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Security Operations Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Tenex.AI Inc

Senior DevOps Engineer

San Jose, CA · On-site +1

$152K - $195K/yr

As a Senior DevOps Engineer at TENEX, you will play a pivotal role in designing, implementing, and ... You will work closely with engineering and security teams to ensure our systems are scalable ...

Figma

Manager, Security Operations

San Francisco, CA · On-site +1

You'll partner closely with Security Engineering, Platform Security, IT, GRC, and Legal to strengthen our detection and response capabilities, improve operational resilience, and help shape the ...

FieldAI

Senior IT & Security Operations Engineer

Irvine, CA

$114K - $155K/yr

What You Have * Senior IT Operations Background: 5+ years of IT engineering experience, including ... Endpoint Security: Working experience with CrowdStrike Falcon or a comparable EDR/XDR platform ...

FieldAI

Senior IT & Security Operations Engineer

Irvine, CA · On-site

$114K - $155K/yr

What You Have * Senior IT Operations Background: 5+ years of IT engineering experience, including ... Endpoint Security: Working experience with CrowdStrike Falcon or a comparable EDR/XDR platform ...

FieldAI

Senior IT & Security Operations Engineer

Irvine, CA · On-site

$114K - $155K/yr

What You Have * Senior IT Operations Background: 5+ years of IT engineering experience, including ... Endpoint Security: Working experience with CrowdStrike Falcon or a comparable EDR/XDR platform ...

Everlaw

Security Engineer

Oakland, CA · On-site

Reporting to the Manager, Security Engineering, you will be a member of the technical security operations team at the company. Security is one of the main strategic pillars at Everlaw, and we are ...

Edelman

Security Operations Expert

Sunnyvale, CA

$120K - $145K/yr

Security Operations Expert We are seeking a dynamic and highly skilled Security Operations Expert ... of detection engineering, fine-tuning alerting rules, and managing SIEM/EDR systems. • ...

Figma

Manager, Security Operations

San Francisco, CA · On-site

You'll partner closely with Security Engineering, Platform Security, IT, GRC, and Legal to strengthen our detection and response capabilities, improve operational resilience, and help shape the ...

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Showing results 1-20

All JobsSecurity Operations Engineer JobsSecurity Operations Engineer Jobs in California

Security Operations Engineer information

See California salary details

$33.1K

$135.9K

$171.7K

How much do security operations engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 12, 2026, the average yearly pay for security operations engineer in California is $135,941.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $109,500.00 and $170,700.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Security Operations Engineer vs Security Analyst?

AspectSecurity Operations EngineerSecurity Analyst
CertificationsCompTIA Security+, CISSP, CEHCompTIA Security+, GIAC Security Essentials
Work EnvironmentHands-on security infrastructure management, incident responseMonitoring, analyzing security data, reporting
Employer & Industry UsageIT security teams in various industries, focusing on security operations

The Security Operations Engineer focuses on managing security systems and responding to incidents, while the Security Analyst primarily monitors security data and analyzes threats. Both roles require similar certifications and work closely within security teams, but their daily tasks differ in scope and focus.

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

Security Operations Engineers can potentially earn $500,000 annually with extensive experience, advanced certifications, and leadership roles such as security managers or architects. High salaries are often associated with senior positions, specialized skills, and working in high-demand industries or organizations with large security budgets.

What are some of the main challenges Security Operations Engineers face when responding to security incidents?

Security Operations Engineers often face challenges such as quickly identifying genuine threats among large volumes of security alerts, coordinating responses across multiple teams, and containing incidents before they escalate. Balancing thorough investigation with the need for rapid action can be demanding, especially in high-pressure situations. Additionally, staying updated on emerging threats and ensuring compliance with security protocols are ongoing responsibilities that require continuous learning and adaptability.

What Does a Security Operations Engineer Do?

As a security operations engineer, your job is to monitor a network or system and help implement new methods of protection and data recovery. In this role, you may conduct a vulnerability assessment for each emerging threat, coordinate with other security specialists, and help develop responses with industry peers. This job title refers to maintaining network security systems and should not be confused with non-electronic security operations, such as safeguarding VIPs or facilities. A security operations engineer works regular hours, but employers may call you in for emergency help as needed. This position usually reports to someone, such as a chief information security officer. You may occasionally brief executives or other managers on relevant topics, so presentation skills are helpful.

