Security Engineer Jobs in California
Security Engineer jobs in California rank among the most active in the country, concentrated in technology, defense, financial services, and critical infrastructure across a seniority range from entry-level analyst to principal security architect. The largest hiring markets are the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, and San Diego, where employers like Google, Northrop Grumman, and Bank of America maintain deep security engineering headcount. The most in-demand specializations are cloud security, application security, and zero-trust network architecture. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Description
POSITION DESCRIPTION:
Qcells is looking for a hands-on senior security and compliance professional to lead cloud security, security operations, governance, risk, and compliance activities across the organization. The Sr. Security and Compliance Engineer will help safeguard IT assets by monitoring threats, responding to incidents, remediating risks, maintaining security technologies, and ensuring alignment with internal policies and applicable compliance frameworks.
This position will be based out of one of our offices in Irvine, CA; San Francisco, CA; or Teaneck, NJ, with an in-office schedule set at the direct manager’s discretion in accordance with company policies and procedures. Remote options are available for exceptional cases.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Develop and maintain the information security and compliance strategy, roadmap, policies, standards, and control framework.
Lead and support continuous improvement projects to deploy, consolidate, enhance, and/or secure enterprise IT systems and services.
Lead security and compliance operations, including threat detection, incident response, vulnerability remediation, forensics coordination, control monitoring, and compliance reporting.
Ensure proper back up and disaster recovery are in place and proactively monitored to achieve service level agreements (SLAs) for Recovery Point Objective (RPO) and Recovery Time Objective (RTO).
Ensure alignment with cybersecurity, privacy, technology control, and audit requirements, including FFIEC, SOX, SOC 2, ISO 27001, and other applicable obligations.
Monitor and secure cloud environments (e.g., Azure, AWS, Salesforce) using security information and event management (SIEM) tools, and cloud-native security solutions.
Investigate and respond to security incidents, ensuring proper containment, remediation, and documentation of root causes.
Design and mature security and compliance controls for secure architecture, IAM, data handling, audit readiness, and risk management.
Support Qcells NA’s ISMS through control evidence, risk treatment, audit readiness, corrective actions, and continuous improvement.
Partner with IT, Legal, Privacy, vendors, and business teams on security requirements, policy exceptions, and compliance remediation.
Evaluate, recommend and implement new solutions that enhance security posture.
Oversee end-users access management throughout the organization. Conduct and assist with regularly scheduled user access reviews in active directory and other applications as needed.
Execute periodic FinTech risk assessments and comprehensive security awareness programs, ensuring employees adhere to best practices and regulatory security requirements.
Stay current with emerging security trends, threats, and technologies to continuously improve security strategies.
Collaborate with IT and development teams on security best practices.
Operate in a manner demonstrating a high level of integrity, ethics, and discretion when handling sensitive and confidential information.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
Bachelor's degree in information security, Computer Science, or a related field, or equivalent experience, with 5+ years in cybersecurity, cloud security, security operations, governance, risk, compliance, or a similar role.
Strong knowledge of cloud security concepts such as IAM, security groups, VPC, encryption (at-rest and in-transit), and cloud monitoring.
Strong understanding of compliance frameworks and audit practices, including FFIEC, SOX, SOC 2, ISO 27001, control testing, evidence collection, and remediation tracking.
Experience with incident response, vulnerability remediation, risk assessments, compliance reviews, logging, alerting, forensic investigation, and executive reporting in cloud environments.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
Strongly Preferred: CCSP (Certified Cloud Security Professional), CISSP (Certified Information System Security Professional), CISM (Certified Information Security Manager), CompTIA A+, CompTIA Security +.
Strong understanding of FinTech security compliance and principles, and implementation in cloud environments.
COMPENSATION:
In accordance with applicable pay transparency laws, the anticipated annual base salary for this position is:
Zone 1 (Bay Area, NYC): $146,200 – $182,600
Zone 2 (CA, NJ, NY): $134,000 – $167,400
Zone 3 (All others): $121,800 – $152,200
The applicable salary range is based on the employee’s primary work location. Individual compensation will be determined based on qualifications, relevant experience, education, skills, internal equity, and other business-related factors.
Hanwha Q CELLS America Inc. (“HQCA”) is a Qcells company, one of the world’s largest manufacturers and providers of solar photovoltaic (PV) products and solutions. Headquartered in Irvine, California, HQCA has been rapidly expanding its business in North America through the expansion of products and solutions, including distributed energy solutions, direct-to-homeowner solar sales and financing, and EPC services. We provide an opportunity to be part of an exciting and growing world-class global business in an interesting and expanding industry of the future.
PHYSICAL, MENTAL & ENVIRONMENTAL DEMANDS:
To comply with the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 the essential physical, mental and environmental requirements for this job are listed below. These are requirements normally expected to perform regular job duties. Incumbent must be able to successfully perform all of the functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation.
Mobility
Standing
20% of time
Sitting
70% of time
Walking
10% of time
Strength
Pulling
up to 10 Pounds
Pushing
up to 10 Pounds
Carrying
up to 10 Pounds
Lifting
up to 10 Pounds
Dexterity (F = Frequently, O = Occasionally, N = Never)
Typing
F
Handling
F
Reaching
F
Agility (F = Frequently, O = Occasionally, N = Never)
Turning
F
Twisting
F
Bending
O
Crouching
O
Balancing
N
Climbing
N
Crawling
N
Kneeling
N
The salary range is required by the California Pay Transparency Act and may differ depending on the location of those candidates hired nationwide. Actual compensation is influenced by a wide array of factors including but not limited to, skill set, education, licenses and certifications, essential job duties and requirements, and the necessary experience relative to the job’s minimum qualifications.
- This target salary range is for CA positions only and should not be interpreted as an offer of compensation.
See All 533+ Security Engineer Jobs in California
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Find Security Engineer JobsSecurity Engineer Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Security Engineer Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Google18

