphabet Inc. is your sole contractual partner with respect to equity grants. GSU grants are not guaranteed, are discretionary, are subject to approval by the Alphabet Inc. board of directors or its delegate, the terms of the relevant Alphabet Inc. stock plan, and your grant agreement. They have no impact on statutory payments. Current or past grants do not confer an acquired right.

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