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Scientific Software Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

QA Engineer, Scientific Workflows

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$150K - $200K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

ABOUT THE ROLE We are hiring a QA Engineer, Scientific Software to build the test, validation, and monitoring infrastructure that guarantees the correctness and reliability of the Mithrl AI Co ...

QA Engineer, Scientific Workflows

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$150K - $200K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

ABOUT THE ROLE We are hiring a QA Engineer, Scientific Software to build the test, validation, and monitoring infrastructure that guarantees the correctness and reliability of the Mithrl AI Co ...

Senior Software Engineer

San Mateo, CA · On-site

$198 - $215/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

You will work closely with engineers, product partners, and laboratory scientists to build and evolve the internal software systems at the center of our science. This role is leveled as Senior ...

Senior Software Engineer

San Mateo, CA · On-site

$19K - $215K/mo

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

You will work closely with engineers, product partners, and laboratory scientists to build and evolve the internal software systems at the center of our science. This role is leveled as Senior ...

Senior Software Engineer

San Mateo, CA · On-site

$139K - $183K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

You will work closely with engineers, product partners, and laboratory scientists to build and evolve the internal software systems at the center of our science. This role is leveled as Senior ...

Senior Software Engineer

San Mateo, CA · On-site

$140K - $184K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

You will work closely with engineers, product partners, and laboratory scientists to build and evolve the internal software systems at the center of our science. This role is leveled as Senior ...

Showing results 21-40

Scientific Software information

See California salary details

$82.4K

$101.2K

$133.7K

How much do scientific software jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 18, 2026, the average yearly pay for scientific software in California is $101,157.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $88,800.00 and $113,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a scientific software developer?

A scientific software developer is a professional who designs, creates, and maintains software tools and applications used for scientific research and data analysis. These developers work closely with scientists and researchers to translate complex scientific problems into computational solutions. Their work often involves programming, algorithm development, and optimizing code for high-performance computing environments. Scientific software developers play a critical role in fields like physics, biology, chemistry, and engineering by enabling researchers to process and visualize large datasets, simulate experiments, and gain insights from data.

How does a scientific software professional typically collaborate with domain scientists and research teams?

Scientific Software professionals often work closely with domain scientists, researchers, and data analysts to develop and maintain tools that enable scientific discovery. Collaboration usually involves requirements gathering, iterative feedback on prototypes, and integrating scientific algorithms into user-friendly applications. Effective communication skills are crucial, as you’ll be translating complex scientific needs into robust, efficient code and ensuring the software meets both research objectives and usability standards. Team environments tend to be interdisciplinary, offering the opportunity to learn from experts in various scientific fields while contributing your technical expertise.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in scientific software roles, and why are they important?

To excel in Scientific Software roles, you need a strong background in computer science, mathematics, or a scientific discipline, along with demonstrated programming proficiency (often in Python, C++, or MATLAB). Familiarity with version control systems (like Git), scientific computing libraries, and sometimes specialized tools (e.g., HPC clusters or cloud platforms) is typically expected. Strong analytical thinking, problem-solving, and effective communication skills help bridge the gap between scientific users and technical implementation. These skills ensure the creation of robust, efficient, and user-friendly software that accelerates scientific research and discovery.

What is the difference between Scientific Software vs Data Analyst?

AspectScientific SoftwareData Analyst
Required CredentialsTypically requires degrees in science, engineering, or computer science; coding skillsUsually requires degrees in statistics, mathematics, or related fields; strong analytical skills
Work EnvironmentResearch labs, scientific institutions, academia, industry R&DBusiness, finance, healthcare, marketing sectors
Employer & Industry UsageUsed by scientists and engineers for simulations, modeling, data analysisUsed by companies for data interpretation, reporting, decision-making

Scientific Software professionals focus on developing and utilizing specialized tools for scientific research and simulations, often working in research environments. Data Analysts interpret data to inform business decisions across various industries. While both roles require analytical skills and familiarity with data, Scientific Software roles emphasize scientific computing and programming, whereas Data Analysts focus on data interpretation and visualization.

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

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

Infographic showing various Scientific Software job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 90% Full Time, 6% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $101,157 per year, or $48.6 per hour.

Scientific Computing Software Engineer with Security Clearance

ARETE ASSOCIATES, INC.

Northridge, CA • On-site

Other

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

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


Job description

At Areté, we are on the forefront of developing innovative solutions, with great minds from all backgrounds, to help solve the nation's most complex security challenges. We strive for an inclusive, collaborative team environment that approaches differences as opportunities for innovation and excellence. As an employee-owned company, we foster an atmosphere that propels diverse career opportunities and professional growth. Discover your future with us. We are seeking a junior to mid-level applicant with a background in Scientific Computing. The ideal person would have a degree in Physics, Math, or Engineering coupled with a strong software development skillset. The successful candidate will work with scientists and engineers to transform advanced signal and image processing algorithms from higher level languages (e.g., Python) into robust and efficient software suitable for operational use. Other duties include practicing sound software processing methods to design, develop, analyze, and test software applications from prototype to operations, using modern software development languages and practices. Ability to assess algorithm performance on real-world data and document results via written reports and/or well-commented code is a must. This role requires a passion for solving challenging technical problems in a collaborative environment. This position is based in our Northridge, CA office and is classified as an exempt, non-supervisory, full-time role. We have an impressive range of benefits, programs, and perks that we offer: Health & Wellness: * Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance
* Life and Long-Term Disability (LTD)
* Vision Reimbursement
* Fitness Reimbursement
Financial: * Company-funded 5% contribution to your 401(k) retirement plan
* Company-funded 5% contribution to your Employee Stock Ownership Plan
* Continuing Education Assistance
Work-Life Balance: * Flexible Scheduling
* Paid Time Off (PTO)
* Paid Parental and Bereavement Leave
What We Value: * Creativity and innovation in solving challenges
* Integrity and responsibility in all actions
* Collaboration across teams and specialties
* Responsiveness in fast-paced environments
* Passion for national security and excellence
Experiences and Background We Look For (Required Skills): * Qualified candidates will have a college degree in a scientific discipline or in Computer Science with a focus on scientific computing
* 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%
* Must be able to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI security clearance and program access
Nice to Have (Preferred Skills): * 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
* Active Top-Secret Clearance
The salary for this role, depending on degree and experience, is: * Engineer 1: $90,000 - $125,000 [required BS degree or higher]
* Engineer 2: $110,000 - $145,000 [minimum experience of BS+2 years, OR MS+0 years]
* Staff Engineer: $130,000 - $165,000 [minimum experience of BS+5 years, MS+3 years, or PhD+0 years]
Other Considerations Areté is committed to the principles of equal employment opportunity and nondiscrimination, and we believe every person has the right to be treated with fairness, dignity, and equal consideration. Areté is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. U.S. citizenship is required to meet position eligibility. Successful passage of a criminal background screen is required to meet position eligibility. Selected applicants will be subject to a government security investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information. Areté will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring. Successful passage of a Department of Transportation (DOT) drug test is required to meet position eligibility. If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, you have the right to request an accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to use or access our website because of your disability. To request an accommodation, please contact Areté Human Resources at 818-885-2200 for assistance.