Senior IT Project Manager Jobs in California
Senior IT Project Manager jobs in California are among the most active in the country, concentrated in technology, defense, healthcare, and financial services across a market that consistently absorbs demand at every level from associate PM through senior director. The largest hiring hubs are the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, and San Diego, where employers like Salesforce, Kaiser Permanente, and Northrop Grumman maintain substantial project management functions. Agile transformation, cloud migration, and cybersecurity program delivery are the most in-demand specialties right now. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Location:
Sacramento, CA, US, 95817-1899
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Category: Information Technology/Telecommunications
Minimum Pay Rate: $128,481.60
Maximum Pay Rate: $170,144.00
Civil Service Status: Non-Civil Service
Apply by Date: 09/28/2026
Posting Type: Open
SMUD is offering an exciting opportunity to join one of the segments of the IT PMO! This part-time position project manager II position will work between 36-38 hours per week and will join a team that uses waterfall, agile and a combination (Hybrid) to deliver a variety of technology projects of varying size, complexity and duration. This position will focus upon:
Leadership of complex initiatives with high-level visibility and performance expectations.
Navigation and coordination across multiple business and IT work teams to ensure broad understanding of effort and ensure successful work delivery.
Work closely with a third-party system integrator and multiple subcontractors to ensure continual alignment of an overarching detailed project plan.
Identify and manage sequencing requirements and technical dependencies across multiple internal and external work teams.
Ensuring all integration requirements are identified and coordinated across a variety of SMUD systems.
Ensure accurate and timely budget monitoring and forecast adjustments.
Purpose
Provides project management and professional skills and services in assigned area including to plan, organize, manage, coordinate, and execute activities related to assigned projects to ensure adequate, reliable, efficient, and cost effective systems and projects for SMUD.
Nature and Scope
Serves as an advanced journey level resource in a relevant professional discipline; works independently on projects of moderate complexity; exercises independent judgment and discretion; may serve in a Lead role and assist in planning, coordinating, prioritizing, monitoring and evaluating the work results in assigned area and in selecting, training, motivating, evaluating and developing lower-level personnel.
This role typically oversees or leads multiple small projects, or at least one large complex project. May manage a smaller portfolios of projects with budgets of up to $5,000,000.
Duties and Responsibilities
Coordinates activities and projects in assigned area; develops necessary project plans, cost estimates, project budgets, work breakdowns and schedules, and project summary descriptions and justifications for department review.
Coordinates project planning with other staff through meetings and shared written and oral reporting and communications.
Ensures assigned work activities successfully contribute to the overall completion of assigned projects; plans, coordinates, prioritizes, monitors, guides, reviews, and conducts work activities associated with assigned projects in accordance with established task objectives and schedule as outlined in the project plans.
Reviews the work of project team members; ensures work methods meet SMUD policies and quality standards; provides project guidance to project team; prepares employee performance evaluations, conducts one-on-one feedback sessions, and identifies and implements development actions to improve employee performance and skill base.
Negotiate, prepare, and manage participation agreements and other contracts with outside contractors as needed; directs contractor activities in accordance with contract requirements.
Develop and monitor project resources as necessary to complete project tasks ensuring proper and efficient use of SMUD and other participant resources and smooth coordination with external parties.
Ensures the availability of timely and accurate project status and related information on assigned projects; collects, verifies, organizes, and maintains data; prepares and provides written summaries, reports, and recommendations for SMUD projects; responds verbally or in writing to inquiries on projects from SMUD management, Board of Directors, regulatory bodies, other utilities, public agencies, and other SMUD departments.
Performs related duties as required.
Required Education
A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in a field directly related to area of assignment or equivalent experience. If no degree, nine or more (9+) years of relevant experience is required.
Required Experience Qualifications
Five or more (5+) years of progressively responsible relevant project management work experience in one or more of the following technical areas: financial/economic analysis, marketing and customer research, technical and engineering analysis, or planning and business development to include at least one year in a responsible project leadership role.
