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Staff Security Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Red Cup IT Inc

Staff Security Engineer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site +1

We are seeking a Staff Security Engineer who operates at the nexus of high-level strategy and multi-tenant operational excellence. While a traditional internal role secures a single enterprise ...

Walter

Staff Security Engineer

Mountain View, CA · On-site

As a Staff Engineer, you will be a technical anchor for one of our most critical and high-scale ... You'll collaborate closely with product, security, and platform teams to shape the next generation ...

Walter

Staff Security Engineer

Mountain View, CA · On-site

As a Staff Engineer, you will be a technical anchor for one of our most critical and high-scale ... You'll collaborate closely with product, security, and platform teams to shape the next generation ...

Okta

Staff Security Engineer, TDI

San Francisco, CA

The Staff Security Engineer Opportunity We are seeking a highly skilled and hands-on Staff Security Engineer with a DevSecOps & Issue Management focus to join the TDI Security team. In this role, you ...

Okta

Staff Security Engineer, TDI

San Francisco, CA · On-site

The Staff Security Engineer Opportunity We are seeking a highly skilled and hands-on Staff Security Engineer with a DevSecOps & Issue Management focus to join the TDI Security team. In this role, you ...

Bloom Energy

Staff Security Engineer

San Jose, CA · On-site

We are looking for a Staff Security Engineer to join our team in one of today's most exciting technologies. This role will report to our Chief Security Officer and based in San Jose, CA. This is a ...

LinkedIn

Staff Security Engineer - AI

Sunnyvale, CA · On-site

As a Staff Security Engineer on the Platform & Product Security team, you will strengthen the security posture of LinkedIn's AI applications, infrastructure, and development workflows - researching ...

LinkedIn

Staff Security Engineer - AI

Sunnyvale, CA · Hybrid

As a Staff Security Engineer on the Platform & Product Security team, you will strengthen the security posture of LinkedIn's AI applications, infrastructure, and development workflows - researching ...

Lawrence Harvey

Senior Security Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$220K - $260K/yr

Senior / Staff Security Engineer | AI Infrastructure Startup I'm working with a fast-growing AI infrastructure startup that's looking for its first dedicated Senior / Staff Security Engineer to build ...

LHi Group Ltd

Senior Security Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$220K - $260K/yr

Senior / Staff Security Engineer | AI Infrastructure Startup I'm working with a fast-growing AI infrastructure startup that's looking for its first dedicated Senior / Staff Security Engineer to build ...

Google

Staff Security Engineer Manager

Sunnyvale, CA · On-site

As a Security Engineer, you help protect network boundaries, keep computer systems and network devices hardened against attacks and provide security services to protect highly sensitive data like ...

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All JobsStaff Security Engineer JobsStaff Security Engineer Jobs in California

Staff Security Engineer information

See California salary details

$22.7K

$98K

$190K

How much do staff security engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 26, 2026, the average yearly pay for staff security engineer in California is $98,029.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $68,100.00 and $123,400.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a staff security engineer?

Staff Security Engineers are senior-level professionals responsible for designing, implementing, and overseeing security systems to protect an organization's digital assets. They often lead security projects, mentor junior engineers, and collaborate with other teams to develop security best practices. Their role involves identifying vulnerabilities, responding to incidents, and ensuring compliance with industry standards. Because of their expertise and leadership, Staff Security Engineers play a critical role in shaping an organization's overall security posture.

How does a staff security engineer typically collaborate with other teams within an organization?

As a Staff Security Engineer, you’ll regularly work cross-functionally with development, IT, and operations teams to ensure that security best practices are integrated throughout the software development lifecycle. You’ll advise on secure architecture, conduct code and system reviews, and assist in incident response efforts. Close collaboration is also essential for educating colleagues about emerging threats and implementing effective remediation strategies. This role often serves as a bridge between technical and non-technical stakeholders, helping to translate complex security needs into actionable plans.

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

To thrive as a Staff Security Engineer, you need deep expertise in cybersecurity principles, risk assessment, system architecture, and typically a bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related field. Familiarity with security tools such as SIEM platforms, penetration testing frameworks, and relevant certifications like CISSP or OSCP is highly valued. Strong analytical thinking, proactive problem-solving, and effective communication skills help in identifying threats and collaborating across teams. These skills and qualities are essential for designing robust security solutions and protecting organizational assets against evolving cyber threats.

