Security Architect Jobs in California
Security Architect jobs in California are among the most active in the country, with demand concentrated in technology, defense, financial services, and healthcare across roles from associate security architect through principal and CISO-track positions. The largest hiring markets are San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego, where employers such as Google, Northrop Grumman, and Wells Fargo maintain deep security engineering teams. The most in-demand specialties in California are cloud security architecture, zero-trust network design, and compliance-focused security for regulated industries. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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INTRODUCTION
Cloud Security Architect
Must Have Technical/Functional Skills
- Strong expertise in AWS cloud security architecture including IAM, KMS, GuardDuty, and CloudTrail.
- Deep understanding of AWS Landing Zone, SCPs, governance, and enterprise security guardrails.
- Experience with security for custom applications including vulnerability identification and remediation.
- Proficiency with VAPT tools such as Nessus, Qualys, Burp Suite, Fortify, and Checkmarx.
- Strong understanding of WAF, firewall management, IDS/IPS, and network segmentation.
- Knowledge of OS-level security for Windows Server 2016–2025 and RHEL 7/8/9.
- Familiarity with securing Java, .NET, TIBCO ESB, and integration-heavy workloads.
- Understanding of database security for Oracle 19c, Exadata on AWS, and SQL Server.
- Ability to apply Zero Trust, least privilege, encryption, and secure-by-design principles.
- Strong collaboration skills across infra, app, DB, network, and DevOps teams.
Roles & Responsibilities
- Lead cloud security architecture for the Data Center Exit migration to AWS EC2.
- Design and implement AWS Landing Zone security including IAM guardrails, SCPs, and logging.
- Conduct application and infra vulnerability assessments and define remediation plans.
- Implement WAF rules, firewall policies, secure segmentation, and endpoint protection.
- Validate authentication, authorization, and encryption models for all migrated workloads.
- Support secure deployment practices, code reviews, and remediation of development gaps.
- Integrate SIEM systems with AWS native security tools for continuous monitoring.
- Define and enforce cloud security baselines aligned with CIS, NIST, and ISO controls.
- Lead penetration testing cycles and coordinate mitigation activities.
- Produce security HLD/LLD, risk assessments, and operational security runbooks.
Cloud Experience Needed
- Hands-on experience designing secure AWS multi-account Landing Zones and guardrail policies.
- Strong understanding of EC2 security, IAM, encryption, and identity federation models.
- Integration knowledge for Oracle Exadata on AWS, SQL Server, and middleware security flows.
- Experience with AWS WAF, Shield, GuardDuty, Security Hub, and detective controls.
- Ability to design security for EKS workloads including pod/network policies and image scanning.
- Understanding of security in hybrid cloud migrations and AWS migration tooling.
Salary Range
$120,000-$140,000 a year
LOCATION
Irvine, CA
Job Function
TECHNOLOGY
Role
Technical Architect
Job Id
417479
Desired Skills
Cloud Security
Desired Candidate Profile
Qualifications: BACHELOR OF COMPUTER SCIENCE
INTRODUCTION
Cloud Security Architect
Must Have Technical/Functional Skills
- Strong expertise in AWS cloud security architecture including IAM, KMS, GuardDuty, and CloudTrail.
- Deep understanding of AWS Landing Zone, SCPs, governance, and enterprise security guardrails.
- Experience with security for custom applications including vulnerability identification and remediation.
- Proficiency with VAPT tools such as Nessus, Qualys, Burp Suite, Fortify, and Checkmarx.
- Strong understanding of WAF, firewall management, IDS/IPS, and network segmentation.
- Knowledge of OS-level security for Windows Server 2016–2025 and RHEL 7/8/9.
- Familiarity with securing Java, .NET, TIBCO ESB, and integration-heavy workloads.
- Understanding of database security for Oracle 19c, Exadata on AWS, and SQL Server.
- Ability to apply Zero Trust, least privilege, encryption, and secure-by-design principles.
- Strong collaboration skills across infra, app, DB, network, and DevOps teams.
Roles & Responsibilities
- Lead cloud security architecture for the Data Center Exit migration to AWS EC2.
- Design and implement AWS Landing Zone security including IAM guardrails, SCPs, and logging.
