Senior Security Operations Engineer Jobs in California
Senior Security Operations Engineer jobs in California are among the most active in the country, concentrated in cybersecurity-intensive sectors including defense contracting, financial services, technology, and healthcare across a market that ranges from mid-level analysts stepping into senior roles through principal engineers leading SOC strategy. The largest hiring concentrations sit in the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, and San Diego, where employers such as Northrop Grumman, Wells Fargo, and Palo Alto Networks maintain significant security operations footprints. The most in-demand specialties across these markets are threat detection and incident response, SIEM engineering, and cloud security operations. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Senior Security Operations Engineer
📍 Los Angeles, CA or St. Petersburg, FL | Hybrid | $138,000 – $155,000 + Equity + Benefits
About VideoAmp
VideoAmp is the tech-first measurement company transforming how advertising is valued, bought, and sold. Powered by currency-grade big data and a best-in-class technology stack, our platform gives advertisers, publishers, and agencies the ability to plan, optimize, and measure media investments across every screen — from linear TV and OTT to CTV and digital video.
VideoAmp is accelerating investment in agentic AI and intelligent optimization technologies — helping clients drive measurable, real-world outcomes in an increasingly complex media landscape. With 880% year-over-year measurement growth, 98% coverage of the TV publisher ecosystem, and partnerships with 11 agency groups and 1,000+ advertisers, we're not just keeping pace with the industry — we're defining what comes next.
We believe great work requires great people — people who say "I'll find a way" instead of "it can't be done."
The Role
As a Senior Security Operations Engineer, you will own the security of our systems and infrastructure from detection through remediation. Working closely with Engineering, DevOps, and Product teams, you will identify and remediate vulnerabilities, drive security best practices into the development lifecycle, automate security operations, and respond to incidents with speed and precision. You'll also play a key role in maintaining our compliance posture and mentoring engineers across the organization.
- Assess vulnerabilities across systems and infrastructure — prioritizing those that are immediately exploitable or present on critical assets — and drive both immediate fixes and long-term mitigation strategies.
- Tune and configure security tooling (Tenable, SentinelOne, Sumo Logic) to improve detection accuracy, reduce false positives, and maintain a high signal-to-noise ratio.
- Implement and maintain security controls including access controls, network segmentation, and security monitoring infrastructure.
- Configure and maintain automated compliance tests in Vanta, mapping controls to SOC 2 and other applicable frameworks to support continuous audit readiness.
- Develop and maintain security policies and procedures, ensuring alignment with industry and regulatory standards.
- Design and execute cybersecurity strategies that protect critical applications, data, and systems — adapting to evolving threats while remaining aligned with business objectives.
- Collaborate with Development and DevOps teams to embed security best practices throughout the software development lifecycle and infrastructure delivery pipeline.
- Participate in incident response activities, including investigating alerts, triaging events, and driving resolution of security incidents.
- Automate security processes using scripting languages and infrastructure tooling to reduce manual toil and improve response times.
- Stay current on emerging threats, vulnerabilities, and technologies, and translate findings into actionable improvements.
- Mentor and guide engineers across the organization, fostering a culture of continuous learning and security-first thinking.
- Participate in a rotational on-call schedule to ensure 24/7 coverage for critical security incidents.
What You'll Bring
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field.
- 5+ years of experience in a security engineering or operations role, preferably in a cloud-based Linux environment.
- Deep hands-on experience with AWS and Snowflake environments.
- Proficiency in CI/CD pipelines and release processes, with experience operating SAST tooling such as CodeQL or SonarQube.
- Strong working knowledge of security frameworks and standards including NIST, CIS, and ISO.
- Experience with security tools including Tenable, SentinelOne, Sumo Logic, and vulnerability scanners.
- Hands-on experience with infrastructure automation and configuration management tools such as Terraform.
- Strong scripting skills in Go, Python, shell, or comparable languages.
- 3+ years of experience with container technologies and orchestration platforms (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes).
- Demonstrated ability to partner with Product, Architects, and Principal Engineers to embed security by design across the organization.
- Excellent problem-solving skills with the ability to perform well under pressure and ambiguity.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
✨ Bonus Points
- Relevant certifications such as CISSP, CCSP, or AWS Certified Security Specialty.
Compensation & Benefits
Base Salary
$138,000 – $155,000 (commensurate with experience)
Equity
Equity participation included
Time Off
Discretionary & flexible PTO + Spring, Summer & Winter company breaks
Health
Inclusive and comprehensive medical, dental & vision
Financial
401(k) with matching · HSA & FSA
Family
Paid Maternity & Parental Leave for all family additions
Perks
Cell phone & wifi reimbursement · Commuter benefits
Our Values
01 One VideoAmp
We win together
We operate as one team, prioritizing shared success over individual wins. We collaborate across functions, support one another, and assume positive intent — because when one of us succeeds, we all do.
02 Own the Outcome
Accountability + Empowerment
We take full responsibility for results, not just tasks. We act with urgency, make decisions with confidence, and own both successes and setbacks while continuously improving.
03 Raise the Bar
Quality · Trust · Excellence
We hold ourselves and each other to a high standard. We deliver thoughtful, high-quality work, build trust through consistency and integrity, and continuously push for better outcomes.
Ready to build what's next in AI-powered media measurement?
VideoAmp is an equal opportunity employer committed to building an inclusive, diverse team. We celebrate different perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds — because that's how we build something great.
See All 18 Senior Security Operations Engineer Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find JobsSenior Security Operations Engineer Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Senior Security Operations Engineer Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Brex3

