$155.69k - $210.14k
looking for a CCNP or higher, or at least 10 years of network engineering experience. We need hands-on expertise with Cisco routers and... .... We serve as a CMS Level 2 user and are responsible for securely opening and…
Engineering & IT · San Diego, CA
Security Engineer jobs in San Diego, CA
Security engineers protect systems and data by finding vulnerabilities, building defenses, and responding to incidents. The work spans application security, infrastructure hardening, and threat detection.
190
Open roles today
$45–$119/hr
Typical pay range
$156k
Median, full-time
3
Fresh in this list
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01
Open security engineer roles
12 shown of 190 · sorted by freshness
$75k - $100k
Sigma Defense is seeking a Network Engineer I-III to support the design, implementation, and sustainment of the Navy’s enterprise networks. The hired candidate will design, configure, secure, automate, and document high-…
$120k - $130k
Sigma Defense is seeking a Network Engineer III to support our team in San Diego, CA. The MQ-25 and Unmanned Carrier Aviation (UCA) Mission... ...CCNE Mandatory Certifications DoD 8570 IAT Level II ( Security +) CCNA Com…
Position Description & Qualifications Are you a Network Engineer looking for a place to make an impact every day? Serco is the place... ...Integrate new systems into existing PSS network Implement secure network architec…
and workload impacts You Have: ~U.S. Citizenship ~TS/SCI Security Clearance with no Foreign Exception Package (FEP) requirements... ...both tactical and strategic levels ~Experience with network engineering functions, in…
$93.6k - $100k
is seeking a highly motivated and technically skilled Network Engineer to join our team in supporting enterprise network modernization... ...-focused environment. This position requires an active DoD security clearance.…
$135k - $160k
—one of San Diego’s fastest-growing Aerospace and Defense innovators. Here, visionary minds engineer the future of space technology through pioneering, compact, and cyber- secure solutions. From software-defined radios t…
professionals. We are looking for a talented ‘Future Capabilities Network Engineer' to support Network Engineering efforts for the Future... ...ability to maintain a Department of Defense (DoD) Secret Level Security Clea…
from increasingly sophisticated cyber and AI-driven threats, securing their AI transformation. Our prevention-first approach safeguards... .... Feed prospect feedback directly into Product and Engineering, helping shape…
Description ActioNet has an opportunity for an C2 Network Engineer requiring a Secret clearancelocated in San Diego County, CA. ActioNet... ...plan, develop, analyze, and assess the network communications security archit…
Description ActioNet has an opportunity for a Network Engineer requiring a Secret clearance located in San Diego County, CA.... ...network and innovate our ability to modernize the network in a secure fashion. Provide so…
$89.83k - $108.59k
currently seeking an enthusiastic, versatile, and resourceful Network Engineer (Level II) to work in San Diego, CA. You will be a team member... ...members in other disciplines (i.e., Systems Engineering; Cyber Security;…
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What security engineers earn in San Diego
Hourly first — that's how the offer arrives
| Experience | Hourly | Annual, full-time |
|---|---|---|
| Entry level | $45–$62 | $94k–$130k |
| Mid level | $62–$88 | $130k–$183k |
| Senior | $85–$119 | $177k–$248k |
Adjusted for the San Diego market from national ranges.
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What employers ask for
The skills these listings keep naming
Threat modelingOWASP and web app securityNetwork and cloud securityIncident responseScripting (Python, Bash)SIEM and detection toolingIdentity and access managementVulnerability managementExplaining risk to non-experts
04
Interview questions worth rehearsing
With the thing the interviewer is actually listening for
Walk me through how you would threat model a new feature.
Use a structure — assets, entry points, attacker goals — and show that you rank risks rather than listing everything. STRIDE is a fine scaffold if you actually apply it.
You find a critical vulnerability in production. What are your next steps?
Verify, assess exposure, contain, and coordinate disclosure and fix — with communication throughout. Panic-free process is the whole answer.
Explain a recent vulnerability class or breach and what you took from it.
Staying current is part of the job. Pick something real, explain the root cause simply, and connect it to a defense you would build.
How do you get developers to fix security issues they see as low priority?
Show empathy for delivery pressure: translate risk into business impact, make fixes easy, and build guardrails so the secure path is the default.
How would you secure a cloud environment from scratch?
Cover identity first, then network segmentation, logging, encryption, and automated policy checks. Saying 'IAM is where most cloud breaches start' shows you know the terrain.
What is the difference between authentication and authorization, and where do systems commonly get it wrong?
Define both crisply, then give a real failure mode like broken object-level authorization. The follow-through example is what distinguishes the answer.
Tell me about a security control you built or improved.
Describe the risk it addressed and evidence it worked — findings reduced, detection time improved. Controls without measurement are just hopes.
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Resume tips that move the needle
For security engineers specifically — generic advice costs you here
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Lead with concrete defensive wins: vulnerabilities remediated, detection coverage added, incident response times improved.
02
List relevant certifications (Security+, OSCP, CISSP) prominently; this field still screens on them.
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Name the domains you cover — appsec, cloud security, detection — since 'security' alone is too broad to place you.
04
Mention responsible disclosures, CTF results, or published research if you have them; they are strong credibility signals.
05
Show you can work with engineers, not just audit them — secure code reviews, training, or paved-road tooling you built.
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Where this role goes
Typical progression
01
Security Analyst
02
Security Engineer
03
Senior Security Engineer
04
Security Architect
05
CISO
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