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Signals Intelligence Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Strong Math and/or Physics background with a minimum of 5 years experience in the Intelligence Community * Minimum 4 years experience in Digital Signal Processing (DSP) and/or signal formation and ...

Strong Math and/or Physics background with a minimum of 5 years experience in the Intelligence Community * Minimum 4 years experience in Digital Signal Processing (DSP) and/or signal formation and ...

INTELLIGENCE SPECIALIST

Merced, CA · On-site

$100K - $126K/yr

What we can tell you is this: you will intercept signals to provide tactical and strategic intelligence, technical guidance and information to ships and special warfare units. CRYPTOLOGIC TECHNICIAN ...

INTELLIGENCE SPECIALIST

Arcata, CA · On-site

$101K - $128K/yr

What we can tell you is this: you will intercept signals to provide tactical and strategic intelligence, technical guidance and information to ships and special warfare units. CRYPTOLOGIC TECHNICIAN ...

INTELLIGENCE SPECIALIST

San Jose, CA · On-site

$107K - $135K/yr

What we can tell you is this: you will intercept signals to provide tactical and strategic intelligence, technical guidance and information to ships and special warfare units. CRYPTOLOGIC TECHNICIAN ...

INTELLIGENCE SPECIALIST

Pomona, CA · On-site

$95K - $120K/yr

What we can tell you is this: you will intercept signals to provide tactical and strategic intelligence, technical guidance and information to ships and special warfare units. CRYPTOLOGIC TECHNICIAN ...

INTELLIGENCE SPECIALIST

San Diego, CA · On-site

$99K - $125K/yr

What we can tell you is this: you will intercept signals to provide tactical and strategic intelligence, technical guidance and information to ships and special warfare units. CRYPTOLOGIC TECHNICIAN ...

INTELLIGENCE SPECIALIST

Bakersfield, CA · On-site

$102K - $128K/yr

What we can tell you is this: you will intercept signals to provide tactical and strategic intelligence, technical guidance and information to ships and special warfare units. CRYPTOLOGIC TECHNICIAN ...

INTELLIGENCE SPECIALIST

Chico, CA · On-site

$95K - $120K/yr

What we can tell you is this: you will intercept signals to provide tactical and strategic intelligence, technical guidance and information to ships and special warfare units. CRYPTOLOGIC TECHNICIAN ...

INTELLIGENCE SPECIALIST

Northridge, CA · On-site

$101K - $127K/yr

What we can tell you is this: you will intercept signals to provide tactical and strategic intelligence, technical guidance and information to ships and special warfare units. CRYPTOLOGIC TECHNICIAN ...

INTELLIGENCE SPECIALIST

Fresno, CA · On-site

$93K - $117K/yr

What we can tell you is this: you will intercept signals to provide tactical and strategic intelligence, technical guidance and information to ships and special warfare units. CRYPTOLOGIC TECHNICIAN ...

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Showing results 1-20

Signals Intelligence information

See California salary details

$10.9K

$99.3K

$131.3K

How much do signals intelligence jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 25, 2026, the average yearly pay for signals intelligence in California is $99,256.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $72,500.00 and $130,800.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

Does the CIA do SIGINT?

Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) is a core component of the CIA's intelligence collection efforts, involving the interception and analysis of electronic communications and signals. CIA officers and analysts work with specialized tools and technologies to gather and interpret SIGINT data to support national security objectives.

What are typical daily tasks for someone working in Signals Intelligence?

As a Signals Intelligence professional, your daily responsibilities often include monitoring, collecting, and analyzing electronic signals and communications to identify potential threats or valuable intelligence. You may work closely with sophisticated technical equipment, decode encrypted transmissions, and collaborate with analysts, linguists, and other intelligence specialists. Teamwork is essential, as findings are often shared with broader intelligence or defense teams to inform larger operational objectives. The work environment can range from military settings to government agencies or contractors, and attention to accuracy and confidentiality is always paramount.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Signals Intelligence position, and why are they important?

To excel in Signals Intelligence, candidates typically need strong analytical abilities, attention to detail, and a background in computer science, electrical engineering, or a related field, often with security clearance. Familiarity with signal processing tools, radio frequency (RF) systems, decryption software, and certifications such as CompTIA Security+ or CISSP are commonly required. Problem-solving skills, discretion, and effective communication set top performers apart in this role. Mastery of these competencies is crucial for accurately interpreting sensitive data and supporting critical intelligence operations.

What is a Signals Intelligence job?

A Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) job involves collecting, analyzing, and interpreting electronic signals to support military, national security, and intelligence operations. Professionals in this field work with intercepted communications, radar emissions, and other electronic data to assess potential threats or provide strategic insights. They often use specialized equipment and software to decode encrypted messages and monitor foreign activities. SIGINT personnel play a critical role in cybersecurity, counterterrorism, and military operations.

How to get into signals intelligence?

