Program Manager Jobs in California
Program Manager jobs in California are among the most active in the country, concentrated in technology, defense, life sciences, and enterprise software across a seniority range from associate program manager through senior and director-level roles. The largest hiring hubs are the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, and San Diego, where employers like Google, Lockheed Martin, and Kaiser Permanente maintain deep and ongoing program management needs. The most in-demand specialties right now are technical program management, healthcare operations program management, and agile delivery programs tied to large-scale product and infrastructure work. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Showing 5 of 7,254+ Program Manager jobs
Role: MES Program Manager
Duration: 11+ Months
Role: Foster City, CA - onsite
Must Have's:
- 10+ years of IT program or project management experience, with a minimum of 5 years specifically managing MES implementations in Life Sciences, Biopharma, or GMP-regulated manufacturing
- ERP Integration: SAP S/4HANA PP/MM/EWM or equivalent ERP, covering production order execution, material consumption (goods issue/receipt), batch/lot management, and MES–EWM warehouse staging flows
- Enterprise ecosystem: functional understanding of LIMS (Labware, Benchling, or equivalent), QMS/QDMS (Veeva Vault or equivalent), Historian (OSI PI or equivalent), and IT/OT (OPC UA/DA, DeltaV, SCADA)
- Integration architecture: IDocs, REST/SOAP APIs, SAP PI/PO or equivalent middleware; understanding of synchronous vs. asynchronous messaging, error handling, and integration monitoring in GMP environments
- GxP/CSV: GAMP 5, 21 CFR Part 11, Annex 11, ALCOA+, IQ/OQ/PQ protocols, RTM structure, and change control governance in a validated system environment
Description:
- Own and manage the full MES program lifecycle — pre-implementation, implementation, testing, and go-live — for Werum PAS-X
- Lead the definition and delivery of all MES pre-implementation outputs: scope statement, process design confirmation, functional requirements, data readiness, fit-gap analysis, and implementation timeline
- Oversee Electronic Batch Record (EBR) design and workflow development, ensuring manufacturing processes are correctly modeled in PAS-X aligned with ISA-88 standards
- Drive the fit-gap analysis process, coordinating business analysts and SMEs to identify gaps between standard PAS-X capabilities and NCF business requirements, with resolution strategies documented
- Manage MES vendor and system integrator relationships, holding delivery teams accountable to milestones, quality standards, and contractual obligations
- Oversee MES configuration, recipe authoring, master batch record (MBR) design, and system validation activities in coordination with QA and validation teams
- Lead the end-to-end integration program between MES (PAS-X) and ERP (SAP S/4HANA or equivalent), defining all interface touchpoints, data flows, and middleware architecture
- Establish and maintain program governance structures: integrated master schedule, RAID log, decision register, change control log, and steering committee reporting cadence
- Define and track program milestones across MES, integration, and validation workstreams, providing timely escalation when scope, schedule, or quality risks emerge
- Facilitate cross-functional workshops, design reviews, and integration alignment sessions across Manufacturing, Quality, IT/OT, Supply Chain, and Enterprise Architecture teams
- Communicate program status, risks, and key decisions to senior leadership and executive sponsors in clear, concise, and executive-ready formats
- Ensure all MES and integration deliverables comply with GMP, GxP, 21 CFR Part 11, GAMP 5, and ALCOA+ requirements throughout the program lifecycle
Applicant Notices & Disclaimers
For information on benefits, equal opportunity employment, and location-specific applicant notices, click here. At SPECTRAFORCE, we are committed to maintaining a workplace that ensures fair compensation and wage transparency in adherence with all applicable state and local laws. This position's starting pay is: $50.00/hr.
