Cybersecurity Engineer Jobs in San Diego, CA
Cybersecurity engineer jobs in San Diego are concentrated in defense and government contracting in Kearny Mesa and Sorrento Valley, with additional demand from healthcare systems, telecom, and financial services firms in downtown and Mission Valley. Employers hiring right now include Saalex, AUSGAR Technologies, and Booz Allen Hamilton. 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.
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Who's Hiring
Cybersecurity Engineer Jobs in San Diego: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a cybersecurity engineer job in San Diego?
Target San Diego's defense contractors and federal agencies first, as they generate the highest volume of cybersecurity roles in the city. Concentrations in Kearny Mesa, Sorrento Valley, and the downtown corridor mean proximity to major hiring clusters matters. Active DoD clearances are a significant edge in this market. Networking through local chapters of ISSA or ISACA and connecting with defense-focused staffing firms gives candidates a concrete local advantage.
Which companies hire cybersecurity engineers in San Diego?
Employers hiring cybersecurity engineers in San Diego right now include Saalex, AUSGAR Technologies, and Booz Allen Hamilton, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. San Diego's hiring mix skews heavily toward defense contractors, federal government agencies, large healthcare systems, and telecom companies with regional operations in the area.
Are there remote cybersecurity engineer jobs in San Diego?
Yes, though availability varies significantly by role type. Positions tied to classified systems, on-site infrastructure, or government facilities require physical presence, while threat analysis, cloud security, and compliance roles are more commonly offered remotely. About 61% of cybersecurity engineer openings tied to San Diego are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, with remote work most common in non-cleared commercial and healthcare-sector roles.
How can I get a cybersecurity engineer job in San Diego with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path in San Diego is targeting junior analyst or security operations center roles at defense contractors and managed security service providers, which regularly hire candidates with CompTIA Security+ or equivalent certifications even without prior professional experience. San Diego's military community also creates pathways through veteran transition programs at local contractors. Starting in IT support or network administration at healthcare systems or telecom firms in Mission Valley is another common local stepping stone.
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See All 43 Cybersecurity Engineer Jobs in San Diego
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