- Palo Alto Networks14

- SpaceX13

- ALTRUIST13

- Roblox11

Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software84
- Science & Research10
- Electronics & Hardware9
- Banking & Financial Services8
- Aerospace & Defense5
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in security engineer jobs across California.
- Bachelor's degree in computer science, cybersecurity, or a closely related engineering field
- Industry certification such as CISSP, CEH, or CompTIA Security+ recognized by California employers
- Hands-on experience with SIEM platforms, intrusion detection systems, and vulnerability assessment tools
- Proficiency in scripting languages including Python, Bash, or PowerShell for security automation
- Familiarity with cloud security frameworks on AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud Platform
- Experience conducting threat modeling, penetration testing, or red-team security assessments
Security Engineer Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a security engineer in California?
Most security engineers in California enter the field with a bachelor's degree in computer science, information security, or a related discipline, followed by an industry certification such as CISSP or CompTIA Security+. California does not require a state-issued license specific to security engineering, but employers in defense and government contracting often require a federal security clearance. Building hands-on lab experience through capture-the-flag competitions and open-source projects strengthens candidacy considerably.
How much do security engineers make in California?
Security engineers in California earn a median of about $134,440 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $58,340 for the lowest 10% to over $222,690 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire security engineers in California?
Employers hiring security engineers in California right now include Google, Palo Alto Networks, and SpaceX, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. California's concentration of technology headquarters and major defense contractors means sustained demand across both commercial and government sectors throughout the year.
Which California cities have the most security engineer jobs?
San Francisco, San Jose, and Sunnyvale have the most security engineer openings in California. The Bay Area leads because of its density of technology headquarters and venture-backed security startups, while Los Angeles draws demand from entertainment, aerospace, and financial firms, and San Diego's openings are largely driven by defense contractors and Navy-affiliated research institutions.
Are there remote security engineer jobs in California?
Yes, and more than most technical fields. About 65% of security engineer openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, reflecting the discipline's strong orientation toward cloud platforms and software tooling. Roles focused on cloud security architecture, threat intelligence, and application security are the most consistently offered on a fully remote basis, while positions involving physical infrastructure or on-site red-team work typically require presence.
How can I get hired as a security engineer in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is starting in a related IT or systems role, such as network administrator, systems analyst, or IT support specialist, and transitioning once you have earned a foundational certification like CompTIA Security+ or Google's Cybersecurity Certificate. Large California technology companies including Salesforce and Cisco offer security-focused associate and rotational programs for recent graduates. Community college cybersecurity programs accredited through the California Community Colleges system also provide a lower-cost credential that California employers recognize.
Where can I find and apply to security engineer jobs in California?
You can find and apply to security engineer jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings across industries and experience levels. Search the listings to find roles that match your background and apply directly to the ones that fit.
See All 533+ Security Engineer Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Security Engineer Jobs