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Hacker Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Hacker in Residence

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$140K - $170K/yr

Hacker In Residence At Cleanlab Cleanlab's hacker in residence role blends developer relations/advocacy work with building awesome Data-Centric AI applications and sharing them with the community.

Ruby on Rails Hacker

San Francisco, CA

$120K - $165K/yr

You Want: To be part of a small, close-knit team To work for a company that is making the world better and make a lot of money along the way An agile environment (TDD, short release cycles) Mac OS X ...

Ruby on Rails Hacker

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$120K - $165K/yr

You Want: * To be part of a small, close-knit team * To work for a company that is making the world better and make a lot of money along the way * An agile environment (TDD, short release cycles)

About Us At Next Health, we are redefining health optimization by integrating cutting-edge medical innovation with preventative, data-driven wellness. Through our technology-forward platform and ...

Our awesome team is made of an economist and product hacker. We need someone to put some sense into us and drive the technological development of our product. - our Chief Economist has a Phd in ...

Hack new channels: Identify and exploit unconventional growth levers, from guerrilla activations to creator collabs to local brand stunts * Brand activation & partnerships: Dream up and execute ...

Hack new channels: Identify and exploit unconventional growth levers, from guerrilla activations to creator collabs to local brand stunts * Brand activation & partnerships: Dream up and execute ...

Hack new channels: Identify and exploit unconventional growth levers, from guerrilla activations to creator collabs to local brand stunts * Brand activation & partnerships: Dream up and execute ...

Hack new channels: Identify and exploit unconventional growth levers, from guerrilla activations to creator collabs to local brand stunts * Brand activation & partnerships: Dream up and execute ...

Hack new channels: Identify and exploit unconventional growth levers, from guerrilla activations to creator collabs to local brand stunts * Brand activation & partnerships: Dream up and execute ...

This role puts you at the center of rapid experimentation with real ownership and high-impact outcomes - including time in hacker-house environments in Latin America. What You'll Do * Build and ship ...

Our awesome team is made of an economist and product hacker. We need someone to put some sense into us and drive the technological development of our product. - our Chief Economist has a Phd in ...

Hack new channels: Identify and exploit unconventional growth levers, from guerrilla activations to creator collabs to local brand stunts * Brand activation & partnerships: Dream up and execute ...

Hack new channels: Identify and exploit unconventional growth levers, from guerrilla activations to creator collabs to local brand stunts * Brand activation & partnerships: Dream up and execute ...

Hack new channels: Identify and exploit unconventional growth levers, from guerrilla activations to creator collabs to local brand stunts * Brand activation & partnerships: Dream up and execute ...

This role puts you at the center of rapid experimentation with real ownership and high-impact outcomes -- including time in hacker-house environments in Latin America. What You'll Do * Build and ship ...

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Hacker information

See California salary details

$17.6K

$83.4K

$163K

How much do hacker jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 25, 2026, the average yearly pay for hacker in California is $83,416.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $48,961.00 and $114,569.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a hacker?

A hacker is an individual who uses technical knowledge and computer skills to gain unauthorized access to systems or networks, often by bypassing security measures. Hackers can have various motivations, from curiosity and learning to malicious intent such as stealing data or causing harm. While the term 'hacker' is often associated with cybercriminals, it can also refer to ethical hackers who help organizations identify and fix security vulnerabilities. The cybersecurity industry distinguishes between 'white-hat' (ethical), 'black-hat' (malicious), and 'gray-hat' (mixed intent) hackers. Understanding these distinctions is important for recognizing the different roles hackers play in the digital world.

What is a hacker?

A hacker is an accomplished computer user who utilizes their technical skills to solve problems in computing. The term “hacker” has become associated with security hacking, which is the practice of using bugs or other types of technical attacks to circumvent computer security and break into computer systems. Not all hackers, however, break into systems for their own gain. White hat or ethical hackers use their skills to get around security in order to demonstrate problems in security to systems operators. The term “hacking” is also used outside of computer and IT contexts and refers to experimenting with new methods or ideas.

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

To thrive as a Hacker (ethical or cybersecurity specialist), you need a deep understanding of computer networks, programming languages, operating systems, and security protocols, often supported by relevant IT or cybersecurity certifications. Familiarity with tools such as Kali Linux, Metasploit, Wireshark, and vulnerability scanners is typically required. Critical thinking, problem-solving, and discretion are essential soft skills that set top professionals apart in this field. These skills and qualities are vital to effectively identify vulnerabilities, protect systems, and ensure organizational security in an ever-evolving threat landscape.

What are some common challenges ethical hackers face when conducting penetration tests for organizations?

Ethical hackers, also known as penetration testers, often encounter challenges such as limited timeframes to complete thorough assessments, navigating complex and constantly evolving IT environments, and ensuring clear communication with stakeholders who may not be familiar with technical jargon. Additionally, they must carefully document their findings and work within legal and ethical boundaries to avoid disrupting business operations. Collaboration with IT teams is essential to ensure vulnerabilities are addressed effectively and recommendations are implemented.

What is the difference between Hacker vs Penetration Tester?

