Application Security Engineer Jobs in California
Application Security Engineer jobs in California are among the most active in the country, with strong demand concentrated in enterprise software, cloud infrastructure, fintech, and defense contracting, and openings at every level from associate to principal. San Francisco, San Jose, and Los Angeles account for the largest share of postings, where major employers including Google, Apple, and Northrop Grumman maintain deep engineering teams with ongoing security hiring. The most sought-after specialties in California are cloud-native application security, secure software development lifecycle engineering, and penetration testing for web and mobile platforms. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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WHAT IS BOX?
Box (NYSE:BOX) is the leader in Intelligent Content Management. Our platform enables organizations to fuel collaboration, manage the entire content lifecycle, secure critical content, and transform business workflows with enterprise AI. We help companies thrive in the new AI-first era of business. Founded in 2005, Box simplifies work for leading global organizations, including JLL, Morgan Stanley, and Nationwide. Box is headquartered in Redwood City, CA, with offices across the United States, Europe, and Asia.
By joining Box, you will have the unique opportunity to continue driving our platform forward. Content powers how we work. It's the billions of files and information flowing across teams, departments, and key business processes every single day: contracts, invoices, employee records, financials, product specs, marketing assets, and more. Our mission is to bring intelligence to the world of content management and empower our customers to completely transform workflows across their organizations. With the combination of AI and enterprise content, the opportunity has never been greater to transform how the world works together and at Box you will be on the front lines of this massive shift.
WHY BOX NEEDS YOU
Software Engineers on the Application Security Engineering team build production-grade systems, services, and software automation that protect Box from attackers, vulnerabilities, and abuse. We are looking for a strong software engineer who wants to apply their engineering skills to solving critical security challenges through code. You will design, build, deploy, and operate security services and "paved road" developer guardrails directly within Box's products, infrastructure, and software development lifecycle (SDLC).
WHAT YOU'LL DO
Design, build, and operate production-grade security services, features, and internal tools that protect Box and its customers.
Engineer end-to-end applications and backend services with a strong foundation in modern data stores, application frameworks, and scalable architectures.
Build systems and automation to detect, prevent, and mitigate security threats at scale.
Develop "paved road" frameworks, libraries, and guardrails that make secure development seamless and standard for all Box engineers.
Build security automation and verification controls integrated directly into Box CI/CD pipelines.
Architect and implement AI security controls, evaluation frameworks, and automated protections across product verticals.
Partner closely with Product and Engineering teams to turn complex security challenges into elegant, scalable software solutions.
WHO YOU ARE
We are an AI-first company. This means you approach your work with a growth mindset and find ways to leverage AI to help make faster, smarter decisions that will 10X your impact at Box.
4+ years of professional software development experience in languages such as Java, Python, PHP, Go, or Scala.
Proven track record of building end-to-end applications, with solid experience across databases, modern frameworks, and API design.
Strong software engineering fundamentals in object-oriented and functional design, system architecture, automated testing, reliability, and code quality.
A foundational understanding of security concepts and a strong passion for solving security challenges through software engineering (deep security specialization is not required—we will help you learn the rest!).
Ability to break down complex technical problems and translate them into clean, scalable, and maintainable software systems.
Strong analytical, problem-solving, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, related technical field, or equivalent practical experience.
- Preferred skills:
- Experience or familiarity with distributed systems, microservices architectures, or message queues (e.g., Kafka, RabbitMQ, SQS).
- Experience with Java Spring / Spring Boot.
- Familiarity with public cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, Azure) and Infrastructure as Code (e.g., Terraform).
- Familiarity with AI/ML systems, LLMs, or AI application security.
Box lives its values, with community and in-person collaboration being a core part of our culture. Boxers are expected to work from their assigned office a minimum of 3 days per week. Your Recruiter will share more about how we work and company culture during the hiring process.
At Box, we believe unique and diverse experiences benefit our culture, our products, our customers, our company, and our world. We aim to recruit a passionate, high-performing workforce that reflects the world we live in. If you are head-over-heels about this role but unsure if you meet all the requirements, we encourage you to apply!
