Senior Cybersecurity Engineer Jobs in California

Senior Cybersecurity Engineer jobs in California are among the most active in the country, concentrated in defense contracting, big tech, financial services, and healthcare, with demand at every level from early-career security analysts to principal engineers. The heaviest hiring is in the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, and San Diego, where companies like Northrop Grumman, Palo Alto Networks, and Kaiser Permanente maintain large and ongoing security teams. The most sought-after specialties are cloud security, zero-trust architecture, and security operations center leadership. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.

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Overview

Open roles20
Top employerNorthrop Grumman
Top cityEl Segundo, CA
Cities hiring14
Work type56% On-site
Top credentialBachelor's degree

Showing 5 of 20+ Senior Cybersecurity Engineer jobs

Sr. IT Auditor, Corporate Technology & Cybersecurity - HYBRID
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Added 2d ago
Sr. IT Auditor, Corporate Technology & Cybersecurity - HYBRID
FCT
Santa Ana, California
Business Operations
Compliance & Risk
Customer Service
$98k - $130k/yr
Hybrid

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Senior Cybersecurity Analyst
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Added 6d ago
Senior Cybersecurity Analyst
AeroVironment
Simi Valley, California
Data Analytics
IT Support
Technical Program Management
$101k - $153k/yr
Bachelor's degree in information technology
1,001-5,000

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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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Senior Cybersecurity Analyst - Customer Trust
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Added 1w ago
Senior Cybersecurity Analyst - Customer Trust
NVIDIA
Santa Clara, California
Compliance & Risk
Cybersecurity
Security Engineering
$136k - $213k/yr
Bachelor's degree
10,000+

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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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See All 20 Senior Cybersecurity Engineer Jobs in California

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Senior Cybersecurity Engineer Jobs by City in California

Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.

El Segundo
3 jobs
Santa Clara
3 jobs
San Diego
2 jobs
Los Angeles
2 jobs
Norco
1 job
Newark
1 job
Fremont
1 job
Hawthorne
1 job
Livermore
1 job

Senior Cybersecurity Engineer Job Market in California

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

Who's Hiring

Northrop Grumman3 open roles
CHAOS Industries2 open roles
EY1 open role

What California Employers Look For

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

  • Active CISSP, CISM, or CISA certification recognized by California employers in this field
  • Seven or more years of hands-on experience in cybersecurity engineering or information security
  • Deep expertise in cloud security across AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud environments
  • Experience designing and implementing zero-trust network architectures at enterprise scale
  • Proficiency in SIEM platforms, threat detection tools, and security incident response processes
  • Bachelor's degree in computer science, information security, or a closely related technical field

Senior Cybersecurity Engineer Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a senior cybersecurity engineer in California?

Reaching a senior cybersecurity engineer role in California typically requires a bachelor's degree in computer science, information systems, or a related field, followed by years of progressive security experience. California has no state-issued license for this role, but employers consistently require professional certifications such as CISSP, CISM, or CompTIA Security+. Building experience in cloud security, threat analysis, or security architecture within California's tech or defense sectors accelerates the path to senior-level positions.

How much do senior cybersecurity engineers make in California?

Senior 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 senior cybersecurity engineers in California?

Employers hiring senior cybersecurity engineers in California right now include Northrop Grumman, CHAOS Industries, and EY, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. California's concentration of defense contractors in San Diego and Los Angeles, alongside major tech headquartered in the Bay Area, means the hiring pool is unusually broad and includes both commercial and cleared-facility positions.

Which California cities have the most senior cybersecurity engineer jobs?

The cities with the most senior cybersecurity engineer openings in California are El Segundo, Santa Clara, and San Diego. The San Francisco Bay Area leads because of its density of cloud and enterprise technology companies, while Los Angeles draws volume from entertainment, aerospace, and defense, and San Diego benefits from a large Navy and defense-contractor presence that generates consistent demand for cleared and uncleared security roles.

Are there remote senior cybersecurity engineer jobs in California?

Yes, and more than most fields. About 44% of senior cybersecurity engineer openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting how much of the work centers on cloud environments, policy development, and security architecture rather than physical hardware. Roles that require access to classified systems or on-premises infrastructure are more likely to require full on-site presence.

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

The most realistic entry path is starting in a junior security analyst or IT support role at a California tech company, healthcare system, or government contractor, then building toward security engineering as you earn certifications. Large California employers such as Kaiser Permanente, Northrop Grumman, and major Bay Area tech companies run associate and rotational programs that accept candidates with a degree and foundational credentials like CompTIA Security+ or Google's Cybersecurity Certificate. From adjacent roles in network administration or systems administration, a lateral move into a security operations position is a well-worn route into the field.

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

You can find and apply to senior cybersecurity engineer jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings across industries and experience levels. Find the roles that fit your background and apply directly to the ones that match.

See All 20 Senior Cybersecurity Engineer Jobs in California

Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

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