How to hire a cyber security engineer

How to hire a cyber security engineer, step by step

Here's a step-by-step cyber security engineer hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a cyber security engineer job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new cyber security engineer
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a cyber security engineer do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a cyber security engineer, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A cyber security engineer's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, cyber security engineers from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list shows salaries for various types of cyber security engineers.

   Type of Cyber Security Engineer	Description	Hourly rate
   Cyber Security Engineer	Information security analysts plan and carry out security measures to protect an organization’s computer networks and systems. Their responsibilities are continually expanding as the number of cyberattacks increases.	$36-62
   Securities Analyst	Securities analysts, also known as financial analysts, are responsible for collecting and interpreting data on securities, economies, corporate strategies, and financial markets. They provide clients with recommendations on investments based on in-depth research... Show more	$28-56
   Securities Consultant	A securities consultant is responsible for maintaining the safety and security of the company's premises, including enforcing protection for all the employees and company assets. Securities consultants also handle the confidentiality and stability of data network systems to prevent potential breaches and unauthorized access to information... Show more	$34-55

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Cyber Security
   • Python
   • Linux
   • Architecture
   • NIST
   • Incident Response
   • DOD
   • RMF
   • Firewall
   • SIEM
   • Security Tools
   • Network Security
   • Cloud Security
   • Java

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Facilitate and manage weekly meetings between CyberCom, DISA and all OSD components.
   • Manage security patching life cycle and approve change control requests, firewall rules and DLP policies.
   • Manage, configure, and maintain all servers within the environments, including Cisco network routers, switches, and firewalls.
   • Lead security authorization efforts to obtain and maintain an authorization to operate (ATO) for customers' core financial system.
   • Manage efforts to consolidate customer VPN infrastructure.
   • Lead numerous DLP upgrades and process improvements and successfully implement application security program.

   More cyber security engineer duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your cyber security engineer job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A cyber security engineer can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, cyber security engineers' average salary in illinois is 30% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level cyber security engineers 43% less than senior-level cyber security engineers.
   • Certifications. A cyber security engineer with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a cyber security engineer's salary.

   Average cyber security engineer salary

   $99,492yearly

   $47.83 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level cyber security engineer salary

   $75,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 14, 2025

   Average cyber security engineer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$122,943	$59
   2	Washington	$100,135	$48
   3	Arizona	$99,612	$48
   4	Georgia	$98,224	$47
   5	Texas	$96,332	$46
   6	Massachusetts	$95,007	$46
   7	Wisconsin	$94,972	$46
   8	New Mexico	$94,829	$46
   9	Maryland	$94,776	$46
   10	Pennsylvania	$94,349	$45
   11	North Carolina	$94,103	$45
   12	New York	$93,880	$45
   13	Indiana	$91,785	$44
   14	Virginia	$91,755	$44
   15	Utah	$88,695	$43
   16	Missouri	$88,162	$42
   17	Alabama	$87,419	$42
   18	Colorado	$87,264	$42
   19	South Carolina	$87,129	$42
   20	Iowa	$86,943	$42

   Average cyber security engineer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Dotdash	$146,211	$70.29
   2	ORIX USA	$141,880	$68.21
   3	CTC	$132,702	$63.80	4
   4	CME Group	$130,099	$62.55	3
   5	Amazon	$127,263	$61.18	143
   6	Argo AI	$125,494	$60.33
   7	Deluxe Entertainment Services Group Inc.	$125,162	$60.17
   8	Parsons	$124,704	$59.95	17
   9	Avid	$122,806	$59.04	6
   10	Moody's	$122,367	$58.83	1
   11	Citi	$122,026	$58.67	7
   12	MUFG EMEA	$119,143	$57.28
   13	Burlington	$119,098	$57.26	2
   14	BP America Inc	$117,902	$56.68
   15	JPMorgan Chase & Co.	$116,715	$56.11	75
   16	J.P. Morgan	$116,629	$56.07
   17	Splunk	$116,537	$56.03
   18	Clear Channel Airport	$115,988	$55.76
   19	BNY Mellon	$115,893	$55.72	1
   20	Silicon Valley Bank	$115,391	$55.48

4. Writing a cyber security engineer job description

   A good cyber security engineer job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a cyber security engineer job description:

   Cyber security engineer job description example

   This role will provide you the opportunity to lead key activities to progress in your career, these responsibilities include some of the following:
   
   Security architect leader of extra-large and large projects across the enterprise including multiple functional and technical areas with wide range of complexity. Ensures architectural principles are applied to reduce risk and drives adoption and adherence to policy, standards and guidelines.
   
