Applications Manager Jobs in California
Applications Manager jobs in California are in strong demand, with concentrated hiring in enterprise software, healthcare IT, and financial services industries across entry-level analyst roles through senior director positions. The largest hiring activity is in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego, where established employers like Salesforce, Kaiser Permanente, and Wells Fargo maintain significant operations and regularly seek applications managers to oversee complex software portfolios. The most sought-after specialties in California include enterprise resource planning implementation, cloud application governance, and healthcare information systems management. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Showing 5 of 40+ Applications Manager jobs
About the Role
We are seeking an experienced Senior Applications Manager to lead our SAP functional team and drive the strategic direction of our enterprise applications portfolio. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience managing SAP implementations, upgrades, and support operations, with a strong preference for candidates who have worked with SAP S/4HANA for Fashion and Vertical Business.
You’ll Make a Difference By
Team Leadership & Management
- Leading and managing a team of SAP functional consultants across multiple modules (FI/CO, MM, SD, etc.)
- Providing strategic direction, mentorship, and professional development for team members
- Conducting performance evaluations, setting goals, and managing resource allocation across projects
- Fostering a collaborative team environment and promoting knowledge sharing
SAP Application Management
- Overseeing the design, configuration, and optimization of SAP systems to meet business requirements
- Managing SAP system upgrades, patches, and enhancement implementations
- Ensuring system stability, performance, and availability through proactive monitoring and support
- Developing and maintaining an SAP application roadmap aligned with business strategy
Business Partnership & Strategy
- Collaborating with business stakeholders to understand requirements and translating them into SAP solutions
- Partnering with IT leadership to align SAP strategy with the overall technology roadmap
- Providing thought leadership on SAP best practices and industry trends
- Managing vendor relationships and service level agreements
Project & Change Management
- Leading SAP-related projects from initiation through post-implementation support
- Coordinating with technical teams on integrations, custom developments, and data migration
Other duties as assigned
About You
- Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Business Administration, or related field
- 10+ years of experience working with SAP ERP systems
- 5+ years of experience managing SAP functional teams
- Deep functional knowledge across multiple SAP modules (minimum 2–3 modules)
- Proven track record of successful SAP implementations, upgrades, or transformations
- Strong understanding of business processes and how SAP supports them
- Excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills
- Experience with project management methodologies (Agile, Waterfall, SAP Activate)
- Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with SAP S/4HANA for Fashion and Vertical Business (FMS)
- S/4HANA implementation or migration experience
- Knowledge of SAP Fiori, SAP Analytics Cloud, or other SAP cloud solutions
- Experience in retail, apparel, or fashion industry
- SAP certifications in relevant modules or areas
- Experience with ITIL or other IT service management frameworks
- Knowledge of integration technologies (SAP PI/PO, CPI, APIs)
About Ariat
Ariat is an innovative, outdoor global brand with roots in equestrian performance. We develop high-quality footwear and apparel for people who ride, work, and play outdoors, and care about performance, quality, comfort, and style.
Salary Range
- The salary range for this position is $160,000 - $180,000 per year.
The salary is determined by the education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities of the applicant, internal equity, and alignment with market data for geographic locations. Ariat in good faith believes that this posted compensation range is accurate for this role at this location at the time of this posting. This range may be modified in the future.
Benefits
Ariat’s holistic benefits package for full-time team members includes (but is not limited to):
- Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance options
- Expanded wellness and mental health benefits
- Paid time off (PTO), paid holidays, and paid volunteer days
- 401(k) with company match
- Bonus incentive plans
- Team member discount on Ariat merchandise
Note: Availability of benefits may be subject to location & employment type and may have certain eligibility requirements. Ariat reserves the right to alter these benefits in whole or in part at any time without advance notice.
Ariat will consider qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with state and local laws. Ariat is an Equal Opportunity Employer and considers applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, orientation, national origin, age, disability, genetics or any other basis protected under federal, state, or local law. Ariat is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to candidates with disabilities. If you need an accommodation during the application process, email human.resources@ariat.com.
