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Security Engineering Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Snapchat

Director, Security Engineering

Palo Alto, CA · On-site

The Director of Security Engineering will operate as a partner to the Chief Information Security Officer and senior executives across Snap on Security Engineering Initiatives and will lead the ...

Northwood

Security Engineering Manager

Torrance, CA · On-site

As Security Engineering Lead, you will design, build, and own the security infrastructure that protects Northwood's ground station network, cloud environments, and corporate systems. Responsibilities ...

Northwood

Security Engineering Lead

Torrance, CA · On-site

As the Security Engineering Lead, you will build and own corporate IT and security operations, overseeing day-to-day management while establishing a security monitoring foundation for mission ...

Harvey

Head of Security Engineering

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$285K - $350K/yr

This leader will own the core security engineering platform, including identity and access management, security tooling, and the systems that help engineers build and operate secure products by ...

Northwoodspace

Security Engineering Manager

Torrance, CA · On-site

$156K - $232K/yr

As Security Engineering Lead, you will design, build, and own the security infrastructure that protects Northwood's ground station network, cloud environments, and corporate systems. This is a senior ...

Agilent

Lead, SDLC Security Engineering

Santa Clara, CA · On-site

$143K - $269K/yr

We're seeking a Lead, SDLC Security Engineering (Manager) to lead the implementation, operation, and adoption of security tooling, automated guardrails, and secure SDLC practices across the ...

Agilent

Lead, SDLC Security Engineering

Santa Clara, CA · On-site +1

$143K - $269K/yr

We're seeking a Lead, SDLC Security Engineering (Manager) to lead the implementation, operation, and adoption of security tooling, automated guardrails, and secure SDLC practices across the ...

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All JobsSecurity Engineering JobsSecurity Engineering Jobs in California

Security Engineering information

See California salary details

$60.7K

$150.8K

$202.8K

How much do security engineering jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 13, 2026, the average yearly pay for security engineering in California is $150,773.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $141,100.00 and $156,400.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are some common challenges Security Engineers face when working with cross-functional teams?

Security Engineers often collaborate closely with developers, IT operations, and compliance teams to ensure that security best practices are integrated throughout the organization. One common challenge is bridging the knowledge gap between security requirements and business objectives, as other teams may not always understand the implications of security vulnerabilities. Security Engineers must balance advocating for robust security measures while supporting the team's need for agility and innovation. Strong communication skills and a collaborative mindset are essential for addressing these challenges and fostering a security-focused culture across departments.

Can you make $500,000 a year in cyber security?

Security engineering roles can reach or exceed $500,000 annually for senior or specialized positions, especially in high-demand industries or with extensive experience, advanced certifications, and leadership responsibilities. Achieving this level often requires expertise in areas like threat management, secure architecture, or penetration testing, along with a strong professional network and continuous skill development.

What would a security engineer do?

A security engineer designs, implements, and maintains security systems to protect an organization’s networks, systems, and data from cyber threats. They analyze vulnerabilities, develop security protocols, and often use tools like firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and encryption. Certifications such as CISSP or CEH and strong technical skills are common requirements in this role.

What engineers make $300,000 a year?

Senior security engineers, security architects, and cybersecurity managers with extensive experience, advanced certifications (such as CISSP or CISA), and expertise in areas like cloud security or threat management can earn $300,000 or more annually. These roles often require strong technical skills, leadership abilities, and a track record of managing complex security systems.

What is the difference between Security Engineering vs Security Analyst?

AspectSecurity EngineeringSecurity Analyst
Required CredentialsCertifications like CISSP, CEH, Security+; Bachelor's in CS or related fieldCertifications like Security+, GIAC, CISSP; Bachelor's in CS, IT, or related field
Work EnvironmentDesigning and implementing security systems, working with development teamsMonitoring security alerts, analyzing threats, responding to incidents
Employer & Industry UsageTech companies, cybersecurity firms, large enterprisesAny organization with IT infrastructure, government, finance, healthcare

Security Engineering focuses on designing, building, and maintaining security systems, while Security Analysts monitor and respond to security threats. Both roles require similar certifications and often work within the same industries, but their core responsibilities differ: one creates security solutions, the other manages security operations.

What is security engineering?

Security engineering is a field focused on designing, implementing, and maintaining systems and processes that protect computer systems, networks, and data from unauthorized access, attacks, and other security threats. Security engineers analyze potential vulnerabilities, develop security protocols, and respond to incidents to ensure the safety and integrity of digital assets. They work with a range of technologies, including firewalls, intrusion detection systems, encryption, and access controls, often collaborating with IT and development teams to integrate security best practices throughout an organization’s infrastructure.

What engineer makes $500,000 a year?

Senior security engineers or security architects with extensive experience, advanced certifications, and specialized skills can earn salaries approaching or exceeding $500,000 annually, especially in high-demand industries or senior leadership roles. These positions often require deep knowledge of cybersecurity tools, threat management, and strategic planning, along with a track record of managing complex security systems.

