Paid Media Manager Jobs in California
Paid Media Manager jobs in California are among the most active in the country, concentrated in technology, entertainment, e-commerce, and direct-to-consumer brands, with openings from coordinator-level roles through senior and director positions. The heaviest hiring is in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego, where companies like Google, Meta, and Warner Bros. Discovery maintain large marketing operations and regularly bring on paid media professionals. The most in-demand specialties are paid search, programmatic display, and paid social across platforms like Meta Ads and Google Ads. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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- Sunnyvale, CA, United States
- Not Remote
- Marketing
- JOB219246
Company Description
It started with a simple idea: what if surgery could be less invasive and recovery less painful? Nearly 30 years later, that question still fuels everything we do at Intuitive. As a global leader in robotic-assisted surgery and minimally invasive care, our technologies—like the da Vinci surgical system and Ion—have transformed how care is delivered for millions of patients worldwide.
We’re a team of engineers, clinicians, and innovators united by one purpose: to make surgery smarter, safer, and more human. Every day, our work helps care teams perform with greater precision and patients recover faster, improving outcomes around the world.
The problems we solve demand creativity, rigor, and collaboration. The work is challenging, but deeply meaningful—because every improvement we make has the potential to change a life.
If you’re ready to contribute to something bigger than yourself and help transform the future of healthcare, you’ll find your purpose here.
Job Description
Primary Function of Position
We are looking for a Senior Manager, Digital Acquisition & Paid Media Strategy to join our Brand and Creative team. The Brand and Creative Team is a world-class team of strategists, storytellers, and builders who create together to bring Intuitive’s stories of impact and optimism to the world.
This role will lead Intuitive’s activation engine, driving full-funnel demand across paid media, partnerships, and high-intent ecosystems. The ideal candidate is a strategic, data-driven marketer and operator who can connect brand, content, paid media, and external partnerships into a cohesive system that drives measurable business impact.
This person will act as a key thought partner across Brand, Global Marketing, and Regional teams driving how we scale demand and build visibility in an evolving, AI-driven discovery landscape.
Essential Job Duties
- Lead, develop, set objectives and work plans for paid media strategists and stakeholders executing full-funnel activation strategies—ensuring the right channels, messages, and formats are aligned to business goals
- Provide strategic channel consulting to senior stakeholders across campaigns and initiatives
- Drive end-to-end digital campaign strategy and execution across Paid Social, Search, Display, and Programmatic channels
- Own and assure adherence to the paid media and activation budget, forecasting, work plans, and performance targets, in partnership with leadership
- Partner with brand and stakeholder teams to activate and amplify sponsorships, events, and partnerships through integrated paid and digital strategies
- Identify and scale in high-impact external ecosystems (publishers, platforms, industry partnerships) to expand reach and credibility
- Drive continuous optimization and testing frameworks across creative, targeting, and bidding strategies
- Set the standards and develop the team capabilities that sustain a culture of innovation and experimentation at scale
- Shape enterprise-wide paid media strategy influencing investment decisions, and long-term marketing direction while aligning cross-functional teams and stakeholders around a shared vision.
Qualifications
Required Skills and Experience
- Minimum 12+ years of experience leading integrated marketing programs that connect paid media, partnerships, and content across the full funnel
- 3–5+ years leading and developing high-performing teams, including developing other managers and senior specialists
- 6+ years of experience working in or adjacent to healthcare, life sciences, or other regulated industries with complex buyer journeys preferred
- Expertise in crafting playbooks and paid digital media strategies to accelerate global growth
- Fluency across paid digital media platforms including LinkedIn, Meta, TikTok, X, and Google Ads and managing campaign budgets; experience with social media platforms outside the United States is a plus
- Thorough knowledge of platform mechanics, campaign structure, custom audiences, placement and inventory
- Experience working with technical teams implementing and optimizing automation into relevant enterprise data warehouses
- Strong data and analytics background and a keen ability to understand customer data and know how to convert insights into purposeful actions to meet business needs using Google Analytics 4, Excel, Python, R, Sprinklr
- Strong written and verbal communication skills simplifying complex ideas and concepts and making them clear and actionable
- Demonstrable experience negotiating and creating process enabling and end-to-end paid media workflows in a fast-paced environment
- Travel up to 15% time
Required Education and Training
- Requires a minimum of 12 years of related experience with a college degree; or equivalent work experience
Additional Information
Due to the nature of our business and the role, please note that Intuitive and/or your customer(s) may require that you show current proof of vaccination against certain diseases including COVID-19. Details can vary by role.
Intuitive is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants and employees, and prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type, without regard to race, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, color, age, religion, protected veteran or disability status, genetic information or any other status protected under federal, state, or local applicable laws.
