Cybersecurity STEM OPT Jobs in California
Cybersecurity F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship jobs in California are concentrated in the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, and San Diego, where employers like Palo Alto Networks, CrowdStrike, and Cisco actively hire international talent. California's dense cluster of defense contractors, tech firms, and cybersecurity startups makes it one of the strongest states for STEM OPT-eligible candidates in this field.
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Verkada is transforming how organizations protect their people and places with an integrated, AI-powered platform. A leader in cloud physical security, Verkada helps organizations strengthen safety and efficiency through one connected software platform that includes solutions for video security, access control, air quality sensors, alarms, intercoms, and visitor management. Over 30,000 organizations worldwide, including more than 100 companies in the Fortune 500, trust Verkada as their physical security layer for easier management, intelligent control, and scalable deployments. Founded in 2016, Verkada has expanded rapidly with 15 offices and 2,200+ full-time employees.
About The Role
Verkada is looking for Technical Support Engineers to support our growing base of enterprise customers. As a member of our Technical Support Engineering team, located in San Mateo, supporting the entire line of Verkada cloud-managed building security products. Working independently and collaboratively, you will solve technical issues and advise customers on our platform. Responsibilities include troubleshooting complex customer environments, educating customers on system installation and configuration, collaborating with Engineers to identify and resolve bugs, providing crucial feedback to Product Management to drive product improvement, and creating knowledge base articles. Our team is the bridge between customers, Engineering, and Product Management. This role will report to one of our Technical Support Engineering Managers and is based on-site 5 days per week in San Mateo, CA.
- Full-stack troubleshooting of the entire Verkada platform including, network, hardware, software, and electrical issues
- Provide best practice design, installation, and configuration expertise to enterprise customers
- Communicate technical matters to customers both orally and in writing
- Own customer issues from creation to resolution
- Collaborate with Engineering and Product teams to test new products and identify bugs
- Write technical knowledge base articles and whitepapers
- Staying up to date on the latest products and industry technologies
- Build tools and processes that will scale
What You Bring
- Bachelor’s or Master's degree in a related technical discipline: Networking, Telecommunications, Systems Administration, Information Technology, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or Cybersecurity from an accredited university
- Coursework with a focus on computer networking, Linux, electronics, computer systems, Python or other coding languages is a plus
- Ability to communicate complex technical matters both orally and in writing
- Demonstrated problem-solving skills and attention to detail
- Ability to work within a team environment
- Industry certifications are a plus: CCNP, CCNA, CCENT, CCDA, CWNP, CWNA, MCSE, CEH, Network+, Security+, A+
- Willing and able to work on-site in San Mateo 5 days per week
Employee Benefits
Verkada is committed to fostering a workplace environment that prioritizes the holistic health and wellbeing of our employees and their families by offering comprehensive wellness perks, benefits, and resources. Our benefits and perks programs include, but are not limited to:
- Healthcare programs that can be tailored to meet the personal health and financial well-being needs. Premiums are 100% covered for the employee under at least one plan and 80% for family premiums under all plans
- Nationwide medical, vision, and dental coverage
- Health Saving Account (HSA) with annual employer contributions and Flexible Spending Account (FSA) with tax saving options
- Expanded mental health support
- Paid parental leave policy & fertility benefits
- Time off to relax and recharge through our paid holidays, firmwide extended holidays, flexible PTO, and personal sick time
- Professional development stipend
- Fertility stipend
- Wellness/fitness benefits
- Healthy lunches provided daily
- Commuter benefits
Additional Information
We do sponsor and take over sponsorship of employment visas for this role. If we make you an offer, we will make every reasonable effort to get you a visa.
Pay Disclosure
At Verkada, we want to attract and retain the best employees, and compensate them in a way that appropriately and fairly values their individual contribution to the company. With that in mind, we carefully consider a number of factors to determine the appropriate starting pay for an employee, including their primary work location and an assessment of a candidate’s skills and experience, as well as market demands and internal parity. This estimate can vary based on the factors described above, so the actual starting base pay may be above or below this range. Base pay is also just one component of Verkada’s total rewards package. A Verkada employee may be eligible for additional forms of compensation, depending on their role, including sales incentives, discretionary bonuses, and/or equity in the company in the form of Restricted Stock Units (RSUs). Estimated Hourly Pay Range $48—$54 USD
Verkada Is An Equal Opportunity Employer
As an equal opportunity employer, Verkada is committed to providing employment opportunities to all individuals. All applicants for positions at Verkada will be treated without regard to race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, marital status, veteran status, pregnancy, or any other basis prohibited by applicable law.
Your application will be handled in accordance with our Candidate Privacy Policy.
Who We Are
Verkada is transforming how organizations protect their people and places with an integrated, AI-powered platform. A leader in cloud physical security, Verkada helps organizations strengthen safety and efficiency through one connected software platform that includes solutions for video security, access control, air quality sensors, alarms, intercoms, and visitor management. Over 30,000 organizations worldwide, including more than 100 companies in the Fortune 500, trust Verkada as their physical security layer for easier management, intelligent control, and scalable deployments. Founded in 2016, Verkada has expanded rapidly with 15 offices and 2,200+ full-time employees.
About The Role
Verkada is looking for Technical Support Engineers to support our growing base of enterprise customers. As a member of our Technical Support Engineering team, located in San Mateo, supporting the entire line of Verkada cloud-managed building security products. Working independently and collaboratively, you will solve technical issues and advise customers on our platform. Responsibilities include troubleshooting complex customer environments, educating customers on system installation and configuration, collaborating with Engineers to identify and resolve bugs, providing crucial feedback to Product Management to drive product improvement, and creating knowledge base articles. Our team is the bridge between customers, Engineering, and Product Management. This role will report to one of our Technical Support Engineering Managers and is based on-site 5 days per week in San Mateo, CA.