Please see our Employment Candidate Privacy Policy at www.ariat.com/careers to learn more about how we collect, use, retain and disclose Personal Information.
Please note that Ariat does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters or employment agencies. In the absence of a signed Agreement, Ariat will not consider or agree to payment of any referral compensation or recruiter/agency placement fee. In the event a recruiter or agency submits a resume or candidate without a previously signed Agreement, Ariat explicitly reserves the right to pursue and hire those candidate(s) without any financial obligation to the recruiter or agency. Any unsolicited resumes, including those submitted directly to hiring managers, are deemed to be the property of Ariat.
#CO1
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $160,000.00 - $180,000.00 per year
Work Location: Hybrid remote in San Leandro, CA 94577
About the Role
We are seeking an experienced Senior Applications Manager to lead our SAP functional team and drive the strategic direction of our enterprise applications portfolio. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience managing SAP implementations, upgrades, and support operations, with a strong preference for candidates who have worked with SAP S/4HANA for Fashion and Vertical Business.
You’ll Make a Difference By
Team Leadership & Management
- Leading and managing a team of SAP functional consultants across multiple modules (FI/CO, MM, SD, etc.)
- Providing strategic direction, mentorship, and professional development for team members
- Conducting performance evaluations, setting goals, and managing resource allocation across projects
- Fostering a collaborative team environment and promoting knowledge sharing
SAP Application Management
- Overseeing the design, configuration, and optimization of SAP systems to meet business requirements
- Managing SAP system upgrades, patches, and enhancement implementations
- Ensuring system stability, performance, and availability through proactive monitoring and support
- Developing and maintaining an SAP application roadmap aligned with business strategy
Business Partnership & Strategy
- Collaborating with business stakeholders to understand requirements and translating them into SAP solutions
- Partnering with IT leadership to align SAP strategy with the overall technology roadmap
- Providing thought leadership on SAP best practices and industry trends
- Managing vendor relationships and service level agreements
Project & Change Management
- Leading SAP-related projects from initiation through post-implementation support
- Coordinating with technical teams on integrations, custom developments, and data migration
Other duties as assigned
About You
- Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Business Administration, or related field
- 10+ years of experience working with SAP ERP systems
- 5+ years of experience managing SAP functional teams
- Deep functional knowledge across multiple SAP modules (minimum 2–3 modules)
- Proven track record of successful SAP implementations, upgrades, or transformations
- Strong understanding of business processes and how SAP supports them
- Excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills
- Experience with project management methodologies (Agile, Waterfall, SAP Activate)
- Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with SAP S/4HANA for Fashion and Vertical Business (FMS)
- S/4HANA implementation or migration experience
- Knowledge of SAP Fiori, SAP Analytics Cloud, or other SAP cloud solutions
- Experience in retail, apparel, or fashion industry
- SAP certifications in relevant modules or areas
- Experience with ITIL or other IT service management frameworks
- Knowledge of integration technologies (SAP PI/PO, CPI, APIs)
About Ariat
Ariat is an innovative, outdoor global brand with roots in equestrian performance. We develop high-quality footwear and apparel for people who ride, work, and play outdoors, and care about performance, quality, comfort, and style.
Salary Range
- The salary range for this position is $160,000 - $180,000 per year.
The salary is determined by the education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities of the applicant, internal equity, and alignment with market data for geographic locations. Ariat in good faith believes that this posted compensation range is accurate for this role at this location at the time of this posting. This range may be modified in the future.
Benefits
Ariat’s holistic benefits package for full-time team members includes (but is not limited to):
- Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance options
- Expanded wellness and mental health benefits
- Paid time off (PTO), paid holidays, and paid volunteer days
- 401(k) with company match
- Bonus incentive plans
- Team member discount on Ariat merchandise
Note: Availability of benefits may be subject to location & employment type and may have certain eligibility requirements. Ariat reserves the right to alter these benefits in whole or in part at any time without advance notice.
