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Scientific Programmer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Scientific Director

Thousand Oaks, CA · On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

Partner with device engineering teams to support global medical device submissions. External Scientific Leadership * Monitor emerging science, regulatory expectations and industry best practices.

Strong scientific and technical writing skills, including clear lab documentation, test summaries ... engineering * Experience with LPBF, DED, laser processing, welding, CVD/LCVD/LACVD, or other ...

Scientific Director

Thousand Oaks, CA · On-site +1

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

Partner with device engineering teams to support global medical device submissions. External Scientific Leadership * Monitor emerging science, regulatory expectations and industry best practices.

Scientific Operations

San Francisco, CA · On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Retirement

  • PTO

The Team • We're a team of passionate, mission-driven engineers and scientists from companies like Tesla, Amazon, SpaceX, and Neuralink. We're collaborative and love moving fast, both with our ...

Scientific Operations

San Francisco, CA · On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Retirement

  • PTO

The Team: • We're a team of passionate, mission-driven engineers and scientists from companies like Tesla, Amazon, SpaceX, and Neuralink. We're collaborative and love moving fast, both with our ...

SFL Scientific, a Deloitte Business, is looking to add a Senior AI Engineer to their vibrant environment. SFL Scientific is part of our broader Strategy Offering within the Strategy & Transactions ...

Scientific Director

Thousand Oaks, CA · On-site

$210 - $250/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

Partner with device engineering teams to support global medical device submissions. External Scientific Leadership * Monitor emerging science, regulatory expectations and industry best practices.

SFL Scientific, a Deloitte Business, is looking to add a Senior AI Engineer to their vibrant environment. SFL Scientific is part of our broader Strategy Offering within the Strategy & Transactions ...

SFL Scientific, a Deloitte Business, is looking to add a Senior AI Engineer to their vibrant environment. SFL Scientific is part of our broader Strategy Offering within the Strategy & Transactions ...

SFL Scientific, a Deloitte Business, is looking to add a Senior AI Engineer to their vibrant environment. SFL Scientific is part of our broader Strategy Offering within the Strategy & Transactions ...

Senior Manager, Scientific AI Engineer

La Jolla, CA

$139K - $231K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

We are seeking a Scientific AI Engineer to design and build end-to-end AI solutions that directly impact Oncology R&D decision-making. This role sits at the intersection of deep scientific ...

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Showing results 21-40

Scientific Programmer information

See California salary details

$10

$39

$70

How much do scientific programmer jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 15, 2026, the average hourly pay for scientific programmer in California is $39.34, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $15.19 and $56.68 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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

To thrive as a Scientific Programmer, you need a solid background in computer science, mathematics, or a related field, along with strong programming skills in languages like Python, C++, or R. Familiarity with scientific computing libraries (such as NumPy, SciPy), data analysis tools, and version control systems like Git is typically required, and experience with high-performance computing or parallel processing is a plus. Strong problem-solving abilities, attention to detail, and effective communication are key soft skills that distinguish top performers in this role. These skills and qualities are crucial for developing reliable, efficient code to support complex scientific research and for collaborating effectively within multidisciplinary teams.

What is the difference between Scientific Programmer vs Data Analyst?

AspectScientific ProgrammerData Analyst
Required CredentialsBachelor's or higher in Computer Science, Physics, or related fields; programming skillsBachelor's or higher in Statistics, Data Science, or related fields; analytical skills
Work EnvironmentResearch labs, scientific institutions, academia, industry R&DBusiness, finance, healthcare, marketing sectors
Employer & Industry UsageResearch organizations, universities, scientific companiesCorporations, consulting firms, government agencies
Common Search & Comparison IntentUnderstanding technical roles in scientific computingAnalyzing data to inform decisions

Scientific Programmers focus on developing software and algorithms for scientific research, often working with complex simulations and data modeling. Data Analysts interpret data sets to generate insights and support decision-making. While both roles require strong programming skills and analytical thinking, Scientific Programmers are more involved in software development for scientific purposes, whereas Data Analysts focus on data interpretation and reporting.

Is scientific programming a good career?

Scientific programming is a viable career that involves developing software for research, data analysis, and simulation in scientific fields. It requires strong programming skills, knowledge of scientific concepts, and often proficiency in languages like Python, C++, or MATLAB. The demand for scientific programmers is steady in academia, industry, and government research organizations.