- Full-stack troubleshooting of the entire Verkada platform including, network, hardware, software, and electrical issues
- Provide best practice design, installation, and configuration expertise to enterprise customers
- Communicate technical matters to customers both orally and in writing
- Own customer issues from creation to resolution
- Collaborate with Engineering and Product teams to test new products and identify bugs
- Write technical knowledge base articles and whitepapers
- Staying up to date on the latest products and industry technologies
- Build tools and processes that will scale
What You Bring
- Bachelor’s or Master's degree in a related technical discipline: Networking, Telecommunications, Systems Administration, Information Technology, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or Cybersecurity from an accredited university
- Coursework with a focus on computer networking, Linux, electronics, computer systems, Python or other coding languages is a plus
- Ability to communicate complex technical matters both orally and in writing
- Demonstrated problem-solving skills and attention to detail
- Ability to work within a team environment
- Industry certifications are a plus: CCNP, CCNA, CCENT, CCDA, CWNP, CWNA, MCSE, CEH, Network+, Security+, A+
- Willing and able to work on-site in San Mateo 5 days per week
Employee Benefits
Verkada is committed to fostering a workplace environment that prioritizes the holistic health and wellbeing of our employees and their families by offering comprehensive wellness perks, benefits, and resources. Our benefits and perks programs include, but are not limited to:
- Healthcare programs that can be tailored to meet the personal health and financial well-being needs. Premiums are 100% covered for the employee under at least one plan and 80% for family premiums under all plans
- Nationwide medical, vision, and dental coverage
- Health Saving Account (HSA) with annual employer contributions and Flexible Spending Account (FSA) with tax saving options
- Expanded mental health support
- Paid parental leave policy & fertility benefits
- Time off to relax and recharge through our paid holidays, firmwide extended holidays, flexible PTO, and personal sick time
- Professional development stipend
- Fertility stipend
- Wellness/fitness benefits
- Healthy lunches provided daily
- Commuter benefits
Additional Information
We do sponsor and take over sponsorship of employment visas for this role. If we make you an offer, we will make every reasonable effort to get you a visa.
Pay Disclosure
At Verkada, we want to attract and retain the best employees, and compensate them in a way that appropriately and fairly values their individual contribution to the company. With that in mind, we carefully consider a number of factors to determine the appropriate starting pay for an employee, including their primary work location and an assessment of a candidate’s skills and experience, as well as market demands and internal parity. This estimate can vary based on the factors described above, so the actual starting base pay may be above or below this range. Base pay is also just one component of Verkada’s total rewards package. A Verkada employee may be eligible for additional forms of compensation, depending on their role, including sales incentives, discretionary bonuses, and/or equity in the company in the form of Restricted Stock Units (RSUs). Estimated Hourly Pay Range $48—$54 USD
Verkada Is An Equal Opportunity Employer
As an equal opportunity employer, Verkada is committed to providing employment opportunities to all individuals. All applicants for positions at Verkada will be treated without regard to race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, marital status, veteran status, pregnancy, or any other basis prohibited by applicable law.
Your application will be handled in accordance with our Candidate Privacy Policy.
STEM OPT Cybersecurity Job Roles in California
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Search Cybersecurity Jobs in CaliforniaCybersecurity STEM OPT Sponsorship Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
Which cybersecurity companies sponsor F-1 STEM OPT visas in California?
Several large California-based employers have consistent STEM OPT hiring records in cybersecurity, including Palo Alto Networks, CrowdStrike, Cisco, Broadcom, and Fortinet. Defense-adjacent contractors like Leidos and SAIC also hire cybersecurity professionals in Southern California, though government-facing roles sometimes carry citizenship requirements. Reviewing DOL Labor Condition Application filings by employer and job title gives a clearer picture of which companies actively support STEM OPT candidates.
Which cities in California have the most cybersecurity F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship jobs?
The San Francisco Bay Area leads in cybersecurity sponsorship volume, with Santa Clara, San Jose, and San Francisco hosting the headquarters of many major cybersecurity firms. Los Angeles has a growing cluster driven by defense contractors and fintech companies, while San Diego is notable for its concentration of defense technology and biotech-adjacent security roles. Smaller hubs like Sacramento and Irvine also have active hiring, particularly in enterprise security.
What types of cybersecurity roles typically qualify for F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship?
Roles that map to STEM-classified degree programs under the Department of Homeland Security's designated school list typically qualify. In cybersecurity, this commonly includes security engineer, security analyst, penetration tester, cloud security architect, and threat intelligence analyst positions. The role must be directly related to a qualifying STEM field such as computer science, information security, or electrical engineering. Candidates should verify their specific degree program's STEM designation with their Designated School Official before applying.
How do I find cybersecurity F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship jobs in California?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for this search. It filters cybersecurity job listings in California by employers with verified F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship history, using DOL Labor Condition Application data, so you're not guessing which companies will consider your status. You can narrow results by city, role type, and employer size. This is more reliable than searching general platforms where sponsorship status is self-reported or missing entirely.
Are there any California-specific considerations for cybersecurity F-1 STEM OPT sponsorship?
California's strong privacy laws, including the California Consumer Privacy Act, have expanded demand for privacy-focused security roles, creating additional pathways for STEM OPT candidates with relevant skills. Some cybersecurity positions tied to federal contracts or clearance-required programs have U.S. citizenship requirements that STEM OPT holders cannot meet, so it's important to screen postings carefully. California employers are generally experienced with international hiring due to the state's large tech sector, but STEM OPT's 24-month limit means timing your H-1B visa filing is a practical consideration.