Mandatory Notices
U.S. Export Controls Disclaimer: In accordance with the U.S. Export Administration Regulations (15 CFR §743.13(b)), some roles at Intuitive Surgical may be subject to U.S. export controls for prospective employees who are nationals from countries currently on embargo or sanctions status.
Certain information you provide as part of the application will be used for purposes of determining whether Intuitive Surgical will need to (i) obtain an export license from the U.S. Government on your behalf (note: the government’s licensing process can take 3 to 6+ months) or (ii) implement a Technology Control Plan (“TCP”) (note: typically adds 2 weeks to the hiring process).
For any Intuitive role subject to export controls, final offers are contingent upon obtaining an approved export license and/or an executed TCP prior to the prospective employee’s start date, which may or may not be flexible, and within a timeframe that does not unreasonably impede the hiring need. If applicable, candidates will be notified and instructed on any requirements for these purposes.
We will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records in accordance with fair chance laws.
This position may be filled at a different job level than listed here depending on
business need and/or on the selected candidate’s experience, knowledge and skills.
Compensation will be based primarily on the job level at which the role is filled and the
candidate’s qualifications, consistent with applicable law.
We provide market-competitive compensation packages, inclusive of base pay, incentives, benefits, and equity. It would not be typical for someone to be hired at the top end of range for the role, as actual pay will be determined based on several factors, including experience, skills, and qualifications. The target base compensation ranges are listed.
Accommodation & Accessibility Notice:
Intuitive is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. If you require assistance or an accommodation during any part of the application or interview process, please contact People Services at HRHelpNow@intusurg.com.
Base Compensation Range Region 1: $169,600 USD - $254,400 USD
Base Compensation Range Region 2: $144,200 USD - $216,200 USD
Shift: Day
Workplace Type: Set Schedule - This job will be onsite weekly, the percentage of onsite work will be defined by the leader.
See All 31 Paid Media Manager Jobs in California
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Find Paid Media Manager JobsPaid Media Manager Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Paid Media Manager Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring



Top Industries Hiring
- Retail
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- Food & Beverage
- Technology & Software
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What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in paid media manager jobs across California.
- Bachelor's degree in marketing, advertising, communications, or a related field
- Hands-on experience managing campaigns across Google Ads and Meta Ads platforms
- Proficiency with analytics and reporting tools such as Google Analytics and Looker
- Demonstrated ability to manage significant monthly ad spend with measurable ROI
- Experience with programmatic advertising platforms and demand-side platforms
- Strong cross-functional collaboration skills with creative and analytics teams
Paid Media Manager Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a paid media manager in California?
Most paid media manager roles in California require a bachelor's degree in marketing, advertising, communications, or a closely related field, followed by hands-on campaign experience. California has no state-issued license for this role, so employers focus on platform certifications such as Google Ads and Meta Blueprint credentials, which signal verified competency. Building a portfolio of measurable campaign results and progressing through coordinator or specialist roles at California's large tech, media, or retail companies is the most common path to a manager-level position.
How much do paid media managers make in California?
Paid media managers in California earn a median of about $193,620 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $104,370 for the lowest 10% to over $326,400 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire paid media managers in California?
Employers hiring paid media managers in California right now include Innovative Metrics, Sans, and Cisco, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. California's concentration of technology headquarters, entertainment studios, and fast-growing direct-to-consumer brands makes it one of the most consistent states for ongoing paid media hiring across agency and in-house roles.
Which California cities have the most paid media manager jobs?
Los Angeles, Carson, and Irvine have the most paid media manager openings in California. Los Angeles leads because of its dense mix of entertainment companies, streaming platforms, and e-commerce brands, while San Francisco and San Jose are driven by the region's technology and SaaS sector, where performance marketing teams are a core part of growth strategy.
Are there remote paid media manager jobs in California?
Yes, and more than most fields. Paid media management is an inherently desk-based, analytical discipline that translates well to remote and hybrid arrangements. About 33% of paid media manager openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, reflecting how broadly California employers have adopted flexible work for marketing roles. Campaign strategy, optimization, and reporting are the functions most consistently offered on a remote basis.
How can I get hired as a paid media manager in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is through a paid media coordinator or digital marketing specialist role at a California agency or in-house team, where you manage smaller budgets under senior oversight. Large California employers like tech companies and retailer headquarters regularly bring on junior paid media staff who rotate through channels and build platform skills on the job. Earning Google Ads and Meta Blueprint certifications before applying gives candidates a clear edge, and internship programs at Los Angeles or San Francisco agencies are a well-established way to gain credited experience before moving into a full manager role.
Where can I find and apply to paid media manager jobs in California?
You can find and apply to paid media manager jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings across industries and experience levels. Find the roles that fit your background and apply directly to each one.
See All 31 Paid Media Manager Jobs in California
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