Role: MES Program Manager
Duration: 11+ Months
Role: Foster City, CA - onsite
Must Have's:
- 10+ years of IT program or project management experience, with a minimum of 5 years specifically managing MES implementations in Life Sciences, Biopharma, or GMP-regulated manufacturing
- ERP Integration: SAP S/4HANA PP/MM/EWM or equivalent ERP, covering production order execution, material consumption (goods issue/receipt), batch/lot management, and MES–EWM warehouse staging flows
- Enterprise ecosystem: functional understanding of LIMS (Labware, Benchling, or equivalent), QMS/QDMS (Veeva Vault or equivalent), Historian (OSI PI or equivalent), and IT/OT (OPC UA/DA, DeltaV, SCADA)
- Integration architecture: IDocs, REST/SOAP APIs, SAP PI/PO or equivalent middleware; understanding of synchronous vs. asynchronous messaging, error handling, and integration monitoring in GMP environments
- GxP/CSV: GAMP 5, 21 CFR Part 11, Annex 11, ALCOA+, IQ/OQ/PQ protocols, RTM structure, and change control governance in a validated system environment
Description:
- Own and manage the full MES program lifecycle — pre-implementation, implementation, testing, and go-live — for Werum PAS-X
- Lead the definition and delivery of all MES pre-implementation outputs: scope statement, process design confirmation, functional requirements, data readiness, fit-gap analysis, and implementation timeline
- Oversee Electronic Batch Record (EBR) design and workflow development, ensuring manufacturing processes are correctly modeled in PAS-X aligned with ISA-88 standards
- Drive the fit-gap analysis process, coordinating business analysts and SMEs to identify gaps between standard PAS-X capabilities and NCF business requirements, with resolution strategies documented
- Manage MES vendor and system integrator relationships, holding delivery teams accountable to milestones, quality standards, and contractual obligations
- Oversee MES configuration, recipe authoring, master batch record (MBR) design, and system validation activities in coordination with QA and validation teams
- Lead the end-to-end integration program between MES (PAS-X) and ERP (SAP S/4HANA or equivalent), defining all interface touchpoints, data flows, and middleware architecture
- Establish and maintain program governance structures: integrated master schedule, RAID log, decision register, change control log, and steering committee reporting cadence
- Define and track program milestones across MES, integration, and validation workstreams, providing timely escalation when scope, schedule, or quality risks emerge
- Facilitate cross-functional workshops, design reviews, and integration alignment sessions across Manufacturing, Quality, IT/OT, Supply Chain, and Enterprise Architecture teams
- Communicate program status, risks, and key decisions to senior leadership and executive sponsors in clear, concise, and executive-ready formats
- Ensure all MES and integration deliverables comply with GMP, GxP, 21 CFR Part 11, GAMP 5, and ALCOA+ requirements throughout the program lifecycle
Applicant Notices & Disclaimers
For information on benefits, equal opportunity employment, and location-specific applicant notices, click here. At SPECTRAFORCE, we are committed to maintaining a workplace that ensures fair compensation and wage transparency in adherence with all applicable state and local laws. This position's starting pay is: $50.00/hr.
See All 7,254+ Program Manager Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Program Manager JobsProgram Manager Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Program Manager Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Apple408
- Amazon274
- BKF Engineers180
- Google169
- NVIDIA165
Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software2,106
- Consulting & Professional Services860
- Electronics & Hardware753
- Construction & Real Estate418
- Retail326
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in program manager jobs across California.
- Bachelor's degree in business, engineering, computer science, or a related field required
- PMP certification preferred or required for mid-level and senior program manager roles
- Five or more years managing cross-functional programs in a California industry context
- Demonstrated proficiency with program tracking tools such as Jira, Smartsheet, or Asana
- Experience coordinating across engineering, product, and business stakeholder teams
- Strong written and verbal communication skills for executive-level reporting and updates
Program Manager Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a program manager in California?
Most program manager roles in California require a bachelor's degree in a relevant field such as business administration, engineering, or computer science, along with several years of project or program coordination experience. California does not issue a state-specific license for program managers, but the Project Management Professional certification from PMI is widely treated as a de facto standard by California technology, defense, and healthcare employers. Building experience through coordinator or project manager roles first is the most common path.
Which companies hire program managers in California?
Employers hiring program managers in California right now include Apple, Amazon, and BKF Engineers, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of June 2026. California's dense concentration of technology headquarters, defense contractors, and large integrated health systems makes it one of the deepest program management job markets in the country.
Which California cities have the most program manager jobs?
San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Santa Clara consistently have the most program manager openings in California. The Bay Area dominates because of its concentration of major technology and enterprise software headquarters, Los Angeles draws heavily from entertainment technology, aerospace, and healthcare, and San Diego is driven by defense contractors, biotech, and life sciences employers that run complex multi-year programs.
Are there remote program manager jobs in California?
Yes, and more than most fields. Program management is a coordination and communication role that translates well to distributed work environments. About 21% of program manager openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of June 2026, reflecting the technology-heavy nature of the California market. The most remote-friendly specialties are technical program management and software delivery roles at product-focused companies.
How can I get hired as a program manager in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is moving into a program coordinator or project coordinator role first, then building toward program management. Large California technology employers like Google and Apple run associate program manager rotational programs that accept recent graduates. Defense contractors in the Los Angeles and San Diego markets regularly hire junior program coordinators who hold a relevant degree. Earning a CAPM certification from PMI and gaining hands-on experience with tools like Jira or Smartsheet gives candidates without direct experience a measurable edge in California applications.
Where can I find and apply to program manager jobs in California?
You can find and apply to program manager jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings across technology, defense, healthcare, and enterprise sectors. Find the roles that fit your experience and apply directly from the listing.
See All 7,254+ Program Manager Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Program Manager Jobs