Data Privacy Specialist Jobs in California
Data Privacy Specialist jobs in California are concentrated in technology, healthcare, financial services, and entertainment, making the state one of the most active markets in the country for this role, with openings at every level from junior compliance analyst to senior privacy counsel. The largest hiring hubs are San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Jose, where employers such as Google, Kaiser Permanente, and Wells Fargo maintain significant operations and ongoing privacy teams. The most in-demand specialties include CCPA and CPRA compliance, data governance, and privacy program management. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.
Find Data Privacy Specialist JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 13+ Data Privacy Specialist jobs
Who We Are
Robert Half is seeking a Software Engineer II – AI Engineer to analyze, design, program, debug, test, implement, and support the privacy, security, and governance controls that protect generative AI technologies. This role safeguards GenAI-enabled applications, including LLM-powered workflows, RAG pipelines, plugins, skills, and autonomous agents, by embedding data protection, security guardrails, and responsible AI governance across the development lifecycle.
This role supports SDLC documentation across all phases, with a focus on data privacy, security guardrails, governance, compliance, and risk management. It also works with users to define requirements and support applications in production.
What You’ll Do
Design and implement data privacy controls, including PII/PHI detection, redaction, and data minimization.
Build security guardrails, including prompt-injection defense, jailbreak prevention, and output filtering.
Establish governance for plugins, skills, and agents, including registration, approval, and lifecycle management.
Review and vet third-party plugins, skills, and agent tools for security, privacy, and compliance risks.
Define and enforce access controls, authentication, and least-privilege permissions for AI components.
Implement guardrails for autonomous agents, including action scoping, tool-use restrictions, and human-in-the-loop approval.
Apply data classification, retention, and residency policies across GenAI data flows.
Monitor AI systems for policy violations, data leakage, and anomalous plugin, skill, or agent behavior.
Maintain audit trails and logging for plugin, skill, and agent activity.
Support compliance with regulations and frameworks, including GDPR, CCPA, and the EU AI Act.
Provide Level II production support for security, privacy, and governance incidents.
Support incident response, including containment, escalation, and remediation.
What You’ll Need
4+ years of experience in IT or a related field.
2+ years of software engineering experience.
1+ year of experience in AI security, data privacy, or governance.
Experience with AI coding agent-augmented development.
Experience with data privacy techniques, including PII detection, redaction, and anonymization.
Experience with Python, Java, C#, JavaScript, or SQL.
Experience building and securing applications.
Knowledge of cloud platforms, containers, and CI/CD practices.
Understanding of SDLC, APIs, and system architecture.
Knowledge of databases and data integration.
Understanding of LLM fundamentals and token behavior.
Knowledge of security guardrails, including prompt-injection and jailbreak defenses.
Experience governing plugins, skills, and agents, including registration and lifecycle management.
Knowledge of identity and access management, including authentication and least-privilege design.
Familiarity with AI risk frameworks, including the NIST AI RMF and OWASP LLM Top 10.
Knowledge of privacy and compliance regulations, including GDPR, CCPA, and the EU AI Act.
Experience with observability practices, including logging, tracing, and audit trails.
Experience with Azure, AWS, or GCP.
Strong communication and requirements-gathering skills.
Preferred Generative AI Skills
Experience with AI governance platforms and policy-as-code frameworks.
Experience with secrets management, encryption, and data loss prevention (DLP).
Experience with red-teaming and adversarial testing of LLM applications.
Experience designing agent guardrails, including tool sandboxing and action approval.
Experience with content moderation and output safety filtering.
Experience with security incident handling, including containment and forensics.
The typical annual salary range for this position is shown below and is negotiable depending upon experience and location. The position is eligible for a discretionary annual bonus.
$85,000.00 - $124,000.00We offer exceptional earning potential and a competitive benefits package, including group health insurance benefits (medical, vision, dental), FSA and HSA healthcare accounts, life and accident insurance, adoption and fertility assistance, paid parental leave of up to 6 weeks, and short/long term disability. Robert Half provides paid time off for vacation, personal needs, and sick time. The amount of Choice Time Off (CTO) our people receive varies based on their years of service and is pro-rated based on the hours worked per week. A new hire earns up to 17 days of CTO per calendar year. Our people also receive up to 11 paid holidays per calendar year. We also offer the opportunity to contribute to our company 401(k) savings and investment plan or deferred compensation plan (if eligible), with an employer match of 100% on the first 3% of your contributions for eligible employees. Learn more at https://roberthalfbenefits.com.
