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.

Find Security Engineer Jobs

Overview

Open roles533+
Top employerGoogle
Top citySan Francisco, CA
Cities hiring58
Work type42% Hybrid
Top industryTechnology

Showing 5 of 533+ Security Engineer jobs

Qcells
Sr. Security and Compliance Engineer
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Qcells
Added 2d ago
Sr. Security and Compliance Engineer
Qcells
San Francisco, California
Cybersecurity
Cybersecurity Operations
Security Engineering
$122k - $183k/yr
Bachelor's degree
1,001-5,000

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Qcells
Sr. Security and Compliance Engineer
We won't show you this job again
Qcells
Added 2d ago
Sr. Security and Compliance Engineer
Qcells
Santa Clara, California
Cybersecurity
Cybersecurity Operations
Security Engineering
$122k - $183k/yr
Bachelor's degree
1,001-5,000

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G2 OPS, INC.
Senior Security Engineer - ConMon
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G2 OPS, INC.
Added 2d ago
Senior Security Engineer - ConMon
G2 OPS, INC.
San Diego, California
Automation QA
Electrical Engineering
Engineering (Non-Software)
Specialized Engineering
$120k - $150k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's degree

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ICW Group
Information Security Engineer III
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ICW Group
Added 2d ago
Information Security Engineer III
ICW Group
San Diego, California
AI (Artificial Intelligence)
Data Science
$122k.81 - $218k.98/yr
Hybrid
Bachelor's degree in engineering
1,001-5,000

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Apple
Senior Security Software Engineer - Secure Transports
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Apple
Added 2d ago
Senior Security Software Engineer - Secure Transports
Apple
Cupertino, California
Cloud Architecture
Cloud Engineering
Cybersecurity
Bachelor's degree
10,000+

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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

Security Engineer Jobs by City in California

Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Irvine
16 jobs

Security Engineer Job Market in California

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

Who's Hiring

  • Google
    Google18
  • Palo Alto Networks
    Palo Alto Networks14
  • SpaceX
    SpaceX13
  • ALTRUIST
    ALTRUIST13
  • Roblox
    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