To pursue a career in signals intelligence, candidates typically need a strong background in cybersecurity, computer science, or related fields, often supported by security clearances and knowledge of cryptography, communications, and intelligence analysis. Relevant skills include proficiency with signal processing tools, programming, and understanding of military or government operations. Obtaining a relevant degree and gaining experience through internships or military service can improve chances of entry.

What does a signal intelligence operator do?

A signal intelligence operator collects, analyzes, and interprets electronic signals and communications to support national security and military operations. They use specialized tools and techniques to monitor and decode signals, often working in secure environments with strict protocols. This role requires strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and often security clearances.

What degree do you need to be a SIGINT analyst?

A SIGINT analyst typically needs at least a bachelor's degree in fields such as intelligence, cybersecurity, computer science, or related areas. Relevant skills include knowledge of signals analysis, cryptography, and experience with specialized tools and software; some positions may require security clearances or additional certifications.
What are the most commonly searched types of Signals Intelligence jobs in California? The most popular types of Signals Intelligence jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Signals Intelligence jobs? Cities in California with the most Signals Intelligence job openings:
Infographic showing various Signals Intelligence job openings in California as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 89% Full Time, 9% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 11% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $99,256 per year, or $47.7 per hour.
Staff Machine Learning Engineer - Ads Signals Intelligence & Information Retrieval

Staff Machine Learning Engineer - Ads Signals Intelligence & Information Retrieval

Apple

Cupertino, CA • On-site

Full-time

Posted 3 days ago


Apple rating

8.0

Company rating: 8.0 out of 10

Based on 674 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

7th of 30 rated technology retailers


Job description

At Apple, we focus deeply on our customers' experience. Apple Ads brings this same approach to advertising, helping people find exactly what they're looking for and helping advertisers grow their businesses! Our technology powers ads and sponsorships across Apple Services, including the App Store, Apple News, and MLS Season Pass. Everything we do is designed for trust, connection, and impact: We respect user privacy, integrate advertising thoughtfully into the experience, and deliver value for advertisers of all sizes-from small app developers to big, global brands. Because when advertising is done right, it benefits everyone!
Description
Apple's Ads Signals Intelligence team is seeking a hands-on and experienced Machine Learning Engineer to develop the next generation of ML-driven signal platforms that power retrieval, prediction, and relevance across Apple's advertising ecosystem-including the App Store and Apple News. This role focuses on building content understanding systems and large-scale infrastructure capable of delivering near real-time signal updates, enabling smarter, privacy-aware decision-making throughout the ad delivery stack.
This role focuses on developing rich semantic signals from a variety of sources-including queries, creatives, metadata, and user interactions-to support scalable ad retrieval, creative ranking, and marketplace optimization. You'll work at the forefront of LLM fine-tuning, knowledge graph construction, semantic search, and multimodal representation learning to extract structured intelligence from unstructured data.
While ad tech knowledge is a strong bonus, the core of the role is building high-quality, privacy-centric signals that fuel some of Apple's most advanced machine learning systems.
As part of the Ads Signals Intelligence team, you'll be shaping the foundation of Apple's ad ranking and relevance systems through world-class signal understanding. You'll work on problems at the cutting edge of retrieval, multimodal learning, LLMs, and content intelligence-while contributing to Apple's mission to deliver high-performing, privacy-first advertising experiences at scale.
Minimum Qualifications
4+ years of experience in machine learning or applied research, with a focus on retrieval, ranking, NLP, or content understanding
Deep understanding of information retrieval, semantic search, and query-document matching
Strong hands-on experience with LLM fine-tuning, knowledge graph construction, and entity-centric modeling
Experience working with multimodal models, including text, vision, metadata, or audio-based representations
Proficiency in Python, and experience with one or more of ML frameworks like PyTorch, TensorFlow
Background in statistical modeling, optimization, and ML theory
Exposure to ad tech domains such as auction modeling, targeting, attribution, or creative optimization is a plus
Demonstrated ability to deliver high-impact ML solutions in production environments
Bachelor's in Computer Science, Machine Learning, Information Retrieval, NLP, or a related field.
Preferred Qualifications
7+ years of experience in machine learning or applied research, with a focus on retrieval, ranking, NLP, or content understanding
MS or PhD in Computer Science, Machine Learning, Information Retrieval, NLP, or a related field.

What Apple employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom


Apple logo

About Apple

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Imagine what you could do here! At Apple, new ideas have a way of becoming extraordinary products, services, and customer experiences very quickly. Bring passion and dedication to your job and there's no telling what you could accomplish. Dynamic, intelligent people and inspiring, innovative technologies are the norm here. The people who work here have reinvented entire industries with all Apple Hardware products. The same real passion for innovation that goes into our products also applies to our practices strengthening our dedication to leave the world better than we found it.

Industry

Computer and electronic product manufacturing

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Cupertino, CA, US

Year founded

1976