AspectHackerPenetration Tester
CredentialsMay have certifications like CEH, OSCP, but not alwaysOften holds certifications like CEH, OSCP, CISSP
Work EnvironmentCan be employed or freelance, sometimes in illegal activitiesLegally employed or contracted to test security
Industry UsageUsed broadly, including malicious and ethical contextsPrimarily in cybersecurity and IT security sectors

While both hackers and penetration testers possess technical skills to identify vulnerabilities, hackers may operate illegally or ethically, whereas penetration testers work within legal boundaries to improve security.

Do hackers get paid well?

Hackers, particularly ethical or cybersecurity professionals, can earn competitive salaries depending on experience, skills, and certifications. Entry-level positions may start lower, but experienced security analysts or penetration testers often earn high wages, especially in specialized environments or with advanced tools and knowledge.

What do hackers do as a job?

Hackers employed as cybersecurity professionals, often called ethical hackers or penetration testers, analyze computer systems to identify vulnerabilities and improve security. They use tools like vulnerability scanners and follow industry standards, often holding certifications such as CEH or OSCP, to help organizations protect their data and infrastructure.

What jobs are there for hackers?

Hackers can pursue careers such as cybersecurity analyst, penetration tester, security consultant, or ethical hacker. These roles involve identifying vulnerabilities, testing security systems, and protecting organizations from cyber threats, often requiring knowledge of tools like Kali Linux, programming skills, and relevant certifications such as CEH or CISSP.

What are the most commonly searched types of Hacker jobs in California?

The most popular types of Hacker jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Hacker jobs?

Cities in California with the most Hacker job openings:

Infographic showing various Hacker job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 97% Full Time, 1% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 88% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $83,416 per year, or $40.1 per hour.

Hacker in Residence

Cleanlab

San Francisco, CA • On-site

$140K - $170K/yr

Other

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Posted 7 days ago


Job description

Hacker In Residence At Cleanlab

Cleanlab's hacker in residence role blends developer relations/advocacy work with building awesome Data-Centric AI applications and sharing them with the community. You'll help AI engineers learn about data-centric AI, LLMs, RAG, Agents and how Cleanlab and other revolutionary technologies can help them solve their Data/AI challenges.

In this dynamic role, you'll get to write open-source code, publish technical blog posts, make videos and social media content, host events/hackathons, engage in technical discussions in in-person and online forums/conferences, participate in vibrant AI communities, and help identify developer needs.

Who We're Looking For

This role is a mix of data science, software engineering, technical writing, producing/launching content, community building, and engagement. This role is ideal for a multi-talented individual who likes wearing many hats and doing work that deeply engages technical audiences.

We're looking for someone who has expertise around the cutting-edge of LLMs/RAG/Agents, excellent technical writing skills, and a deep love and understanding of people and communities. Good candidates for this role will already: be active on GitHub and social media, have a blog, have attended many conferences/hackathons, and know about the latest trends in Data/AI.

Responsibilities
  • Develop software and write technical content in the form of tutorials, highly technical blog posts, demos, and other online content to drive adoption of Cleanlab and engage with the AI community
  • Contribute to educational material such as MIT's Introduction to Data-Centric AI
  • Keep up with the latest trends in data science and machine learning, reading and participating on Twitter and Reddit, reading arXiv papers, and more
  • Grow Cleanlab's social media following
  • Promote Cleanlab in developer forums and meetups
  • Represent Cleanlab through speaking engagements at conferences and meetups, both in-person and online
Qualifications
  • A computer science background and familiarity with cutting-edge Generative AI advances
  • Excellent communication and technical writing skills
  • Experience participating in online communities, especially developer communities
Benefits

Working at Cleanlab is awesome! Beyond the opportunity to work at a well-funded AI startup with an incredible, friendly founding team of MIT graduates, all full-time employees receive the following:

  • Premium health insurance, including dental and vision.
  • Professional development stipend to keep up with the latest innovations in ML and software.
  • 401(k) with employer match.
  • Unlimited PTO, unlimited sick days, 10 company-wide holidays.
  • Work with a talented team unified by a vision to solve challenging problems in artificial intelligence.
  • Competitive salary (+ equity offering for certain roles), with regular opportunities for a raise if things are going well.
  • Relocation bonus to move to San Francisco.

The compensation range for this role is $140,000 to $170,000. The final offer details are determined by several factors including candidate experience/expertise and may vary from the pay range provided.

About Us

Prior to Cleanlab, our founders (3 ML/systems PhDs from MIT) worked at OpenAI, Google, Microsoft, Amazon, AWS, Facebook AI Research (FAIR), Dropbox, Oculus, Palantir, NASA, General Electric, MIT Lincoln Laboratory, MIT, Harvard, and Stanford. At every place we worked we repeatedly encountered the same issue: AI solutions failed to work reliably on real-world, human-centric data due to label errors and poor data quality. So, we spent eight years of PhD research at MIT inventing a new field to solve this problem and after successful pilots with world-leading organizations, Cleanlab emerged.

Everything we do at Cleanlab is guided by our north star — to help companies build reliable AI applications — unlocking the ability to use AI on many real-world applications where reliability is paramount. We develop next-generation data-centric AI, open-source algorithms and build APIs and web applications to help individuals and teams at companies across all industries build reliable AI.

While many companies can help build AI models, there exist few solutions today to build make this AI reliable, which is essential for production deployments of AI. This is where you come in. At Cleanlab, you'll be able to take ownership of critical projects that pioneer the future of AI reliability.

We are a hybrid company, with over half of our team (and office) located in San Francisco.