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Cyber Software Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

STR

Lead Software Engineer

San Diego, CA

$157K - $224K/yr

STR is hiring experienced Lead Software Engineers to join our multidisciplinary cyber/networking team committed to developing cutting-edge technologies that have an immediate and significant impact ...

STR

Lead Software Engineer

San Diego, CA · On-site

$157K - $224K/yr

STR is hiring experienced Lead Software Engineers to join our multidisciplinary cyber/networking team committed to developing cutting-edge technologies that have an immediate and significant impact ...

Hired Recruiters

Senior Software Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site +1

$144K - $190K/yr

Develop and evolve software engineering practices for the unique needs of distributed cyber-physical systems. * Help to define the culture at a small and rapidly-growing company. * Deliver previously ...

Leidos

Software Engineer

San Diego, CA

$87K - $157K/yr

Leidos has a new and exciting opportunity for a Software Engineer in our National Security Sector's (NSS) Cyber & Analytics Business Area (CABA) . Our talented team is at the forefront in Security ...

Leidos

Software Engineer

San Diego, CA · On-site

$87K - $157K/yr

Leidos has a new and exciting opportunity for a Software Engineer in our National Security Sector's (NSS) Cyber & Analytics Business Area (CABA) . Our talented team is at the forefront in Security ...

STR

Software Engineer

San Diego, CA

$110K - $138K/yr

Software Engineer The Mission: Do you want to build software that solves the world's most complex ... cyber; next generation sensors, radar, sonar, communications, and electronic warfare; and ...

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All JobsCyber Software Engineer JobsCyber Software Engineer Jobs in California

Cyber Software Engineer information

See California salary details

$67.6K

$127.2K

$159.9K

How much do cyber software engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 17, 2026, the average yearly pay for cyber software engineer in California is $127,194.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $111,500.00 and $144,600.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Cyber Software Engineer vs Cyber Security Analyst?

AspectCyber Software EngineerCyber Security Analyst
Required CredentialsBachelor's in CS or related field, coding certificationsBachelor's in Cybersecurity, certifications like CompTIA Security+
Work EnvironmentDevelops security-focused software, coding, testingMonitors security systems, analyzes threats, incident response
Employer & Industry UsageTech companies, software firms, cybersecurity firmsFinancial institutions, government agencies, corporations

Cyber Software Engineers focus on creating and maintaining security software through coding, while Cyber Security Analysts monitor and respond to security threats. Both roles require technical skills and certifications but differ in daily tasks and work environment.

How does a Cyber Software Engineer typically collaborate with cybersecurity teams during the software development lifecycle?

Cyber Software Engineers work closely with cybersecurity teams throughout the development process to ensure that security is built into every stage of the software lifecycle. This collaboration often includes regular threat assessments, code reviews focused on security vulnerabilities, and the integration of secure coding practices. Cyber Software Engineers may also participate in incident response drills and coordinate with cybersecurity analysts to address potential threats. Effective communication and a proactive approach to security are essential for success in this role.

What does a Cyber Software Engineer do?

A Cyber Software Engineer designs, develops, and maintains software systems with a focus on security. They are responsible for ensuring that applications and networks are protected against cyber threats by implementing robust security measures, such as encryption, authentication, and secure coding practices. Their work often includes vulnerability assessments, penetration testing, and collaborating with other IT professionals to meet cybersecurity standards. Cyber Software Engineers play a vital role in safeguarding sensitive data and keeping organizations' digital infrastructure secure.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Cyber Software Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Cyber Software Engineer, you need strong programming skills (such as Python, C++, or Java), a solid understanding of cybersecurity principles, and typically a degree in computer science or a related field. Familiarity with security tools, penetration testing frameworks, and certifications like CISSP or CEH are highly valued. Analytical thinking, problem-solving, and effective communication help you anticipate threats and collaborate with cross-functional teams. These skills are crucial for designing secure software, protecting sensitive data, and responding to ever-evolving cyber threats.
What are popular job titles related to Cyber Software Engineer jobs in CA? For Cyber Software Engineer jobs in CA, the most frequently searched job titles are:
Cyber Software Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Cyber Software Engineer job openings in California as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 92% Full Time, 4% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 91% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $127,194 per year, or $61.2 per hour.
Principal Software Engineer, Codex Cyber