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

To thrive as a Security Engineer, you need expertise in network security, threat analysis, vulnerability assessment, and typically a degree in computer science or a related field. Familiarity with security tools like SIEM platforms, firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and certifications such as CISSP or CEH are commonly required. Strong problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and effective communication help you anticipate risks and work collaboratively to safeguard systems. These skills are crucial for protecting organizational assets, mitigating cyber threats, and ensuring regulatory compliance.
What are popular job titles related to Security Engineering jobs in California? For Security Engineering jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Security Engineering jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Security Engineering jobs in California are:
Security Engineering jobs near you
Infographic showing various Security Engineering job openings in California as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 91% Full Time, 6% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 10% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $150,773 per year, or $72.5 per hour.
Director, Security Engineering

Director, Security Engineering

Snapchat

Los Angeles, CA • On-site

Full-time

Medical

Re-posted 15 days ago

Job description

Snap Inc is a technology company. We believe the camera presents the greatest opportunity to improve the way people live and communicate. Snap contributes to human progress by empowering people to express themselves, live in the moment, learn about the world, and have fun together.


The Company operates Snapchat, a visual messaging app that enhances your relationships with friends, family, and the world, and Specs Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary dedicated to making computing more human, in addition to Bitmoji, Saturn, and other digital services.


Snap Security teams protect the trust and safety of our global community by securing the systems and data that power Snapchat. We safeguard hundreds of millions of Snapchatters every day, ensuring that every product and service is built on a foundation of security and resilience.Our valuesguide everything we do - from how we anticipate and mitigate threats to how we collaborate across Snap. We move fast, with precision, and always execute with privacy at the forefront.

We're looking for a Director of Security Engineering to join our InfoSec Leadership team! The Director of Security Engineering will operate as a partner to the Chief Information Security Officer and senior executives across Snap on Security Engineering Initiatives and will lead the Security Foundations Engineering team focused on Platform Security, Application Security, and Identity and Access Management. The team is responsible for delivering trustworthy infrastructure that empowers Snap to securely conduct business and partners with infrastructure owners and customers across the company to establish trusted runtime environments for all Snap software, applications, and data.

What you'll do:

  • Oversee day-to-day operations of the Security Engineering teams across multiple offices, setting the vision and strategy for security engineering, aligning with Snapchat's mission and values.

  • Build and lead a high-performing team of engineers and security specialists, fostering collaboration, innovation, and growth.

  • Establish KPIs to measure the effectiveness of safety and security initiatives and regularly report to executive leadership on platform risks, progress, and areas for improvement

  • Oversee the security architecture and practices for Snapchat's products, ensuring secure-by-design principles are applied throughout the development lifecycle.

  • Lead efforts to identify, assess, and mitigate security vulnerabilities in Snapchat's app and services, anticipating future safety and security challenges and developing strategies to address them.

  • Partner with legal, policy, product, and engineering teams to align on safety and security priorities and work closely with product teams to integrate security into new features and updates.

  • Act as a key advisor to senior leadership on matters related to product security, influencing key decisions on architecture and implementation of scalable, reliable, and cost-effective engineering & security solutions

  • Utilize AI tools and high velocity engineering workflows to design and ship scalable services while upholding rigorous standards for code correctness, security, and production ready quality code.

  • Iterate quickly without compromising quality and raise the bar on operational excellence

Minimum qualifications:

  • BS/BA in a technical field such as Computer Science or equivalent experience

  • 10+ years of security engineering experience

  • 5+ years of experience managing a team

  • Demonstrated execution of developing Security Engineering strategies

Preferred qualifications:

  • Demonstrated experience leading a large team at scale and managing engineering & security orgs with an eye to driving efficiency

  • Previous experience partnering with cross-functional executives and management across a globally distributed organization

  • Track record of delivery in rapidly changing, highly collaborative, multi-site, multi-stakeholder environments

  • Proficiency in, or a strong aptitude for, leveraging AI tools to streamline development, paired with the critical judgment to audit generated output for architectural integrity, performance bottlenecks, and security risks.

  • Experience with mobile apps development

If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please don't be shy and provide us some information.

"Default Together" Policy at Snap: At Snap Inc. we believe that being together in person helps us build our culture faster, reinforce our values, and serve our community, customers and partners better through dynamic collaboration. To reflect this, we practice a "default together" approach and expect our team members to work in an office 4+ days per week.

At Snap, we believe that having a team of diverse backgrounds and voices working together will enable us to create innovative products that improve the way people live and communicate. Snap is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, and committed to providing employment opportunities regardless of race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding, age, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, or any other protected classification, in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. EOE, including disability/vets.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with applicable law (by example, the requirements of the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance and the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring, where applicable).

Our Benefits: Snap Inc. is its own community, so we've got your back! We do our best to make sure you and your loved ones have everything you need to be happy and healthy, on your own terms. Our benefits are built around your needs and include paid parental leave, comprehensive medical coverage, emotional and mental health support programs, and compensation packages that let you share in Snap's long-term success!

Compensation

In the United States, work locations are assigned a pay zone which determines the salary range for the position. The successful candidate's starting pay will be determined based on job-related skills, experience, qualifications, work location, and market conditions. The starting pay may be negotiable within the salary range for the position. These pay zones may be modified in the future.

Zone A (CA, WA, NYC):

The base salary range for this position is $334,000-$500,000 annually.


Zone B:

The base salary range for this position is $317,000-$475,000 annually.

Zone C:

The base salary range for this position is $284,000-$425,000 annually.This position is eligible for equity in the form of RSUs.

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