Robert Half Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. M/F/Disability/Veteran
As part of Robert Half’s Corporate Services facility employment process, any offer of employment is contingent upon successful completion of a background check.
Our recruiters use their expertise and may utilize AI to help with their evaluation of candidates.
Robert Half is committed to being an equal employment employer offering opportunities to all job seekers, including individuals with disabilities. If you believe you need a reasonable accommodation in order to search for a job opening or to apply for a position, please contact us by sending an email to HRSolutions@roberthalf.com or call 1.855.744.6947 for assistance.
In your email please include the following:
The specific accommodation requested to complete the employment application.
The location(s) (city, state) to which you would like to apply.
For positions located in San Francisco, CA: Robert Half will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance.
For positions located in Los Angeles County, CA: Robert Half will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act.
Who We Are
Robert Half is seeking a Software Engineer II – AI Engineer to analyze, design, program, debug, test, implement, and support the privacy, security, and governance controls that protect generative AI technologies. This role safeguards GenAI-enabled applications, including LLM-powered workflows, RAG pipelines, plugins, skills, and autonomous agents, by embedding data protection, security guardrails, and responsible AI governance across the development lifecycle.
This role supports SDLC documentation across all phases, with a focus on data privacy, security guardrails, governance, compliance, and risk management. It also works with users to define requirements and support applications in production.
What You’ll Do
Design and implement data privacy controls, including PII/PHI detection, redaction, and data minimization.
Build security guardrails, including prompt-injection defense, jailbreak prevention, and output filtering.
Establish governance for plugins, skills, and agents, including registration, approval, and lifecycle management.
Review and vet third-party plugins, skills, and agent tools for security, privacy, and compliance risks.
Define and enforce access controls, authentication, and least-privilege permissions for AI components.
Implement guardrails for autonomous agents, including action scoping, tool-use restrictions, and human-in-the-loop approval.
Apply data classification, retention, and residency policies across GenAI data flows.
Monitor AI systems for policy violations, data leakage, and anomalous plugin, skill, or agent behavior.
Maintain audit trails and logging for plugin, skill, and agent activity.
Support compliance with regulations and frameworks, including GDPR, CCPA, and the EU AI Act.
Provide Level II production support for security, privacy, and governance incidents.
Support incident response, including containment, escalation, and remediation.
What You’ll Need
4+ years of experience in IT or a related field.
2+ years of software engineering experience.
1+ year of experience in AI security, data privacy, or governance.
Experience with AI coding agent-augmented development.
Experience with data privacy techniques, including PII detection, redaction, and anonymization.
Experience with Python, Java, C#, JavaScript, or SQL.
Experience building and securing applications.
Knowledge of cloud platforms, containers, and CI/CD practices.
Understanding of SDLC, APIs, and system architecture.
Knowledge of databases and data integration.
Understanding of LLM fundamentals and token behavior.
Knowledge of security guardrails, including prompt-injection and jailbreak defenses.
Experience governing plugins, skills, and agents, including registration and lifecycle management.
Knowledge of identity and access management, including authentication and least-privilege design.
Familiarity with AI risk frameworks, including the NIST AI RMF and OWASP LLM Top 10.
Knowledge of privacy and compliance regulations, including GDPR, CCPA, and the EU AI Act.
Experience with observability practices, including logging, tracing, and audit trails.
Experience with Azure, AWS, or GCP.
Strong communication and requirements-gathering skills.
Preferred Generative AI Skills
Experience with AI governance platforms and policy-as-code frameworks.
Experience with secrets management, encryption, and data loss prevention (DLP).
Experience with red-teaming and adversarial testing of LLM applications.
Experience designing agent guardrails, including tool sandboxing and action approval.
Experience with content moderation and output safety filtering.
Experience with security incident handling, including containment and forensics.
The typical annual salary range for this position is shown below and is negotiable depending upon experience and location. The position is eligible for a discretionary annual bonus.