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

To thrive as a Security Operations Engineer, you need a solid understanding of network security, incident response, and vulnerability management, typically supported by a degree in computer science or a related field. Experience with SIEM tools (like Splunk or QRadar), firewalls, IDS/IPS, and certifications such as CISSP or CompTIA Security+ are commonly required. Strong analytical thinking, problem-solving abilities, and effective communication skills help you quickly detect and respond to security threats while collaborating with teams. These skills are crucial to proactively safeguarding organizational assets, minimizing risks, and ensuring swift recovery from security incidents.

What does a security operations engineer do?

A security operations engineer monitors, detects, and responds to cybersecurity threats and incidents within an organization. They use tools like security information and event management (SIEM) systems, perform vulnerability assessments, and implement security measures to protect IT infrastructure. Strong knowledge of network protocols, security best practices, and relevant certifications such as CISSP or CEH are often required.

Is SOC an entry level job?

A Security Operations Center (SOC) analyst role can be entry level, but many positions require some prior experience or knowledge of cybersecurity tools, network monitoring, and incident response. Entry-level SOC roles often focus on monitoring security alerts and basic analysis, while more advanced positions may require certifications like CompTIA Security+ or Certified SOC Analyst (CSA).

What engineers make $500,000?

Senior security engineers, especially those with extensive experience, specialized skills, and certifications like CISSP or CISA, can earn $500,000 or more annually. High compensation is often associated with leadership roles, working in high-demand industries, or in organizations with complex security needs and 24/7 operations.
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What cities in California are hiring for Security Operations Engineer jobs? Cities in California with the most Security Operations Engineer job openings:
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Security Operations Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Security Operations Engineer job openings in California as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 99% Full Time, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $135,941 per year, or $65.4 per hour.

Principal Security Engineer, Operations

K2 Space Corporation

Los Angeles, CA • On-site

Full-time

Posted 10 days ago

Job description

Job Summary:
K2 Space Corporation is pioneering the development of the largest and highest-power satellites, aiming to revolutionize space operations. The Principal Security Engineer will be responsible for defining and implementing security architecture to protect the company's people, systems, and data while enabling rapid satellite development and operations.
Responsibilities:
• Serve as the principal technical authority for corporate security engineering, defining the long-term security architecture that protects K2 Space’s people, systems, and data
• Architect and govern security controls across corporate IT environments, including identity and access management, endpoint security, network security, SaaS platforms, and cloud services
• Establish and own enterprise security standards, reference architectures, and design patterns to ensure consistency, scalability, and defense-in-depth
• Lead the design and implementation of zero trust security principles across corporate operations, integrating identity, device posture, and network controls
• Act as the final technical escalation point for complex or high-impact security incidents, leading root-cause analysis and driving durable corrective actions
• Partner closely with IT, network, and infrastructure teams to embed security into systems design, operational processes, and automation workflows
• Influence executive leadership through clear risk assessments, threat modeling, and trade-off analysis tied to business impact and mission outcomes
• Evaluate, select, and govern security technologies and vendors; drive strategic adoption, optimization, and deprecation decisions
• Design and oversee security automation and detection capabilities, improving visibility, response time, and operational efficiency
• Ensure corporate systems meet regulatory, compliance, and contractual security requirements, translating controls into practical engineering implementations.
• Mentor senior and staff-level security and IT engineers, raising the organization’s security engineering maturity and technical bar
• Represent corporate security engineering in cross-functional architecture reviews, audits, and enterprise technology planning forums
Qualifications:
Required:
• 8+ years of experience in security operations or engineering roles preferably in a fast-paced startup or technology environment
• 3+ years of development experience with any modern programming language (including but not limited to Python, C++, Rust, Go)
• Knowledge of operating systems, current equipment and technologies, networking, security best practices, and system performance monitoring tools
• Comfortable working with mission critical and sensitive systems, with a sense of urgency appropriate with responsibilities
• Due to the high visibility of this position, excellent interpersonal skills, attention to detail, and problem-solving skills
Preferred:
• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in computer science or engineering
• Technical certifications (i.e., Network+, MCSE, Security+)
Company:
Making previously impossible missions possible Founded in 2022, the company is headquartered in Torrance, USA, with a team of 51-200 employees. The company is currently Growth Stage.

About K2 Space

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Industry

Guided missile and space vehicle manufacturing

Company size

11 - 50 Employees

Headquarters location

Los Angeles, CA, US

Year founded

2022

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