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Software Reverse Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

QGOV Security Software Engineer

San Diego, CA · On-site

$111.30 - $166.90/hr

Experience in software based reverse engineering * Experience in identification and remediation of security vulnerabilities * Experience using Large Language Models (LLMs) to augment reverse ...

Staff Software Engineer

Emeryville, CA · On-site

$200K - $500K/yr

Position Summary We are looking for an ambitious Staff Software Engineer to help us reverse-engineer the human brain. This role spans a broad spectrum of activities: * Define and architect high ...

Senior Software Engineer

Emeryville, CA · On-site

$100K - $400K/yr

Position Summary We are looking for an ambitious Senior Software Engineer to help us reverse-engineer the human brain. This role spans a broad spectrum of activities: * Architect high-performance ...

You aren't afraid to reverse-engineer a protocol or write a custom driver if the standard one fails ... Design software with a safety-first mindset. You anticipate edge cases and write defensive code ...

Position Summary We are looking for an ambitious Staff Software Engineer to help us reverse-engineer the human brain. This role spans a broad spectrum of activities: * Define and architect high ...

Founding Engineer (multiple)

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$97K - $129K/yr

Software Engineering, Security Engineering, Vulnerability Research, Machine Learning, LLMs, and ... reverse engineering, and tools such as Ghidra, Binary Ninja, or IDA Pro. • Knowledge of emulator ...

Showing results 21-40

Software Reverse Engineer information

See California salary details

$76

$90

$102

How much do software reverse engineer jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 29, 2026, the average hourly pay for software reverse engineer in California is $90.15, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $83.27 and $97.02 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a software reverse engineer?

A Software Reverse Engineer analyzes software to understand its design, functionality, and security vulnerabilities. This role often involves decompiling code, identifying weaknesses, and improving software security. Reverse engineers work in cybersecurity, malware analysis, and software compatibility. They use tools like disassemblers, debuggers, and decompilers to inspect software behavior. This field requires strong programming skills and knowledge of operating systems and architectures.

What does a software reverse engineer do?

As a Software Reverse Engineer, your day often involves analyzing compiled code, identifying program structures, and uncovering hidden functionalities or vulnerabilities within software applications. You may spend significant time using tools like disassemblers and debuggers to inspect binaries, document findings, and collaborate closely with security analysts, developers, or legal teams. Problem-solving and attention to detail are essential, as projects often involve working with both legacy and modern systems. While much of the work is independent, frequent communication with team members is required to share insights and develop effective remediation strategies.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a software reverse engineer?

To thrive as a Software Reverse Engineer, you need strong proficiency in programming languages (such as C/C++ and Assembly), deep understanding of operating systems, and expertise in reverse engineering methodologies—often supported by a degree in computer science or related experience. Familiarity with disassemblers, debuggers, decompilers (like IDA Pro, Ghidra, OllyDbg), and relevant certifications such as OSCP or CEH is highly valued. Analytical thinking, attention to detail, and excellent problem-solving skills set top candidates apart. These abilities are critical for dissecting complex binaries, uncovering vulnerabilities, and ensuring effective collaboration while adhering to legal and ethical guidelines.

What are the most commonly searched types of Software Reverse Engineer jobs in California?

The most popular types of Software Reverse Engineer jobs in California are:

What job categories do people searching Software Reverse Engineer jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Software Reverse Engineer jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Software Reverse Engineer jobs?

Cities in California with the most Software Reverse Engineer job openings:

Infographic showing various Software Reverse Engineer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 93% In-person, and 7% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $187,511 per year, or $90.1 per hour.

Windows System Software Engineer

Cylake, Inc

Sunnyvale, CA • On-site

$150 - $250/hr

Other

Posted 11 days ago


Job description

Your Impact

Join a small team building the next generation of cybersecurity products from the ground up. Led by industry veterans with a proven track record of success - you will get to architect, build, and deliver hugely impactful products with this world class team. You will have the opportunity to grow your career and skills along with the company from the very start.

