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Exploit Development Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Identify security weaknesses - Pinpoint methods and entry points that attackers may use to exploit ... development * Research or work experience in facial recognition * Proficiency with Photoshop

Pinpoint methods and entry points that attackers may use to exploit vulnerabilities or weaknesses ... animation / game development * Proficiency with Photoshop * Photography advanced knowledge

Penetration Tester II

Mountain View, CA · On-site

$90K - $105K/yr

Identify security weaknesses - Pinpoint methods and entry points that attackers may use to exploit ... development * Research or work experience in facial recognition * Proficiency with Photoshop

With millions of users worldwide, Replit is democratizing software development by removing ... Identify, exploit, and demonstrate realistic business risk by chaining vulnerabilities-from the ...

Identify security weaknesses - Pinpoint methods and entry points that attackers may use to exploit ... development * Research or work experience in facial recognition * Proficiency with Photoshop

Identify security weaknesses - Pinpoint methods and entry points that attackers may use to exploit ... development * Research or work experience in facial recognition * Proficiency with Photoshop

Pinpoint methods and entry points that attackers may use to exploit vulnerabilities or weaknesses ... animation / game development * Proficiency with Photoshop * Photography advanced knowledge

Lead Penetration Tester

Mountain View, CA · On-site

$160K - $210K/yr

Pinpoint methods and entry points that attackers may use to exploit vulnerabilities or weaknesses ... animation / game development * Proficiency with Photoshop * Photography advanced knowledge

... exploit vulnerabilities or weaknesses • Collaborating with team members to creatively solve ... game development • Research or work experience in facial recognition • Proficiency with ...

... exploit highly optimized execution paths. • Rapidly prototype and data-drive exploration of new ... development or hypervisor development. Preferred : • Master's or PhD in Computer Science ...

... to exploit vulnerabilities or weaknesses • Identify areas where improvement is needed or ... development • Proficiency with Photoshop • Photography advanced knowledge • Experience using ...

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Exploit Development information

See California salary details

$18

$37

$75

How much do exploit development jobs pay per hour?

As of May 30, 2026, the average hourly pay for exploit development in California is $37.11, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $25.62 and $53.61 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is an Exploit Development job?

An Exploit Development job involves researching software, hardware, or network vulnerabilities and creating proof-of-concept exploits to demonstrate security weaknesses. Professionals in this role analyze security flaws, write exploits, and sometimes assist in patch development. They often work in cybersecurity firms, government agencies, or red teams conducting penetration testing. Strong knowledge of low-level programming, reverse engineering, and debugging tools is essential.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Exploit Development position, and why are they important?

To thrive in Exploit Development, you need advanced knowledge of computer systems, programming languages (such as C, C++, Python, or Assembly), and a deep understanding of cybersecurity principles, often supported by a degree in computer science or related field. Familiarity with reverse engineering tools (like IDA Pro, Ghidra, or OllyDbg), debuggers, and certifications such as OSCE or OSEP are commonly required. Strong problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and the ability to communicate complex technical findings clearly are valuable soft skills in this role. These skills and qualities are essential to responsibly discover and analyze security vulnerabilities, develop proof-of-concept exploits, and contribute to organizational or client security enhancements.

What are some of the primary challenges encountered in an Exploit Development role?

Exploit Development professionals often face the challenge of staying ahead of rapidly evolving security defenses and continuously learning new attack techniques and mitigation strategies. The work can require intense focus and patience, as reverse engineering and identifying vulnerabilities in complex systems may take considerable time and persistence. Additionally, strict adherence to ethical guidelines and clear communication with cross-functional security and engineering teams is critical for responsibly handling discovered vulnerabilities. Diligence, adaptability, and ongoing professional development are key to navigating the technical and ethical complexities of this role.
What are the most commonly searched types of Exploit Development jobs in California? The most popular types of Exploit Development jobs in California are:
What job categories do people searching Exploit Development jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Exploit Development jobs in California are:
Infographic showing various Exploit Development job openings in California as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 97% Full Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 92% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $77,192 per year, or $37.1 per hour.

Penetration Tester / ML Data Collection

Autoroboto

Mountain View, CA

$65K - $80K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 2 days ago


Job description

About
AutoRoboto is a consulting firm that specializes in engineering and management that has provided services for some of the largest tech companies in the San Francisco Bay Area. These services include mechanical, electrical, software design, data collection quality assurance, and testing of new hardware and software. We pride ourselves on being a small company able to be extremely flexible to customers ever changing demands.

The Role
As a penetration tester, you'll take a proactive, offensive role in cybersecurity by performing penetration attacks on existing digital systems. These tests might use a variety of hacking tools and techniques to find gaps that hackers could exploit. Throughout the process, you'll document your actions in detail and create a report on what you did and how successful you were at breaching security protocols. 
Responsibilities
  • Analyze attacks and perform reverse engineering to define vulnerabilities
  • Planning and executing tests, documenting your methodologies, and creating detailed reports about your findings.
  • Create new testing methods to identify vulnerabilities
  • Identify security weaknesses - Pinpoint methods and entry points that attackers may use to exploit vulnerabilities or weaknesses
Qualifications
  • 2+ years experience in mobile testing, scientific lab work, or thorough debugging experience
  • 1+ year experience in animation / game development
  • Research or work experience in facial recognition
  • Proficiency with Photoshop
  • Photography advanced knowledge
  • Experience using 3d printers and other maker space tools
  • Good working knowledge of linux command line
  • Quality Assurance experience
  • Photography experience
  • Critical thinker and creative problem solver
  • Excellent organizational and time management skills
  • Excellent communications skills and ability to document and share findings
  • An ability to "think like the enemy" in order to combat the full range of techniques and strategies that hackers might employ, or even to anticipate new ones
$65,000 - $80,000 a year
Benefits

Health Insurance
Vision
Dental
Life
401k match
Tuition reimbursement
Paid holidays/paid vacation
Paid maternity/paternity leave
We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.
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About AutoRoboto

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Industry

Computer and electronic product manufacturing

Company size

11 - 50 Employees

Headquarters location

San Francisco, CA, US

Year founded

2015