Principal Cybersecurity Engineer Jobs in California

Principal Cybersecurity Engineer jobs in California represent one of the most active markets in the country, concentrated in defense contracting, cloud infrastructure, financial services, and enterprise technology across a seniority range from senior engineer to staff and principal level. The heaviest hiring is in the San Francisco Bay Area, San Diego, and Los Angeles, where employers like Northrop Grumman, Google, and Wells Fargo maintain large security engineering teams. The most in-demand specialties are zero-trust architecture, cloud security engineering, and threat intelligence program leadership. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.

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Overview

Open roles11
Top employerNorthrop Grumman
Top cityLos Angeles, CA
Cities hiring7
Work type86% On-site
Top credentialMaster's degree

Showing 5 of 11+ Principal Cybersecurity Engineer jobs

Sr. Principal Classified Cybersecurity Analyst
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Added 6d ago
Sr. Principal Classified Cybersecurity Analyst
Northrop Grumman
Los Angeles, California
Business Strategy
Consulting & Professional Services
Healthcare Administration
$142k - $213k/yr
On-Site
Master's degree
10,000+

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Principal Software Engineer, Cybersecurity
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Added 6d ago
Principal Software Engineer, Cybersecurity
Bloom Energy
San Jose, California
Backend Engineering
Cloud Engineering
DevOps
Software Engineering
$156k - $224k/yr
1,001-5,000

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Sr Principal Cybersecurity Analyst
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Added 2w ago
Sr Principal Cybersecurity Analyst
Northrop Grumman
Los Angeles, California
Business Analyst
Data Analytics
$142k - $213k/yr
On-Site
Master's degree
10,000+

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Sr Principal Classified Cybersecurity Analyst - Top Secret
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Added 3w ago
Sr Principal Classified Cybersecurity Analyst - Top Secret
Northrop Grumman
Redondo Beach, California
Compliance & Risk
Cybersecurity Operations
Security & Protective Services
$142k - $213k/yr
On-Site
Master's degree
10,000+

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Principal Classified Cybersecurity Analyst - Secret
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Added 3w ago
Principal Classified Cybersecurity Analyst - Secret
Northrop Grumman
Redondo Beach, California
Compliance & Risk
Cybersecurity Operations
Security & Protective Services
$114k - $171k/yr
On-Site
Master's degree
10,000+

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See All 11 Principal Cybersecurity Engineer Jobs in California

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Principal Cybersecurity Engineer Jobs by City in California

Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Los Angeles
3 jobs
Santa Clara
2 jobs
Redondo Beach
2 jobs
Irvine
1 job
Rosemead
1 job
San Jose
1 job
Hawthorne
1 job

Principal Cybersecurity Engineer Job Market in California

A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.

Who's Hiring

Northrop Grumman5 open roles
Palo Alto Networks2 open roles
Masimo1 open role

What California Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in principal cybersecurity engineer jobs across California.

  • Bachelor's degree in computer science, information security, or a closely related field
  • Active CISSP certification or equivalent senior security credential is strongly preferred
  • Eight or more years of hands-on cybersecurity engineering experience required
  • Deep expertise in cloud security platforms such as AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud
  • Experience leading cross-functional security initiatives and mentoring engineering teams
  • Familiarity with California Consumer Privacy Act compliance and related data protection requirements

Principal Cybersecurity Engineer Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a principal cybersecurity engineer in California?

The path typically starts with a bachelor's degree in computer science, information systems, or a related field, followed by progressive security engineering roles. California does not require a state-issued license for this role, but employers consistently expect senior industry credentials such as CISSP, CISM, or cloud-specific certifications. Most principals have spent years in roles like security architect or senior security engineer before reaching this level, often at large California technology or defense firms.

How much do principal cybersecurity engineers make in California?

Principal 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 principal cybersecurity engineers in California?

Employers hiring principal cybersecurity engineers in California right now include Northrop Grumman, Palo Alto Networks, and Masimo, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. California's concentration of defense contractors, major cloud providers, and large financial institutions makes it one of the deepest markets in the country for senior security engineering talent.

Which California cities have the most principal cybersecurity engineer jobs?

Los Angeles, Santa Clara, and Redondo Beach have the most principal cybersecurity engineer openings in California. The Bay Area leads because of its dense cluster of cloud and enterprise technology headquarters, while San Diego draws heavily from defense and government contractors, and Los Angeles reflects demand from both the entertainment technology sector and large financial services firms headquartered there.

Are there remote principal cybersecurity engineer jobs in California?

Yes, and more than most engineering disciplines. About 14% of principal cybersecurity engineer openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting how much of this work centers on architecture, policy, and program leadership rather than hands-on hardware. The most fully remote opportunities tend to sit in cloud security and application security program roles, while roles involving classified systems or on-site infrastructure typically require in-person presence.

How can I get hired as a principal cybersecurity engineer in California with little or no experience?

The most realistic entry path is through a security operations or systems administration role at a California technology company or defense contractor, then building toward senior engineer and architect titles over time. Large California employers like aerospace and defense firms run early-career security programs and government-sponsored apprenticeships that provide structured development. Earning an entry-level certification such as Security+ and building a hands-on portfolio through capture-the-flag competitions or open-source security projects gives candidates a measurable edge when applying to associate security engineer roles that lead toward the principal track.

Where can I find and apply to principal cybersecurity engineer jobs in California?

You can find and apply to principal cybersecurity engineer jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings updated on an ongoing basis. Find the roles that fit your background and apply directly to the ones that match.

See All 11 Principal Cybersecurity Engineer Jobs in California

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