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Security Operations Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

Edelman

Security Operations Expert

Sunnyvale, CA · On-site

$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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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 Jul 5, 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 roles in high-paying industries or senior leadership positions. Such salaries are typically achieved through senior-level roles, specialized skills, and often include bonuses or stock options.

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 security, incident response, 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 knowledge of cybersecurity, networking, or security tools. Entry-level SOC jobs often focus on monitoring security alerts and basic incident response, while more advanced roles may require certifications like CompTIA Security+ or CISSP. Experience with SIEM tools and understanding of security protocols can improve job prospects.

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-level roles in cybersecurity often involve leadership, strategic planning, and working in large organizations or consulting firms, with compensation including base salary, bonuses, and stock options.
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Security Operations Engineer jobs near you

Senior IT & Security Operations Engineer

FieldAI

Irvine, CA

$114K - $155K/yr

Full-time

Posted 8 days ago

Job description

Irvine, CA

Operations – IT / Full Time / On-Site

Who are We?

Field AI is transforming how robots interact with the real world. We are building risk-aware, reliable, and field-ready AI systems that address the most complex challenges in robotics, unlocking the full potential of embodied intelligence. We go beyond typical data-driven approaches or pure transformer-based architectures, and are charting a new course, with already-globally-deployed solutions delivering real-world results and rapidly improving models through real-field applications.

Learn more at https://fieldai.com.

About the Job

Field AI is looking for a senior hands-on IT infrastructure engineer to own the systems that keep a robotics engineering organization secure and productive: macOS/Linux endpoints, identity, SaaS access, office/lab networking, and endpoint security. This role is ideal for someone who has operated in fast-moving startup environments, enjoys building durable systems from imperfect starting points, and can move between strategic design and hands-on troubleshooting.


What You'll Get To Do
  • Endpoint Fleet Management: Own the full lifecycle of our macOS and Linux endpoint fleet through JumpCloud MDM,  enrollment, configuration, application deployment, patch management, and compliance enforcement. Define and maintain the golden configurations every new device is built from.
  • Network Operations: Operate the office and lab network end to end, switches, firewalls, Wi-Fi, VLANs, and VPN. Design and configure network infrastructure, perform maintenance and upgrades, and provide deep-dive troubleshooting from layer 1 through layer 7.
  • Endpoint Security: Operate CrowdStrike Falcon as our primary EDR — deploy sensors, define prevention and detection policies, tune detection logic to reduce false positives, and lead first response on endpoint security incidents.
  • Compliance Partnership: Partner with Security and Legal on SOC 2 and ISO 27001 — translate framework requirements into operational controls, automate evidence collection, and own the IT-side response to audits and quarterly access reviews.
  • Senior Technical Escalation: Serve as the senior technical resource on the IT team — resolve complex incidents, document resolutions as runbooks, and automate the underlying root cause wherever possible.
What You Have
  • Senior IT Operations Background: 5+ years of IT engineering experience, including time as a senior individual contributor on a small IT team in a fast-paced startup environment.
  • Linux & macOS Expertise: Deep Linux internals knowledge — systemd, kernel and networking subsystems, package management, sso integration, and host-level diagnostics. Equivalent fluency administering macOS at scale.
  • MDM Expertise: Production experience administering and scaling a modern MDM platform, ideally JumpCloud — policy authoring, configuration profiles, and rollout strategies across a heterogeneous fleet.
  • Networking Depth: Hands-on experience with professional-grade networking equipment such as Sophos, Ubiquiti, or Fortinet — switches, firewalls, Wi-Fi, and VPN — including packet-level troubleshooting.
  • Cloud & SaaS Administration: Hands-on administration of Google Workspace, GitHub, AWS, and Jira Cloud, with strong fundamentals in SSO/SAML/OIDC, SCIM provisioning, and IAM hygiene.
  • Endpoint Security: Working experience with CrowdStrike Falcon or a comparable EDR/XDR platform — sensor deployment, policy configuration, detection tuning, and incident triage.
  • Compliance Experience: Practical experience supporting SOC 2 and/or ISO 27001 — operationalizing controls, collecting evidence on a recurring cadence, and partnering with auditors.
The Extras That Set You Apart
  • Scripting proficiency in Python, Bash, or similar for IT and identity automation
  • Experience standing up or maturing a JumpCloud deployment from the ground up
  • Background supporting robotics, hardware, or lab environments
  • Prior on-call or incident response experience in a security-conscious environment
  • Vendor management and procurement experience for IT and security tooling
Compensation and Benefits
Our salary range is generous and we take into consideration an individual's background and experience in determining final salary; base pay offered may vary considerably depending on geographic location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.
Why Join Field AI?

We are solving one of the world's most complex challenges: deploying robots in unstructured, previously unknown environments. Our Field Foundational Models™ set a new standard in perception, planning, localization, and manipulation, ensuring our approach is explainable and safe for deployment.

You will have the opportunity to work with a world-class team that thrives on creativity, resilience, and bold thinking. With a decade-long track record of deploying solutions in the field, winning DARPA challenge segments, and bringing expertise from organizations like DeepMind, NASA JPL, Boston Dynamics, NVIDIA, Amazon, Tesla Autopilot, Cruise Self-Driving, Zoox, Toyota Research Institute, and SpaceX, we are set to achieve our ambitious goals.

Be Part of the Next Robotics Revolution

To tackle such ambitious challenges, we need a team as unique as our vision — innovators who go beyond conventional methods and are eager to tackle tough, uncharted questions. We're seeking individuals who challenge the status quo, dive into uncharted territory, and bring interdisciplinary expertise. Our team requires not only top AI talent but also exceptional software developers, engineers, product designers, field deployment experts, and communicators.

We are headquartered in always-sunny Irvine, Southern California and have US based and global teammates.

Join us, shape the future, and be part of a fun, close-knit team on an exciting journey!

We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Candidates and employees are always evaluated based on merit, qualifications, and performance. We will never discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, national origin, ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability, or any other legally protected status.

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.

 

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. 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.