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY
We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability, and any other protected ground of discrimination under applicable human rights legislation. Box strives to respect the dignity and ‎‎independence of people with disabilities and is committed to giving them the same ‎‎opportunity to succeed as all other employees. Inclusiveness is core to our culture at Box, and we strive to ensure you get the most from your interview experience.
Box makes reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities. If a reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please complete this form. Reasonable accommodations may include scheduling adjustments, document dictation and beyond.
Notice to applicants in Los Angeles: Box, Inc and its related branches will consider for employment, qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the Los Angeles Fair Chair Ordinance. The Fair Chance Ordinance is provided here.
Notice to applicants in San Francisco: Box, Inc and its related branches will consider for employment, qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the San Francisco Fair Chair Ordinance. The Fair Chance Ordinance is provided here.
For details on how we protect your information when you apply, please see our Personnel Privacy Notice. If you are a California-resident, please read our California Applicant & Candidate Privacy Notice here.
NOTICE OF USE OF AI
At Box, we believe in the power of AI to improve the recruiting process while keeping people at the heart of every decision. For more information on the use of AI in our hiring process, please visit our webpage here.
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See All 34 Application Security Engineer Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find JobsApplication Security Engineer Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Application Security Engineer Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring



Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software
- Science & Research
- Insurance
- Media & Entertainment
- Staffing & Recruiting
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in application security engineer jobs across California.
- Bachelor's degree in computer science, cybersecurity, or a closely related engineering field
- Hands-on experience with secure SDLC practices, threat modeling, and code review
- Proficiency in at least one major programming language such as Python, Java, or Go
- Industry certifications such as OSCP, CSSLP, or CEH recognized by California employers
- Experience with cloud security on AWS, Google Cloud, or Azure in production environments
- Familiarity with OWASP Top Ten, SAST and DAST tooling, and vulnerability management workflows
Application Security Engineer Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a application security engineer in California?
Application security engineering is not a state-licensed profession in California, so there is no California-specific exam or registration required to work in the role. The standard path is a bachelor's degree in computer science, software engineering, or cybersecurity followed by experience in software development or IT security. California employers consistently value vendor-neutral certifications such as OSCP or CSSLP alongside a demonstrable portfolio of security work, such as bug bounty findings or open-source contributions.
How much do application security engineers make in California?
Application security engineers in California earn a median of about $174,410 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $105,060 for the lowest 10% to over $272,670 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire application security engineers in California?
Employers hiring application security engineers in California right now include Roblox, ALTRUIST, and Box, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. California's concentration of large technology headquarters, defense contractors, and regulated fintech companies means security engineering roles turn over frequently and appear across a wide range of employer sizes.
Which California cities have the most application security engineer jobs?
San Francisco, San Mateo, and California are the California cities with the most application security engineer openings, reflecting the Bay Area's density of enterprise software companies and cloud providers, Los Angeles's growing cybersecurity and aerospace sector, and San Diego's established defense and biotech industry that demands rigorous application security compliance.
Are there remote application security engineer jobs in California?
Yes, and more than most fields. Application security engineering is fundamentally desk and code-based work, which makes it well suited to remote arrangements. About 89% of application security engineer openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting how broadly distributed engineering teams have become across the state. Code review, threat modeling, and security tooling integration are the tasks most commonly performed fully remote.
How can I get hired as a application security engineer in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is moving laterally from a software development or IT operations role into a security-focused position such as security analyst or junior penetration tester. Large California technology companies including those headquartered in the Bay Area and Los Angeles run associate security engineer programs and internship pipelines that prioritize candidates without full-time security experience. Building a portfolio through bug bounty platforms, contributing to open-source security tools, or completing a recognized certification like CompTIA Security+ or OSCP gives California candidates a concrete edge when competing for these entry roles.
Where can I find and apply to application security engineer jobs in California?
You can find and apply to application security engineer jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings updated in real time. Find the roles that fit your experience and location, then apply directly to each employer through the listing.
See All 34 Application Security Engineer Jobs in California
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