- Conduct application and infra vulnerability assessments and define remediation plans.
- Implement WAF rules, firewall policies, secure segmentation, and endpoint protection.
- Validate authentication, authorization, and encryption models for all migrated workloads.
- Support secure deployment practices, code reviews, and remediation of development gaps.
- Integrate SIEM systems with AWS native security tools for continuous monitoring.
- Define and enforce cloud security baselines aligned with CIS, NIST, and ISO controls.
- Lead penetration testing cycles and coordinate mitigation activities.
- Produce security HLD/LLD, risk assessments, and operational security runbooks.
Cloud Experience Needed
- Hands-on experience designing secure AWS multi-account Landing Zones and guardrail policies.
- Strong understanding of EC2 security, IAM, encryption, and identity federation models.
- Integration knowledge for Oracle Exadata on AWS, SQL Server, and middleware security flows.
- Experience with AWS WAF, Shield, GuardDuty, Security Hub, and detective controls.
- Ability to design security for EKS workloads including pod/network policies and image scanning.
- Understanding of security in hybrid cloud migrations and AWS migration tooling.
Salary Range
$120,000-$140,000 a year
LOCATION
Irvine, CA
Job Function
TECHNOLOGY
Role
Technical Architect
Job Id
417479
Desired Skills
Cloud Security
Desired Candidate Profile
Qualifications: BACHELOR OF COMPUTER SCIENCE
See All 48 Security Architect Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Security Architect JobsSecurity Architect Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Security Architect Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Apple3
- Upwind Security3
- Aurora Innovation2
- NVIDIA2
- Replit2
Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software18
- Electronics & Hardware10
- Manufacturing3
- Science & Research3
- Banking & Financial Services2
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in security architect jobs across California.
- Bachelor's degree in computer science, information security, or a closely related field
- Active CISSP certification recognized as the baseline credential across California employers
- Five or more years of hands-on experience in security engineering or network security
- Deep knowledge of cloud security architecture across AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud Platform
- Experience designing zero-trust frameworks and security controls for enterprise environments
- Familiarity with California compliance requirements including CCPA and CPRA data protection rules
Security Architect Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a security architect in California?
The path into security architecture in California typically starts with a bachelor's degree in computer science, cybersecurity, or information systems, followed by several years working in security engineering, network security, or systems administration. California has no state-issued license for security architects, but employers consistently require the CISSP credential from ISC2, and many also value CISM or cloud-specific certifications. Building experience with enterprise environments and compliance frameworks relevant to California, such as CCPA, strengthens candidacy significantly.
How much do security architects make in California?
Security architects 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 security architects in California?
Employers hiring security architects in California right now include Apple, Upwind Security, and Aurora Innovation, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of June 2026. California's concentration of major technology headquarters, defense contractors, and large financial institutions means steady and recurring demand for experienced security architecture talent.
Which California cities have the most security architect jobs?
San Francisco, Santa Clara, and Irvine have the most security architect openings in California. The San Francisco Bay Area leads because of its density of technology company headquarters and venture-backed firms with mature security programs, while Los Angeles draws demand from entertainment, aerospace, and defense sectors, and San Diego's openings are largely driven by the region's strong defense contractor and biotech presence.
Are there remote security architect jobs in California?
Yes, and more than most fields. Security architecture is largely analytical and design-focused, making it well suited to remote work compared to hands-on technical roles. About 27% of security architect openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of June 2026, reflecting how broadly California employers have embraced distributed security teams. The most consistently remote portions of the work are threat modeling, policy development, and architecture review rather than hands-on infrastructure deployment.
How can I get hired as a security architect in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is moving laterally from a security analyst, network engineer, or systems administrator role into architecture work. Large California technology companies and defense contractors such as those in the greater Los Angeles and San Diego corridors often post associate security engineer roles that serve as a direct on-ramp. Completing the CISSP or an entry-level cloud security certification and building a portfolio of architecture diagrams or threat models gives candidates a concrete edge when competing for California positions without a long security architecture title history.
Where can I find and apply to security architect jobs in California?
You can find and apply to security architect jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings. Find the roles that fit your background and apply directly to the ones that match.
See All 48 Security Architect Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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