Required Licenses/Certificates
Incumbent must obtain a Project Management Institute PMP Certification within 12 months of appointment to this classification
Acceptable alternative education or certification include:
Project Management Institute - ACP Agile Certified Practitioner
Engineering Degree, and requisite experience
Construction Mgmt Degree, and requisite experience
Professional Engineer Certification, and requisite experience
Construction Mgmt Certification, and requisite experience
Knowledge Of
Project management principles and practices; SMUD operations; SMUD policies, procedures, applicable MOUs, and other special agreements; federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations pertinent to area of assignment; cost control, scheduling, and budgeting principles and practices; performance measurement techniques; proposal preparation techniques; contractual mechanisms and common terms and conditions; accounting fundamentals; management reporting; management control system fundamentals; total quality management philosophies, tools and techniques; practices for reviewing work assignments; safety policies, practices, and procedures; standard operating procedures for modern office equipment including a computer and applicable software; English grammar, punctuation and vocabulary standards.
Skills To
Project management principles and practices; SMUD operations; SMUD policies, procedures, applicable MOUs, and other special agreements; federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations pertinent to area of assignment; cost control, scheduling, and budgeting principles and practices; performance measurement techniques; proposal preparation techniques; contractual mechanisms and common terms and conditions; accounting fundamentals; management reporting; management control system fundamentals; total quality management philosophies, tools and techniques; practices for reviewing work assignments; safety policies, practices, and procedures; standard operating procedures for modern office equipment including a computer and applicable software; English grammar, punctuation and vocabulary standards.
Desirable Qualifications
Three or more (3+) years of experience managing large scale complex and highly visible projects that include management of application vendor or system integrator resources demonstrating ability to anticipate next steps and ensure continuous forward progress.
Three or more (3+) years of experience in PMO environments.
Knowledge of Clarity, Atlassian JIRA and Align, MS Project and SharePoint to implement technology.
Demonstrated ability to manage multiple stakeholders, vendors (including multiple sub-constructors) and cross-functional teams with business and technical subject matter experts.
One or more (1+) years experience in both Waterfall and Agile delivery methodologies; Scrum certification a plus.
Excellent communicator with strong leadership and conflict resolution skills.
Physical Requirements
Applicants must be able to perform the essential job functions with or without a reasonable accommodation.
Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) - Who We Are
As the nation's sixth-largest community-owned electric service provider, we're proud of our reputation as one of the best places to work in Sacramento. Our employees tell us in our engagement surveys they're "Happy, satisfied and engaged" which helps create a workplace that best serves our customers. Sacramento was named as the 2nd happiest place to work in America by Forbes Magazine. Lake Tahoe, San Francisco and the world-renowned Napa Valley are within easy driving distance of our locations.
Our Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion
SMUD celebrates diversity, and inspires an inclusive culture based on trust and respect to create belonging and connection among our employees, customers, and communities. By working together, we are powering positive, equitable opportunities for all. We aspire to be a workplace where you can be yourself, achieve your best, and thrive together.
An example of our commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging is when SMUD signed the California Equal Pay Pledge in 2020. This requires equal pay for employees who perform “substantially similar work,” when viewed as a composite of skill, effort, and responsibility at the time those employees started within that classification. As such, initial hiring salary range is not subject to negotiation and salaries will vary over time based on performance.
SMUD is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate in employment decisions on the basis of race, color, religion, gender (including pregnancy), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, veteran status, or any other applicable legally protected characteristic. All employment decisions are made on the basis of individual qualifications, merit, and business needs and interests.
Why Sacramento, California?
The capitol of California, Sacramento is the state's sixth-largest city, and the 35th largest in the U.S. Local universities include California State University, University of the Pacific's McGeorge School of Law, and the University of California, Davis and several competitive community colleges. The UC Davis Medical Center, a world-renowned research hospital, is one of more than a dozen hospitals and shared services centers in the Sacramento region. Part of the agriculturally-rich Central Valley, Sacramento is at the forefront of the farm-to-fork food movement. Northern California is home to some of the country's top technology companies, including Google and LinkedIn, and a multitude of startups in many industries. Sacramento is home to the NBA Kings, the River Cats (AAA baseball), the Republic FC (soccer) and the San Francisco Giants, NBA Warriors and NFL 49er's aren't far away. Sacramento offers an affluent liberal arts community with Broadway, Mondavi Center, Crocker Museum and summer musical theater to name a few.