- Adobe1

- Amazon1

- Bloom Energy1

- DoorDash1

Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software8
- Banking & Financial Services3
- Electronics & Hardware3
- Fintech2
- Cybersecurity1
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in senior security operations engineer jobs across California.
- Active CISSP, CISM, or equivalent certification recognized by California employers
- Five or more years of hands-on security operations or SOC engineering experience
- Deep proficiency with SIEM platforms such as Splunk, Microsoft Sentinel, or Chronicle
- Experience leading incident response efforts and managing security tooling at enterprise scale
- Familiarity with cloud security principles across AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud environments
- Strong working knowledge of threat intelligence frameworks including MITRE ATT&CK
Senior Security Operations Engineer Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a senior security operations engineer in California?
The typical California path starts with a bachelor's degree in computer science, information security, or a related field, followed by several years in security operations, SOC analysis, or network security roles. California does not require a state-issued license for this role, but industry certifications such as CISSP or CISM are effectively required by most California employers at the senior level. Large California defense contractors and technology firms often promote from within their SOC analyst ranks, making internal advancement a realistic route to senior positions.
How much do senior security operations engineers make in California?
Senior security operations 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 senior security operations engineers in California?
Employers hiring senior security operations engineers in California right now include Brex, Adobe, and Amazon, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of June 2026. California's concentration of defense contractors in the greater Los Angeles and San Diego areas, alongside major financial institutions and technology headquarters in the Bay Area, makes the state one of the deepest hiring pools in the country for this role.
Which California cities have the most senior security operations engineer jobs?
The cities with the most senior security operations engineer openings in California are San Francisco, Sunnyvale, and Palo Alto. The Bay Area's density of technology and financial services headquarters drives the highest volume, while Los Angeles and San Diego reflect the strong presence of defense contractors and federal civilian agency satellite offices, making Southern California a distinct and consistently active market for this specialization.
Are there remote senior security operations engineer jobs in California?
Yes, and more than most technical roles. About 39% of senior security operations engineer openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of June 2026, reflecting how much of the work involves monitoring dashboards, managing cloud-based tooling, and coordinating distributed incident response teams. The roles most likely to remain fully on-site are those tied to classified government programs or environments requiring hands-on access to on-premises security infrastructure.
How can I get hired as a senior security operations engineer in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is starting as a SOC analyst or junior security analyst, roles that California employers including Northrop Grumman, Kaiser Permanente, and large Bay Area technology companies post regularly for candidates with foundational certifications such as CompTIA Security+ or Google's Cybersecurity Certificate. From there, lateral moves from IT help desk, network administration, or systems administration roles are common stepping stones. Building hands-on experience through home labs, open-source SIEM projects, or California community college cybersecurity programs strengthens a candidate's profile considerably before targeting senior-level openings.
Where can I find and apply to senior security operations engineer jobs in California?
You can find and apply to senior security operations engineer jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings updated regularly. Search the available roles, find the ones that match your experience and location preferences, and apply directly to the employers posting them.
See All 18 Senior Security Operations Engineer Jobs in California
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