Ariat will consider qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with state and local laws. Ariat is an Equal Opportunity Employer and considers applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, orientation, national origin, age, disability, genetics or any other basis protected under federal, state, or local law. Ariat is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to candidates with disabilities. If you need an accommodation during the application process, email human.resources@ariat.com.
Please see our Employment Candidate Privacy Policy at www.ariat.com/careers to learn more about how we collect, use, retain and disclose Personal Information.
Please note that Ariat does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters or employment agencies. In the absence of a signed Agreement, Ariat will not consider or agree to payment of any referral compensation or recruiter/agency placement fee. In the event a recruiter or agency submits a resume or candidate without a previously signed Agreement, Ariat explicitly reserves the right to pursue and hire those candidate(s) without any financial obligation to the recruiter or agency. Any unsolicited resumes, including those submitted directly to hiring managers, are deemed to be the property of Ariat.
#CO1
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $160,000.00 - $180,000.00 per year
Work Location: Hybrid remote in San Leandro, CA 94577
See All 40 Applications Manager Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Applications Manager JobsApplications Manager Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Applications Manager Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Zoox7
- Monolithic Power Systems6
- Aaa Texas1
- Abbott Diagnostics Scarborough1
- Ariat International1
Top Industries Hiring
- Electronics & Hardware8
- Technology & Software8
- Manufacturing6
- Automotive4
- Artificial Intelligence2
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in applications manager jobs across California.
- Bachelor's degree in computer science, information systems, or a related technical field
- Five or more years of experience managing enterprise applications or software systems
- Demonstrated experience with ERP platforms such as SAP, Oracle, or Workday
- Proficiency in ITIL or similar IT service management frameworks
- Strong project management background, including Agile or Scrum methodologies
- Experience collaborating with cross-functional teams and vendor management in large organizations
Applications Manager Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a applications manager in California?
Most applications manager roles in California require a bachelor's degree in computer science, information systems, or a closely related discipline, followed by progressive experience in application support or systems administration. California employers strongly favor candidates with certifications such as PMP or ITIL Foundation. There is no state-issued license specific to this role, so building a portfolio of enterprise application projects and earning vendor-specific credentials from platforms like Salesforce or SAP sharpens a candidate's profile considerably.
How much do applications managers make in California?
Applications managers in California earn a median of about $218,290 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $129,970 for the lowest 10% to over $325,970 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire applications managers in California?
Employers hiring applications managers in California right now include Zoox, Monolithic Power Systems, and Aaa Texas, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of June 2026. California's concentration of technology headquarters, major health systems, and financial services firms means consistent, year-round demand for this role across the state.
Which California cities have the most applications manager jobs?
San Jose, Foster City, and Irvine account for the largest share of applications manager openings in California. San Francisco leads because of its dense concentration of technology companies and enterprise software vendors, while Los Angeles draws hiring from entertainment, healthcare, and financial services sectors, and San Diego's biotech and defense industries generate steady demand for experienced applications managers.
Are there remote applications manager jobs in California?
Yes, and more than most fields, since applications management is primarily a desk-based, systems-oversight role that translates well to distributed work arrangements. About 25% of applications manager openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of June 2026, reflecting how broadly California technology employers have adopted flexible work policies. The portions of the role most commonly performed remotely include vendor coordination, system monitoring, and application lifecycle planning.
How can I get hired as a applications manager in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is securing a systems analyst, IT support specialist, or junior application administrator role at a mid-size or enterprise California employer, then building toward management from within. Large California health systems such as Kaiser Permanente and Dignity Health, as well as technology firms headquartered in the Bay Area, run associate IT programs and rotational technology tracks that onboard candidates without direct management experience. Earning an ITIL Foundation certification or a Salesforce or Workday administrator credential provides a meaningful edge when competing for that first step-up opportunity.
Where can I find and apply to applications manager jobs in California?
You can find and apply to applications manager jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings across industries and experience levels. Find roles that fit your background and apply directly to the ones that match.
See All 40 Applications Manager Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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