Role Overview

We are looking for an exceptional Windows systems engineer with deep expertise in Windows kernel internals, operating system architecture, and endpoint technologies, who understands Windows below the Win32 API, from the NT kernel and executive subsystems to process lifetime management, memory internals, and modern platform security.

This is not an application development, framework engineering or WinAPI-only developer role.

You’ll be designing and building the low-level endpoint infrastructure that powers real-time telemetry, behavioral detection, and system instrumentation across modern Windows environments.

You’ll work across kernel-mode and user-mode, developing production-grade systems that operate reliably in highly concurrent, security-sensitive environments.

What you’ll do Windows Kernel Engineering
  • Design and develop production-quality Windows kernel drivers using WDM/WDF.
  • Build kernel instrumentation and telemetry pipelines for endpoint visibility.
  • Develop high-performance process, thread, and image lifecycle tracking.
  • Implement scalable kernel callback infrastructure using:
    • Process notifications
    • Thread notifications
    • Image load notifications
    • Object callbacks
    • Registry callbacks
  • Design lock-efficient kernel data structures and synchronization strategies.
  • Build reliable user/kernel communication mechanisms.
  • Debug complex concurrency, synchronization, and memory issues.
Windows Systems & Internals
  • Work directly with Windows NT internals beyond documented APIs.
  • Build systems that understand process, thread, memory, and object lifecycles.
  • Analyze scheduler behavior, process creation, and teardown.
  • Work with Windows internals including:
    • Memory management
    • Object Manager
    • Executive subsystems
    • ETW
    • ALPC
    • Handle tables
    • Tokens
    • Registry internals
  • Investigate compatibility across multiple Windows releases.
  • Debug boot-time, runtime, and kernel crash scenarios.
Endpoint & Security Engineering
  • Design telemetry systems that power endpoint detection and response.
  • Build behavioral detection capabilities using operating system telemetry.
  • Research modern attack techniques and operating system abuse.
  • Improve visibility into process execution, code loading, and system activity.
  • Design resilient monitoring systems that operate in complex enterprise environments.
  • Evaluate modern Windows security features and how they impact endpoint architecture.
Reverse Engineering & Debugging
  • Analyze Windows internals and system behavior.
  • Debug kernel crashes, memory corruption, and race conditions.
  • Reverse engineer operating system components when documentation is unavailable.
  • Use debugging and reverse engineering tools to understand low-level execution paths.
What We're Looking For Required Experience
  • Extensive experience building low-level Windows systems software.
  • Deep expertise in Windows kernel architecture and NT internals.
  • Extensive experience developing Windows kernel drivers.
  • Strong knowledge of process, thread, memory, and object management.
  • Expert-level C/C++ programming skills.
  • Experience debugging complex multithreaded systems.
  • Strong understanding of synchronization, paging, interrupts, and x64 architecture.
  • Experience using WinDbg and kernel debugging tools.
  • Ability to reason about undocumented operating system behavior through analysis and debugging.
Nice to Have
  • Rust experience.
  • Filesystem minifilters.
  • Windows Filtering Platform (WFP) or NDIS.
  • ETW provider development.
  • Hypervisor technologies (VT-x / AMD-V).
  • Secure Kernel, VBS, or HVCI knowledge.
  • Memory forensics or reverse engineering experience.
  • Symbol parsing and Windows build analysis.

We offer competitive compensation and a comprehensive benefits package designed to support our employees’ health, well-being, and long-term success. The expected salary range for this position is $150,000 – $250,000 per year. Within this range, individual pay is determined based on job-related factors including skills, experience, qualifications, and internal equity. Most candidates can expect an offer within the range listed above. Your recruiter will provide additional details on compensation and benefits to qualified candidates during the hiring process.

We’re committed to building a diverse, inclusive workplace where everyone can do their best work. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and 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. If you require a reasonable accommodation during the application or interview process, please let us know — we’re happy to support you.

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