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Security Researcher Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Apple

Firmware Security Researcher, SEAR

Cupertino, CA

$129K - $225K/yr

As a Firmware Security Researcher, you will work with cutting edge technology alongside some of the most creative, passionate, hardworking engineers in the industry; collaborating with teams from ...

Illumio

Sr. Threat Researcher

San Jose, CA · On-site

They are seeking a Senior Threat Researcher to analyze large-scale security datasets, identify attacker behaviors, and collaborate with product teams to enhance detection and strategic direction.

Illumio

Sr. Threat Researcher

Sunnyvale, CA · On-site

Powered by the Illumio AI Security Graph, our breach containment platform identifies and contains ... We're looking for a talented Senior Threat Researcher to provide ongoing guidance on threats ...

Illumio

Sr. Threat Researcher

Sunnyvale, CA · On-site

$170K - $196K/yr

Powered by the Illumio AI Security Graph, our breach containment platform identifies and contains ... We're looking for a talented Senior Threat Researcher to provide ongoing guidance on threats ...

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All JobsSecurity Researcher JobsSecurity Researcher Jobs in California

Security Researcher information

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How much do security researcher jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 9, 2026, the average hourly pay for security researcher in California is $50.77, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $49.09 and $52.45 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a security researcher?

A security researcher keeps up-to-date on all the latest developments in threats to computer software and networks. These threats include different types of malware, such as computer viruses, malicious software and scripts, and direct attacks on a network. The main duties of a security researcher are to investigate existing types of malware, analyze their capabilities, and attempt to predict new forms of malware to develop appropriate security responses. They may reverse engineer malware or test security systems.

What is the difference between Security Researcher vs Security Analyst?

AspectSecurity ResearcherSecurity Analyst
CredentialsCertifications like CISSP, CEH, OSCPCertifications like CompTIA Security+, CISSP, GIAC
Work EnvironmentResearch labs, cybersecurity firms, R&D teamsSecurity operations centers, corporate IT teams
Employer & IndustryTech companies, cybersecurity firms, government agenciesFinancial institutions, healthcare, enterprise companies
Primary FocusIdentifying vulnerabilities, developing exploits, analyzing threatsMonitoring security systems, incident response, implementing security measures

While both roles focus on cybersecurity, Security Researchers primarily analyze vulnerabilities and develop exploits to understand threats better. Security Analysts focus on monitoring, detecting, and responding to security incidents within organizations. Both roles often require similar certifications and work in related environments, but their core responsibilities differ in scope and daily tasks.

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

To thrive as a Security Researcher, you need deep expertise in computer science, networking, vulnerability assessment, and malware analysis, often supported by a degree in cybersecurity or related fields. Familiarity with tools like IDA Pro, Wireshark, Metasploit, and certifications such as OSCP or CEH is highly valued. Analytical thinking, curiosity, and strong written and verbal communication help distinguish top performers in this role. These skills are crucial for identifying emerging threats, effectively communicating risks, and developing solutions to protect organizations' digital assets.

What are some common challenges security researchers face when collaborating with development teams?

Security Researchers often encounter challenges when working with development teams, such as communicating complex vulnerabilities in a way that is actionable for developers and aligning on remediation priorities. Bridging the gap between security findings and practical implementation requires clear documentation and a collaborative mindset. Additionally, researchers must balance thorough testing with minimal disruption to production environments, ensuring security improvements integrate smoothly into development cycles.
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Security Researcher jobs near you
Infographic showing various Security Researcher job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 79% Full Time, 14% Part Time, and 7% Contract. Highlights an 82% In-person, and 18% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $105,598 per year, or $50.8 per hour.

Security Researcher, Agentic AI Threats

OpenAI

San Francisco, CA • On-site

$293K - $405K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 21 days ago

Job description

About the team
Preparedness is a critical Safety Research team at OpenAI, which is focused on mitigating AI threats to global security that could scale to an extreme level of severity.
Our work involves:
  1. Measurement. Monitoring and predicting the evolving capabilities of frontier AI systems.
  2. Mitigation. Keeping misuse safeguards, alignment tools, and security measures on track to adequately address extreme threats that might arise in the future.
  3. Coordination. Setting mitigation targets by maintaining OpenAI's preparedness framework, and partnering with other staff to achieve these targets.

This is urgent, fast-paced work that has far-reaching implications for the company and for society.
About the role
As AI agents become more capable at software engineering, and automate more of our internal work, they could become a dangerous cyber threat. People in this role will help OpenAI prepare for security threats from advanced AI agent insiders.
In this role, you will:
  • Identify paths by which capable future internal AI agents could compromise OpenAI.
  • Design security controls - focusing on measures with long lead times that benefit from advanced preparation.
  • Stress-test defenses with AI agent evaluations and penetration tests
You might thrive in this role if you:
  • Are deeply technical across security and modern infrastructure, and are comfortable digging into the details of operating systems, cloud, containers, CI/CD, or distributed systems.
  • Have strong software engineering skills and enjoy building prototypes yourself.
  • Are interested in engaging with stakeholders and can do so effectively.
  • Bonus: have experience securing cloud infrastructure, and are deeply familiar with core components of the AI stack.

Compensation Range: $293K - $405K USD
About OpenAI
OpenAI is an AI research and deployment company dedicated to ensuring that general-purpose artificial intelligence benefits all of humanity. We push the boundaries of the capabilities of AI systems and seek to safely deploy them to the world through our products. AI is an extremely powerful tool that must be created with safety and human needs at its core, and to achieve our mission, we must encompass and value the many different perspectives, voices, and experiences that form the full spectrum of humanity.
We are an equal opportunity employer, and we do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, disability, genetic information, or other applicable legally protected characteristic.
For additional information, please see OpenAI's Affirmative Action and Equal Employment Opportunity Policy Statement.
Background checks for applicants will be administered in accordance with applicable law, and qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment consistent with those laws, including the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, and the California Fair Chance Act, for US-based candidates. For unincorporated Los Angeles County workers: we reasonably believe that criminal history may have a direct, adverse and negative relationship with the following job duties, potentially resulting in the withdrawal of a conditional offer of employment: protect computer hardware entrusted to you from theft, loss or damage; return all computer hardware in your possession (including the data contained therein) upon termination of employment or end of assignment; and maintain the confidentiality of proprietary, confidential, and non-public information. In addition, job duties require access to secure and protected information technology systems and related data security obligations.
To notify OpenAI that you believe this job posting is non-compliant, please submit a report through this form. No response will be provided to inquiries unrelated to job posting compliance.
We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities, and requests can be made via this link.
OpenAI Global Applicant Privacy Policy
At OpenAI, we believe artificial intelligence has the potential to help people solve immense global challenges, and we want the upside of AI to be widely shared. Join us in shaping the future of technology.

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