Principal Software Engineer, Codex Cyber

OpenAI

San Francisco, CA • On-site

$347K - $490K/yr

Full-time

Posted 7 days ago

Job description

About the Team
Our Cyber team builds AI systems and products that help trusted defenders understand and respond to cyber threats while improving the safety and reliability of frontier models in security-sensitive settings.
The team works across product engineering, model training, evaluations, safeguards, and deployment to make advanced cyber capabilities useful to defenders and responsibly managed. We collaborate closely with Safety/Preparedness, Research, Security, Legal, Communications, GTM, and external partners across OpenAI's broader cyber work.
About the Role
We're looking for research and software engineers to join Codex Cyber. You'll help define and ship security products, work with trusted defenders and customers, shape model training and access patterns, and build research and evaluation systems for assessing cyber capabilities, validating safeguards, and improving training data. This role is hands-on and cross-functional, connecting product launches, model development, safety work, and real-world security use cases.
In this role, you will:
  • Help define and execute the technical roadmap for Codex Cyber's security products, including evaluations, safeguards, trusted-defender workflows, and deployment decisions.
  • Work with trusted defenders, customers, and partner teams to understand cyber use cases, evaluate risk, and turn feedback into product and research priorities.
  • Shape cyber-specific model training and access patterns, including data, evaluations, validation, and deployment criteria.
  • Build and validate systems for measuring cyber capabilities, monitoring misuse risk, and proving safeguards work in practice.
  • Collaborate with Safety/Preparedness, Research, Security, Legal, Communications, Go-to-Market, and external partners on company-wide cyber priorities.
  • Translate frontier cyber research into launch-ready tools, operational playbooks, and durable infrastructure for Codex and security products.

You might thrive in this role if you:
  • Enjoy 0 -> 1 environments, can navigate ambiguity, are excited to build security products that bring frontier AI capabilities to trusted defenders responsibly.
  • Can move fluidly between product launches, customer and defender partnerships, model training, evaluation science, and security research.
  • Have 10+ years of experience in Python, TypeScript/JavaScript, or similar languages, with the judgment to build reliable systems in ambiguous, high-stakes domains.
  • Think clearly about cyber capability, misuse risk, access patterns, safeguards, and deployment tradeoffs in high-stakes environments.
  • Have experience in ML systems, security products, cyber evaluations, model training, safety engineering, or trusted customer deployments.

About OpenAI
OpenAI is an AI research and deployment company dedicated to ensuring that general-purpose artificial intelligence benefits all of humanity. We push the boundaries of the capabilities of AI systems and seek to safely deploy them to the world through our products. AI is an extremely powerful tool that must be created with safety and human needs at its core, and to achieve our mission, we must encompass and value the many different perspectives, voices, and experiences that form the full spectrum of humanity.
We are an equal opportunity employer, and we do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, disability, genetic information, or other applicable legally protected characteristic.
For additional information, please see OpenAI's Affirmative Action and Equal Employment Opportunity Policy Statement.
Background checks for applicants will be administered in accordance with applicable law, and qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment consistent with those laws, including the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, and the California Fair Chance Act, for US-based candidates. For unincorporated Los Angeles County workers: we reasonably believe that criminal history may have a direct, adverse and negative relationship with the following job duties, potentially resulting in the withdrawal of a conditional offer of employment: protect computer hardware entrusted to you from theft, loss or damage; return all computer hardware in your possession (including the data contained therein) upon termination of employment or end of assignment; and maintain the confidentiality of proprietary, confidential, and non-public information. In addition, job duties require access to secure and protected information technology systems and related data security obligations.
To notify OpenAI that you believe this job posting is non-compliant, please submit a report through this form. No response will be provided to inquiries unrelated to job posting compliance.
We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities, and requests can be made via this link.
OpenAI Global Applicant Privacy Policy
At OpenAI, we believe artificial intelligence has the potential to help people solve immense global challenges, and we want the upside of AI to be widely shared. Join us in shaping the future of technology.

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