Hybrid Work
This position will be required to work onsite one or more days a week on a regular basis; sometimes more or less, depending on the work and, at any of our SMUD locations. SMUD takes pride in powering the Sacramento region community where we live and work. We value the strong working relationships we develop with our colleagues. Our approach to remote work will continue to evolve. Please be aware that should SMUD’s business needs change, emergencies occur, or various other reasons arise, you may be required to report onsite on a part-time or full-time basis.
CalPERS
SMUD is a CalPERS agency. As a member of the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS), SMUD offers eligible employees access to a defined benefit pension plan along with other valuable retirement and health benefits. This program helps provide financial security both during your career and after retirement. To learn more about CalPERS and the benefits it offers, please visit www.calpers.ca.gov.
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SMUD provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty, or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws. SMUD complies with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.
SMUD expressly prohibits any form of unlawful employee harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status. Improper interference with the ability of SMUD employees to perform their expected job duties is absolutely not tolerated.
Req ID: 3181
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Who's Hiring



Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software
- Education
- Food & Beverage
- Staffing & Recruiting
- Banking & Financial Services
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in senior IT project manager jobs across California.
- PMP certification required or strongly preferred by most California enterprise employers
- Seven or more years managing complex IT projects in a senior capacity
- Demonstrated experience leading Agile or SAFe delivery frameworks at scale
- Bachelor's degree in computer science, information systems, or a related technical field
- Experience with cloud platform migrations such as AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud
- Strong stakeholder management skills across cross-functional California enterprise teams
Senior IT Project Manager Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a senior it project manager in California?
The concrete path in California starts with a bachelor's degree in information systems, computer science, or a related field, followed by several years in junior or mid-level project coordination roles. California employers consistently prioritize the Project Management Professional certification issued by the Project Management Institute, which requires documented experience and an exam. No state-issued California license applies to this role, but earning PMP and hands-on Agile or SAFe credentials significantly improves hiring outcomes at senior levels.
How much do senior IT project managers make in California?
Senior IT project managers in California earn a median of about $120,910 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $69,180 for the lowest 10% to over $188,560 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire senior it project managers in California?
Employers hiring senior it project managers in California right now include Monster Energy, Intone Networks, and Genuine Parts Giant, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. California's concentration of enterprise technology companies, large health systems, and defense contractors means senior PM demand is spread across a wide range of established organizations rather than clustered in a single industry.
Which California cities have the most senior it project manager jobs?
The cities with the most senior it project manager openings in California are San Diego, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. The Bay Area leads because of its density of enterprise software and cloud companies, while Los Angeles draws demand from entertainment technology, healthcare, and aerospace, and San Diego's openings are driven largely by biotech firms and defense contractors like Northrop Grumman and Leidos.
Are there remote senior it project manager jobs in California?
Yes, and more than most fields. About 53% of senior it project manager openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, reflecting how much of the coordination work happens through digital project tools rather than on a physical site. The most fully remote postings tend to involve software delivery and cloud program management rather than roles requiring regular presence at a data center or manufacturing facility.
How can I get hired as a senior it project manager in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is moving into a project coordinator or IT business analyst role, which large California employers like Kaiser Permanente, Salesforce, and major California county government agencies regularly post as associate-level positions. From there, candidates build documented project hours needed to sit for the CAPM or PMP exam. Completing an Agile or Scrum certification and contributing to a portfolio of real project artifacts gives California candidates a measurable edge when applying for their first named PM title.
Where can I find and apply to senior it project manager jobs in California?
You can find and apply to senior it project manager jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings across industries and hiring metros. Find the roles that fit your experience and apply directly to the ones that match.
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