   Design, architect, implement security technologies such as (but not limited to) (1) access management technologies to protect access to Kimberly-Clark resources and (2) multi-tier cloud and on-premise architecture to support high availability/fault tolerance
   
   Develop strategy and execution plans for the digital landscape to enable Kimberly-Clark security to move from reactive to adaptive
   
   Develops security policy, standards and guidelines appropriate to business, technology and legal requirements and in accordance with best professional and industry practice.
   
   Manages engagements with vendors as they relate to evaluation, design and delivery of business capabilities
   We are looking for professionals with these required skills to achieve our goals: 5+ years information technology experience Extensive understanding of Industry Standards for Single Sign-On (SSO). Also known as Modern OAuth Experience working with IDaaS (Identity as a service) Experience with Access Management tools Nice to have: Experience as Architect / Engineer in top 3 Cloud technologies (Azure, AWS or GCP). Experience working on API architect, design and implementation. Experience working on IoT Security. Experience on Cisco ISE platform. About Us: Huggies . Kleenex . Cottonelle . Scott . Kotex . Poise . Depend . 25% of people in the world use Kimberly-Clark products every day, and it takes the best people to make that happen. We're founded on 150 years of market leadership, and we're always looking for new and better ways to perform, especially when it comes to product and process innovation. Our customers are always looking for new and better. Our competitors won't stop evolving. And our communities demand responsible corporate practices. We need bold, transformative ideas from people who can turn them into reality. That means there's no time like the present to make an impact at Kimberly-Clark. It's all here for you at Kimberly-Clark. About You: You were made to do this work: Your knowledge of Cyber Security, Networking and/or System Administration along with the ability to communicate with stakeholders and vendors will yield incredible results for our Cyber Security team. You love what you do, especially when your work makes a difference. At Kimberly-Clark, we're constantly exploring new ideas on how, when, and where we can best achieve results. When you join our team, you'll experience Flex That Works: flexible (hybrid) work arrangements that empower you to have purposeful time in the office and partner with your leader to make flexibility work for both you and the business. Total Benefits: Here are a few of the benefits you'd enjoy. For a complete overview, see www.mykcbenefits.com. Great support for good health with medical, dental, and vision coverage options. No waiting periods or pre-existing condition restrictions. Access to an on-site fitness center, occupational health nurse, and allowances for high-quality safety equipment. Flexible Savings and spending accounts to maximize health care options and stretch dollars when caring for yourself or dependents. Diverse income protection insurance options to protect yourself and your family in case of illness, injury, or other unexpected events. Additional programs and support to continue your education, adopt a child, relocate, or even find temporary childcare. To Be Considered: Click the Apply button and complete the online application process. A member of our recruiting team will review your application and follow up if you seem like a great fit for this role. In the meantime, check out the career's website. You'll want to review this and come prepared with relevant questions if and when you pass GO and begin interviews. And finally, the fine print… For Kimberly-Clark to grow and prosper, we must be an inclusive organization that applies the diverse experiences and passions of its team members to brands that make life better for people all around the world. We actively seek to build a workforce that reflects the experiences of our consumers. When you bring your original thinking to Kimberly-Clark, you fuel the continued success of our enterprise. We are a committed equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, pregnancy, genetic information, citizenship status, or any other characteristic protected by law. The statements above are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by employees assigned to this classification. Statements are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities and skills required for this position. This role is available for local candidates already authorized to work in the role's country only. K-C will not provide relocation support for this role. #Remote Global VISA and Relocation Specifications: Primary Location USA-GA-Atlanta-Roswell Additional Locations USA-TX-Dallas, USA-WI-Neenah Worker Type Employee Worker Sub-Type Regular Time Type Full time

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right cyber security engineer for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your cyber security engineer job on Zippia to find and recruit cyber security engineer candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with cyber security engineer candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   If your interviews with cyber security engineer applicants aren't enough to make a decision, you should also consider including a test project. These are often the best, most straightforward, and least bias-prone ways of determining who will likely succeed in the role. If you don't know how to design an appropriate test, you can ask someone else on the team to create it or take a look at these websites to get a few ideas:

   • TestDome
   • CodeSignal
   • Testlify
   • BarRaiser
   • Coderbyte

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new cyber security engineer

   Once you've found the cyber security engineer candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire a cyber security engineer?