$85,000.00 - $124,000.00We offer exceptional earning potential and a competitive benefits package, including group health insurance benefits (medical, vision, dental), FSA and HSA healthcare accounts, life and accident insurance, adoption and fertility assistance, paid parental leave of up to 6 weeks, and short/long term disability. Robert Half provides paid time off for vacation, personal needs, and sick time. The amount of Choice Time Off (CTO) our people receive varies based on their years of service and is pro-rated based on the hours worked per week. A new hire earns up to 17 days of CTO per calendar year. Our people also receive up to 11 paid holidays per calendar year. We also offer the opportunity to contribute to our company 401(k) savings and investment plan or deferred compensation plan (if eligible), with an employer match of 100% on the first 3% of your contributions for eligible employees. Learn more at https://roberthalfbenefits.com.
Robert Half Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. M/F/Disability/Veteran
As part of Robert Half’s Corporate Services facility employment process, any offer of employment is contingent upon successful completion of a background check.
Our recruiters use their expertise and may utilize AI to help with their evaluation of candidates.
Robert Half is committed to being an equal employment employer offering opportunities to all job seekers, including individuals with disabilities. If you believe you need a reasonable accommodation in order to search for a job opening or to apply for a position, please contact us by sending an email to HRSolutions@roberthalf.com or call 1.855.744.6947 for assistance.
In your email please include the following:
The specific accommodation requested to complete the employment application.
The location(s) (city, state) to which you would like to apply.
For positions located in San Francisco, CA: Robert Half will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance.
For positions located in Los Angeles County, CA: Robert Half will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act.
See All 13 Data Privacy Specialist Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Data Privacy Specialist JobsData Privacy Specialist Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Data Privacy Specialist Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software
- Law & Legal Services
- Electronics & Hardware
- Construction & Real Estate
- Banking & Financial Services
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in data privacy specialist jobs across California.
- Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP/US) credential required or strongly preferred
- Bachelor's degree in law, computer science, information systems, or a related field
- Working knowledge of CCPA and CPRA requirements and enforcement mechanisms
- Experience developing and maintaining privacy policies, notices, and data inventories
- Ability to conduct privacy impact assessments and data protection impact assessments
- Strong written communication skills for drafting privacy documentation and stakeholder guidance
Data Privacy Specialist Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a data privacy specialist in California?
Most data privacy specialists in California enter the field with a bachelor's degree in law, information systems, computer science, or a related discipline, then pursue the Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP/US) credential offered by the International Association of Privacy Professionals. California has no state-issued license for this role, but the CIPP/US is the recognized industry standard and is required or preferred in a large share of California job postings. Employers in regulated industries such as healthcare and finance also value familiarity with CCPA, CPRA, and HIPAA.
Which companies hire data privacy specialists in California?
Companies currently hiring data privacy specialists in California include PlayStation, Apple, and Ketch, per current listings on Migrate Mate as of July 2026. California's dense concentration of technology firms, large healthcare networks, and financial institutions means sustained demand across multiple employer types year-round.
Which California cities have the most data privacy specialist jobs?
San Francisco, San Jose, and San Mateo have the most data privacy specialist openings in California. San Francisco and San Jose account for the largest share because of the concentration of major technology headquarters in the Bay Area, while Los Angeles draws from a broad mix of entertainment studios, healthcare systems, and financial services firms that all maintain active privacy compliance functions.
Are there remote data privacy specialist jobs in California?
Yes, and more than most fields. About 50% of data privacy specialist openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of July 2026, reflecting the desk-based and documentation-heavy nature of the work. Policy development, privacy impact assessments, and compliance monitoring are the functions most frequently offered on a fully remote basis.
How can I get hired as a data privacy specialist in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is a lateral move from a closely related role such as compliance analyst, information security coordinator, or legal operations assistant, where you already work with data governance or regulatory requirements. Large California employers including technology companies and major health systems often post associate privacy analyst or privacy operations roles suited to candidates without dedicated privacy experience. Earning the IAPP's entry-level CIPP/US credential and building a portfolio that includes a sample data inventory or a written CCPA gap assessment gives candidates a concrete edge when applying.
Where can I find and apply to data privacy specialist jobs in California?
You can find and apply to data privacy specialist jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings in this field. Search the listings, find roles that match your background and location, and apply directly to the ones that fit.
See All 13 Data Privacy Specialist Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Data Privacy Specialist Jobs