<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2020-05-27</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001029142</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>DYNAVAX TECHNOLOGIES CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>DVAX</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001657434</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Hack Andrew A. F.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O BAIN CAPITAL LIFE SCIENCES INVESTORS</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>200 CLARENDON STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BOSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02116</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2020-05-27</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1000000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>5.00</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>8525000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnotes</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">On May 27, 2020, Bain Capital Life Sciences Fund, L.P. (&quot;BCLS&quot;) and BCIP Life Sciences Associates, LP (&quot;BCIPLS&quot; and, collectively with BCLS, the &quot;Bain Life Sciences Entities&quot;) purchased, in the aggregate, 1,000,000 shares of common stock of the Issuer at a price of $5.00 per share, pursuant to an underwritten public offering.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Represents shares of common stock held directly by the Bain Life Sciences Entities.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Bain Capital Life Sciences Investors, LLC (&quot;BCLSI&quot;) is the ultimate general partner of BCLS, and governs the investment strategy and decision-making process with respect to investments held by BCIPLS.  Dr. Hack is a Managing Director of BCLSI.  By virtue of the relationships described in this footnote, Dr. Hack may be deemed to share voting and dispositive power with respect to the securities held by the Bain Life Sciences Entities.  Dr. Hack disclaims beneficial ownership of such securities except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Andrew A.F. Hack</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2020-05-28</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
