Cybersecurity Engineer Jobs in California
Cybersecurity Engineer jobs in California are among the most active in the country, concentrated in defense contracting, enterprise technology, financial services, and government sectors, with openings at every level from entry-level security analyst to principal engineer. The largest hiring markets are the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, and San Diego, where anchor employers such as Northrop Grumman, Cisco, and Bank of America maintain substantial cybersecurity operations. Cloud security, zero-trust architecture, and threat intelligence are the specialties commanding the most consistent demand across California employers. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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About Peraton
Peraton is a next-generation national security company that drives missions of consequence spanning the globe and extending to the farthest reaches of the galaxy. As the world’s leading mission capability integrator and transformative enterprise IT provider, we deliver trusted, highly differentiated solutions and technologies to protect our nation and allies. Peraton operates at the critical nexus between traditional and nontraditional threats across all domains: land, sea, space, air, and cyberspace. The company serves as a valued partner to essential government agencies and supports every branch of the U.S. armed forces. Each day, our employees solve the most daunting challenges that our customers face. Visit peraton.com to learn how we’re keeping people around the world safe and secure.
About The Role
Peraton is seeking Spring & Summer 2027 Cybersecurity Engineer Co-ops to support the County of San Diego (CoSD) contract from January 2027 through August 2027.
As a Cybersecurity Engineer Co-op, you will support cybersecurity, IT operations, and systems security efforts that help protect the technology and services relied upon by County departments. You will work alongside Peraton professionals to gain hands-on experience with cybersecurity tools, enterprise IT environments, and security practices while contributing to projects that support the County's technology infrastructure and services.
Peraton is the County of San Diego's IT and telecommunications partner, supporting the technology County departments rely on to serve more than 3 million residents, including public health, social services, public safety, and libraries. As a co-op on the CoSD program, you will gain exposure to real-world cybersecurity challenges, collaborate with experienced professionals, and learn how security practices are applied in a public-sector IT environment. Investigate a particular technology or business process (i.e. agentic AI implementation into an enterprise environment) and determine what controls should be required (from a high level) for a secure implementation of that subject including recommendations for industry tools and administrative controls (necessary policies and procedures)
Co-op Structure: 40 hours per week throughout the duration of the co-op, with a hybrid work arrangement based in San Diego, CA.
#PeratonIntern
Qualifications
Required Qualifications
- U.S. citizenship.
- High school diploma and some advanced-level training.
- Current enrollment in an undergraduate or graduate program, with progress toward a degree in Cybersecurity, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Information Systems, Information Technology, or a related field.
- Foundational knowledge of cybersecurity principles, technologies, and processes through coursework or projects.
- Coursework, lab, project, or prior internship experience involving cybersecurity tools, networking, operating systems, or system administration.
- Ability to learn new technologies, adapt to changing priorities, and work independently and collaboratively.
Desired Qualifications
- GPA of 3.0 or higher.
- Exposure to cybersecurity tools such as Wireshark, Metasploit, Kali Linux, or similar technologies.
- Familiarity with network security, vulnerability assessment, security monitoring, or incident response concepts.
- Experience with Linux, Windows, networking technologies, or system administration.
- Exposure to cloud computing environments and associated security concepts.
- Familiarity with Agile development processes, Jira, ServiceNow, or other IT service management tools.
- Hands-on experience through cybersecurity labs, academic projects, personal projects, hackathons, or prior internships.
Location
- San Diego, CA
SCA / Union / Intern Rate or Range
$25/hour+
Details
Target Salary Range: The rate / range per hour below represents the typical salary range for this position. Salary is determined by various factors, including but not limited to, the scope and responsibilities of the position, the individual’s experience, education, knowledge, skills, and competencies, as well as geographic location and business and contract considerations. Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay.
Benefits Statement: Peraton offers eligible employees a variety of benefits including medical, dental, vision, life, health savings account, short/long term disability, EAP, parental leave, 401(k), paid time off (PTO) for vacation, and company paid holidays. A full listing of available benefits can be viewed at https://www.careers.peraton.com/benefits.