What is the difference between Staff Security Engineer vs Security Engineer?

AspectStaff Security EngineerSecurity Engineer
CredentialsBachelor's or higher in CS, cybersecurity certifications (CISSP, CEH)Bachelor's in CS or related, cybersecurity certifications often preferred
Work EnvironmentLead security initiatives, mentor teams, develop security strategiesImplement security measures, monitor systems, respond to incidents
Employer & Industry UsageTech companies, finance, healthcare; senior technical roleVaried industries, entry to mid-level security role

The Staff Security Engineer typically holds a senior technical position, focusing on leading security projects and mentoring teams, whereas the Security Engineer is more involved in implementing and maintaining security measures. Both roles require similar credentials but differ in scope and responsibility.

What are popular job titles related to Staff Security Engineer jobs in California?

For Staff Security Engineer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Staff Security Engineer jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Staff Security Engineer jobs in California are:

Staff Security Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Staff Security Engineer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 2% As Needed, 80% Full Time, 13% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 96% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 2% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $98,029 per year, or $47.1 per hour.

Staff Security Engineer

Los Angeles, CA • On-site, Remote

Red Cup IT Inc
Network Security • 11 - 50 employees
Learn more about Red Cup IT Incexternal

Full-time

Re-posted 21 hours ago

Job description

We are seeking a Staff Security Engineer who operates at the nexus of high-level strategy and multi-tenant operational excellence. While a traditional internal role secures a single enterprise perimeter, you are responsible for the integrated defense fabric of a vast portfolio of diverse client environments.
You will navigate the complexities of varied compliance needs and legacy technical debt, transforming them into a unified, scalable security posture. This is a technical leadership role designed for an expert who prefers the keyboard and the whiteboard over a people-management track, focusing on the "big picture" of our global security product stack.
Core Responsibilities
1. Strategic Security Architecture & Product Strategy
  • Scalable Multi-tenancy: Architect and maintain hardened, isolated security stacks (SIEM, EDR, XDR) designed to scale across hundreds of distinct client environments.
  • Product Vetting: Serve as the technical lead for vendor evaluations, "battle-testing" emerging tech to define our global standard offerings.
  • Global Standardization: Engineer "Gold Image" baselines and automated deployment templates based on CIS and NIST frameworks to ensure rapid, secure onboarding.
2. Tier 4 Escalation & Forensic Mastery
  • Final Authority: Serve as the ultimate technical escalation point for the SOC, leading the response to sophisticated APTs and complex breaches.
  • Post-Mortem Leadership: Conduct deep-dive Root Cause Analysis (RCA) and translate incident findings into systemic, fleet-wide preventative measures.
3. Security Engineering & Hyper-Automation
  • Security as Code: Build the automation tissue that connects our stack, utilizing Python, PowerShell, and Terraform to automate threat containment and patch management.
  • Integration Engineering: Develop custom API integrations to bridge gaps between vulnerability scanners, RMM tools, and ticketing systems for seamless auto-remediation.
4. High-Stakes Advisory & Governance
  • Strategic vCISO: Act as a high-level advisor for key accounts, translating abstract risk into actionable business roadmaps for C-suite stakeholders.
  • Compliance Orchestration: Oversee technical evidence collection and governance for HIPAA, SOC 2, and CMMC, ensuring our clients remain audit-ready.
Technical Profile
CategoryCompetenciesCloud & IdentityExpert-level AWS/Azure security; Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA); Advanced IAM/Entra ID.SecOps & IntelligenceAdvanced SOAR/SIEM engineering (Sentinel, Splunk, CrowdStrike); MITRE ATT&CK mapping.Network DefenseDeep-packet inspection; BGP security; SD-WAN; SASE; Micro-segmentation.Automation / IaCProficiency in Python, Terraform, or Ansible for infrastructure-as-code.CertificationsCISSP (Highly Preferred), CISM, CCSP, or specialized GIAC (GCIH/GCFA).Experience & Qualifications
  • 8-12+ Years in Information Security, with a significant background (3+ years) in multi-client consulting or MSP environments.
  • Force Multiplier: Proven track record of leading cross-functional projects and mentoring senior engineers without direct-report authority.
  • Bilingual Communication: The rare ability to pivot from a deep-dive technical audit with an engineer to a risk-based ROI presentation for a CEO.

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