Security Operations Engineer Jobs in California
Security Operations Engineer jobs in California are among the most active in the country, concentrated in cybersecurity, defense contracting, cloud infrastructure, and financial technology, with demand running from entry-level analysts through senior architects. The heaviest hiring clusters around the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, and San Diego, where established employers like Northrop Grumman, Palo Alto Networks, and Cisco maintain deep security operations teams. The most consistent demand is in threat detection engineering, SIEM platform management, and cloud-native security operations. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Product Operations Manager (Account Security) – TikTok
Location :
San Jose
Employment Type :
Regular
Job Code :
A37200A
Responsibilities
TikTok Core Product team's goal is to provide the best user experiences to create, consume, and enjoy content on TikTok. As part of the Core Product team at TikTok, this team is focused on maintaining product stability and security, simplicity, and ease of use; effectively support business growth and multi-business balance; and help TikTok become a comprehensive platform that connects people, content, and services. Responsibilities: - Partner with Security Product, Legal & Compliance, Privacy, Risk Control, Customer Service and other teams to define core metrics, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and handling mechanisms for security incident response; - Lead emergency response for account security incidents: conduct root cause analysis, drive efficient cross-functional coordination for rapid response, clearly communicate risks and incident status to security and product leadership, provide solution evaluation frameworks, and clarify roles and responsibilities; continuously optimize incident response and handling workflows based on user feedback and data metrics to improve operational efficiency; - Own requirements gathering, capability iteration, and rollout of account security operations tools; drive integration and large-scale adoption of core account security capabilities across downstream business lines; - Manage relevant budgets, and define and monitor metrics related to security experience and review/triage efficiency.
Qualifications
Minimum Qualification(s): - Hands-on experience in security incident response, process development, and security program operations; familiarity with business process management and requirements analysis, with a solid understanding of account security, cybersecurity, information security, and digital identity security; - Strong ownership mindset — willing to step forward in emergencies and drive issues through to resolution end to end; - Ability to collaborate across time zones, with excellent cross-functional communication skills and a proven ability to drive execution and implementation. Preferred Qualification(s): - Demonstrated knowledge of industry best practices in the above security domains, with well-formed personal perspectives and insights
Job Information
【For Pay Transparency】Compensation Description (Annually)
The base salary range for this position in the selected city is $108000 - $208800 annually.
Compensation may vary outside of this range depending on a number of factors, including a candidate’s qualifications, skills, competencies and experience, and location. Base pay is one part of the Total Package that is provided to compensate and recognize employees for their work, and this role may be eligible for additional discretionary bonuses/incentives, and restricted stock units.
Benefits may vary depending on the nature of employment and the country work location. Employees have day one access to medical, dental, and vision insurance, a 401(k) savings plan with company match, paid parental leave, short-term and long-term disability coverage, life insurance, wellbeing benefits, among others. Employees also receive 10 paid holidays per year, 10 paid sick days per year and 17 days of Paid Personal Time (prorated upon hire with increasing accruals by tenure).
The Company reserves the right to modify or change these benefits programs at any time, with or without notice.
For Los Angeles County (unincorporated) Candidates:
Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with all federal, state, and local laws including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act. Our company believes that criminal history may have a direct, adverse and negative relationship on the following job duties, potentially resulting in the withdrawal of the conditional offer of employment:
1. Interacting and occasionally having unsupervised contact with internal/external clients and/or colleagues;
2. Appropriately handling and managing confidential information including proprietary and trade secret information and access to information technology systems; and
3. Exercising sound judgment.
About TikTok
TikTok is the leading destination for short-form mobile video. At TikTok, our mission is to inspire creativity and bring joy. TikTok's global headquarters are in Los Angeles and Singapore, and we also have offices in New York City, London, Dublin, Paris, Berlin, Dubai, Jakarta, Seoul, and Tokyo.
Why Join Us
Inspiring creativity is at the core of TikTok's mission. Our innovative product is built to help people authentically express themselves, discover and connect – and our global, diverse teams make that possible. Together, we create value for our communities, inspire creativity and bring joy - a mission we work towards every day.
We strive to do great things with great people. We lead with curiosity, humility, and a desire to make impact in a rapidly growing tech company. Every challenge is an opportunity to learn and innovate as one team. We're resilient and embrace challenges as they come. By constantly iterating and fostering an "Always Day 1" mindset, we achieve meaningful breakthroughs for ourselves, our company, and our users. When we create and grow together, the possibilities are limitless. Join us.
Diversity & Inclusion
TikTok is committed to creating an inclusive space where employees are valued for their skills, experiences, and unique perspectives. Our platform connects people from across the globe and so does our workplace. At TikTok, our mission is to inspire creativity and bring joy. To achieve that goal, we are committed to celebrating our diverse voices and to creating an environment that reflects the many communities we reach. We are passionate about this and hope you are too.
TikTok Accommodation
TikTok is committed to providing reasonable accommodations in our recruitment processes for candidates with disabilities, pregnancy, sincerely held religious beliefs or other reasons protected by applicable laws. If you need assistance or a reasonable accommodation, please reach out to us at https://tinyurl.com/RA-request
See All 113+ Security Operations Engineer Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find JobsSecurity Operations Engineer Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Security Operations Engineer Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Allied Universal19