What is a scientific programmer?

Scientific programmers are professionals who develop, implement, and optimize software solutions for scientific research and data analysis. They work closely with scientists and researchers to translate complex scientific problems into computational algorithms, scripts, and tools. Their work often involves programming in languages like Python, C++, or R, and may include tasks such as data processing, simulation, modeling, and visualization. Scientific programmers play a crucial role in advancing research by making scientific computations more efficient and reproducible.

What does a scientific programmer do?

The duties of a scientific programmer are to design a variety of tools for researchers to perform statistical and mathematical modeling on large datasets. They often work within a specific framework or software, and their responsibilities are to script tools that make it easier for scientists to use the programs or models. Their duties may include designing a new user interface or creating shell scripts for the UNIX or Linux operating systems. A scientific programmer also conducts code review and quality assurance tasks to ensure that programs are ready to be used. Qualifications include a bachelor’s degree in computer science, bioinformatics, or computational biology. If you want to specialize in a particular discipline, you may need additional experience or advanced qualifications.

How does a scientific programmer typically collaborate with researchers and other technical staff on projects?

Scientific Programmers often work closely with research scientists, data analysts, and IT teams to develop and optimize software tools for scientific studies. They participate in project meetings to understand research goals, translate scientific requirements into code, and troubleshoot issues that arise in computational workflows. Effective communication and teamwork are essential, as Scientific Programmers must ensure their solutions align with both technical standards and the scientific objectives of the research team.

What are the most commonly searched types of Scientific Programmer jobs in California?

The most popular types of Scientific Programmer jobs in California are:

What are popular job titles related to Scientific Programmer jobs in California?

For Scientific Programmer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Scientific Programmer jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Scientific Programmer jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Scientific Programmer jobs?

Cities in California with the most Scientific Programmer job openings:

Infographic showing various Scientific Programmer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 72% Full Time, 10% Part Time, and 18% Contract. Highlights an 92% In-person, 3% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $81,833 per year, or $39.3 per hour.

Scientific Computing Software Engineer (TS Clearance Required)

Areté

Northridge, CA • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 4 days ago


Job description

Job Summary:
Areté is at the forefront of developing innovative solutions to address complex security challenges. They are seeking a junior to mid-level Scientific Computing Software Engineer who will work with scientists and engineers to transform advanced algorithms into efficient software, while practicing sound software development methods.
Responsibilities:
• Work with scientists and engineers to transform advanced signal and image processing algorithms from higher level languages into robust and efficient software suitable for operational use.
• Practice sound software processing methods to design, develop, analyze, and test software applications from prototype to operations, using modern software development languages and practices.
• Assess algorithm performance on real-world data and document results via written reports and/or well-commented code.
Qualifications:
Required:
• Qualified candidates will have a college degree in a scientific discipline or in Computer Science with a focus on scientific computing
• Must have an active TS security clearance.
• Demonstrated exposure to college level physics, math, and/or signal and image processing techniques
• Clear desire and interest in work on scientific projects and to learn physics, math, and signal processing
• Strong programming skills in Python, including scientific Python libraries such as numpy, scipy, pandas
• Strong programming skills in C or C++
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Intellectual curiosity and a desire for continuous learning
• Ability to work with minimal supervision and collaborate with small teams
• Willingness to work onsite in the office 100%
Preferred:
• Data analysis and visualization skills
• Experience working in a Linux environment
• Experience with CUDA programming and GPU architecture optimization
• Working knowledge of MPI and OpenMP parallel programming models
• Demonstrated ability to optimize scientific computing applications
• Experience with User Interface / User Experience front-end GUI development
• Physics-based modeling and simulation experience
• Remote sensing experience utilizing Electro-Optics or Synthetic Aperture RADAR
• Classical signal/image processing experience (detection, estimation, and tracking)
• Computer vision, image and data fusion, image classification or automated target recognition
Company:
Areté, an employee-owned company, is an advanced science and engineering company that provides innovative solutions to the most challenging technical problems faced by the United States Defense and Intelligence agencies. Founded in 1976, the company is headquartered in Los Angeles, USA, with a team of 201-500 employees. The company is currently Growth Stage.