Application Statements: The application period for the job is estimated to be 30 days from the job posting date. However, this timeline may be shortened or extended depending on business needs and the availability of qualified candidates. By applying to this job, you are expressing interest in the role and the Company. During the review of your application, you may be required to participate in an on-camera interview, as well as participate in a process to verify your identity. Use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools of any kind during Peraton interviews is strictly prohibited unless the candidate has obtained prior written authorization. All interview responses must be the candidate’s own.
EEO: Equal opportunity employer, including disability and protected veterans, or other characteristics protected by law.
About Peraton
Peraton is a next-generation national security company that drives missions of consequence spanning the globe and extending to the farthest reaches of the galaxy. As the world’s leading mission capability integrator and transformative enterprise IT provider, we deliver trusted, highly differentiated solutions and technologies to protect our nation and allies. Peraton operates at the critical nexus between traditional and nontraditional threats across all domains: land, sea, space, air, and cyberspace. The company serves as a valued partner to essential government agencies and supports every branch of the U.S. armed forces. Each day, our employees solve the most daunting challenges that our customers face. Visit peraton.com to learn how we’re keeping people around the world safe and secure.
About The Role
Peraton is seeking Spring & Summer 2027 Cybersecurity Engineer Co-ops to support the County of San Diego (CoSD) contract from January 2027 through August 2027.
As a Cybersecurity Engineer Co-op, you will support cybersecurity, IT operations, and systems security efforts that help protect the technology and services relied upon by County departments. You will work alongside Peraton professionals to gain hands-on experience with cybersecurity tools, enterprise IT environments, and security practices while contributing to projects that support the County's technology infrastructure and services.
Peraton is the County of San Diego's IT and telecommunications partner, supporting the technology County departments rely on to serve more than 3 million residents, including public health, social services, public safety, and libraries. As a co-op on the CoSD program, you will gain exposure to real-world cybersecurity challenges, collaborate with experienced professionals, and learn how security practices are applied in a public-sector IT environment. Investigate a particular technology or business process (i.e. agentic AI implementation into an enterprise environment) and determine what controls should be required (from a high level) for a secure implementation of that subject including recommendations for industry tools and administrative controls (necessary policies and procedures)
Co-op Structure: 40 hours per week throughout the duration of the co-op, with a hybrid work arrangement based in San Diego, CA.
#PeratonIntern
Qualifications
Required Qualifications
- U.S. citizenship.
- High school diploma and some advanced-level training.
- Current enrollment in an undergraduate or graduate program, with progress toward a degree in Cybersecurity, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Information Systems, Information Technology, or a related field.
- Foundational knowledge of cybersecurity principles, technologies, and processes through coursework or projects.
- Coursework, lab, project, or prior internship experience involving cybersecurity tools, networking, operating systems, or system administration.
- Ability to learn new technologies, adapt to changing priorities, and work independently and collaboratively.
Desired Qualifications
- GPA of 3.0 or higher.
- Exposure to cybersecurity tools such as Wireshark, Metasploit, Kali Linux, or similar technologies.
- Familiarity with network security, vulnerability assessment, security monitoring, or incident response concepts.
- Experience with Linux, Windows, networking technologies, or system administration.
- Exposure to cloud computing environments and associated security concepts.
- Familiarity with Agile development processes, Jira, ServiceNow, or other IT service management tools.
- Hands-on experience through cybersecurity labs, academic projects, personal projects, hackathons, or prior internships.
Location
- San Diego, CA
SCA / Union / Intern Rate or Range
$25/hour+
Details
Target Salary Range: The rate / range per hour below represents the typical salary range for this position. Salary is determined by various factors, including but not limited to, the scope and responsibilities of the position, the individual’s experience, education, knowledge, skills, and competencies, as well as geographic location and business and contract considerations. Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay.