- TikTok6

- K2 Space3

- Southern California Edison3
- Sony Pictures Entertainment3

Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software
- Banking & Financial Services
- Media & Entertainment
- Staffing & Recruiting
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in security operations engineer jobs across California.
- At least one active certification such as CISSP, CEH, or CompTIA Security+ recognized in California
- Hands-on experience with SIEM platforms such as Splunk, Microsoft Sentinel, or IBM QRadar
- Demonstrated ability to detect, triage, and respond to security incidents in a live environment
- Working knowledge of network protocols, firewall configuration, and endpoint detection tools
- Experience scripting in Python, PowerShell, or Bash to automate security operations workflows
- Familiarity with cloud security controls across AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud environments
Security Operations Engineer Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a security operations engineer in California?
Most California employers expect a bachelor's degree in computer science, information security, or a related field, combined with an industry certification such as CISSP, CompTIA Security+, or CEH. California has no state-issued license specific to this role, so the credential path runs through recognized industry bodies. Entry typically starts in a security analyst or IT support role, and candidates who build hands-on experience with SIEM tools and incident response before applying have a clear advantage in the state's competitive market.
How much do security operations engineers make in California?
Security operations 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 security operations engineers in California?
Employers hiring security operations engineers in California right now include Allied Universal, TikTok, and K2 Space, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. California's concentration of defense contractors, major tech platforms, and financial institutions means steady year-round hiring rather than seasonal spikes.
Which California cities have the most security operations engineer jobs?
Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Jose have the most security operations engineer openings in California. The Bay Area leads because of the density of cybersecurity firms, cloud providers, and enterprise tech headquarters, while Los Angeles draws from a broad mix of entertainment technology, aerospace, and financial services companies, and San Diego's volume is largely driven by defense contractors and government-adjacent employers.
Are there remote security operations engineer jobs in California?
Yes, and more than most technical roles, because security operations work centers on monitoring dashboards, analyzing log data, and managing cloud-based tooling rather than on-site hardware. About 68% of security operations engineer openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, making it one of the more flexible roles in the field. Threat intelligence, SIEM management, and incident response coordination tend to be the functions most often performed fully remotely.
How can I get hired as a security operations engineer in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is through a security analyst or IT helpdesk role at a mid-size California employer, then building toward security operations responsibilities from within. Large California employers in defense and tech such as Northrop Grumman and Cisco run associate and rotational programs that bring in candidates with certifications but limited professional experience. Earning CompTIA Security+ or completing a structured blue-team lab portfolio through a platform like a community college cybersecurity program in California signals readiness to hiring managers who would otherwise require prior experience.
Where can I find and apply to security operations engineer jobs in California?
You can find and apply to security operations engineer jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings across industries and experience levels. Find roles that fit your background and apply directly from the listing.
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