Benefits Statement: Peraton offers eligible employees a variety of benefits including medical, dental, vision, life, health savings account, short/long term disability, EAP, parental leave, 401(k), paid time off (PTO) for vacation, and company paid holidays. A full listing of available benefits can be viewed at https://www.careers.peraton.com/benefits.
Application Statements: The application period for the job is estimated to be 30 days from the job posting date. However, this timeline may be shortened or extended depending on business needs and the availability of qualified candidates. By applying to this job, you are expressing interest in the role and the Company. During the review of your application, you may be required to participate in an on-camera interview, as well as participate in a process to verify your identity. Use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools of any kind during Peraton interviews is strictly prohibited unless the candidate has obtained prior written authorization. All interview responses must be the candidate’s own.
EEO: Equal opportunity employer, including disability and protected veterans, or other characteristics protected by law.
See All 43 Cybersecurity Engineer Jobs in California
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Find Cybersecurity Engineer JobsCybersecurity Engineer Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Cybersecurity Engineer Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in cybersecurity engineer jobs across California.
- Bachelor's degree in computer science, information security, or a closely related field
- Active industry certification such as CISSP, CEH, or CompTIA Security+
- Hands-on experience with SIEM platforms, firewalls, and intrusion detection systems
- Proficiency in cloud security across AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud environments
- Demonstrated knowledge of NIST, CIS Controls, or CMMC compliance frameworks
- Experience conducting penetration testing, vulnerability assessments, or incident response
Cybersecurity Engineer Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a cybersecurity engineer in California?
California does not issue a state license specifically for cybersecurity engineers, so the path runs through education and industry credentials. Most employers require a bachelor's degree in computer science, information systems, or cybersecurity. From there, earning a recognized certification such as CISSP, Security+, or CEH significantly improves hire rates. Many California candidates also build hands-on experience through university cybersecurity programs at UC San Diego, Cal Poly, or CSU campuses before moving into engineering roles.
How much do cybersecurity engineers make in California?
Cybersecurity engineers in California earn a median of about $138,570 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $66,070 for the lowest 10% to over $221,000 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire cybersecurity engineers in California?
Employers hiring cybersecurity engineers in California right now include Saalex, SAIC, and Visa, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. California's concentration of defense contractors, major financial institutions, and enterprise tech firms means cybersecurity engineering demand here stays broad and relatively consistent across sectors.
Which California cities have the most cybersecurity engineer jobs?
San Diego, El Segundo, and San Jose have the most cybersecurity engineer openings in California. The Bay Area leads because of its density of enterprise software companies, financial technology firms, and cloud infrastructure providers, while Los Angeles is driven by entertainment, aerospace, and government contractors, and San Diego benefits from a large defense and military presence anchored by employers such as Northrop Grumman and Leidos.
Are there remote cybersecurity engineer jobs in California?
Yes, and more than most fields. Cybersecurity engineering is largely desk-based work involving code, consoles, and data analysis, which makes it well suited to remote and hybrid arrangements. About 59% of cybersecurity engineer openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting how broadly California employers have adopted flexible work for this discipline. Roles in threat monitoring, cloud security, and application security tend to be the most remote-friendly.
How can I get hired as a cybersecurity engineer in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is starting in a related IT or security analyst role and building toward engineering responsibilities. Large California employers such as defense contractors and major tech firms regularly hire into entry-level security operations center positions that serve as direct pipelines to engineering. UC and CSU system cybersecurity programs often place students directly into internships at California companies. A CompTIA Security+ certification, a home lab portfolio demonstrating hands-on skills, or a capstone project from a recognized California program gives candidates a concrete edge when competing without prior engineering experience.
Where can I find and apply to cybersecurity engineer jobs in California?
You can find and apply to cybersecurity engineer jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings from employers actively hiring. Find the roles that fit your experience and target location, then apply directly to those employers.
See All 43 Cybersecurity Engineer Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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