Software Development Manager Jobs in California
Software Development Manager jobs in California are among the most active in the country, concentrated in enterprise software, cloud infrastructure, fintech, and consumer technology across the full spectrum from team lead to VP of engineering. The heaviest hiring is in the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, and San Diego, where companies like Apple, Google, and Salesforce maintain large engineering organizations and consistently recruit at this level. Demand is strongest for managers with backgrounds in distributed systems, platform engineering, and AI or machine learning product development. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Showing 5 of 370+ Software Development Manager jobs
Software Development Engineer
Hybrid – 3 days a week
Worksite Location: 17300 Laguna Canyon Road, Irvine, California, 92603, United States
6 months + extensions
Local candidates preferred but relocate candidates are also fine
MUST be Ex-Amazon
ANY VISA ON W2
Top Skills - Must Haves
Java / Python
Need Ex-Amazon
Software development
Aws
APIs
ReactJS
Top Skills' Details
1. Full Stack: 8+ years experience designing and building with Java, Kotlin, Python, or similar back-end language AND 3+ years React or similar FE language
2. Prior experience at Amazon including experience with Amazon Builder Tools for coding, API Design, building event-driven systems, orchestration, etc.
3. AWS development experience with AWS CDK, Lambda, SNS, SQS, DynamoDB, RDS, Redshift, S3, Opensearch, etc.
Job Description
We are looking for an L5 Software Development Engineer who has experience working with Amazon Builder Tools in the Amazon ecosystem. This person will be joining a TGS project team focused on new platform and feature enhancements to an existing system that supports billions of items of inventory and thouands of vendors. This engineer will be building new code at the Amazon quality bar and will also help with AI integration, DevOps, Testing, and other standard responsibilities for an Amazon SDE. This will be a full stack project with many standard AWS development services (CDK, SQS, Lambda, DynamoDB, and CloudWatch). This person will have experience designing and writing clean, maintainable code and testing and debugging code as needed.
Technical Skills
Former Amazon FTE (or 12+ month contractor at Amazon) Required
- Candidate must have experience with Amazon Builder Tools
Required qualifications
- 10+ years of experience as an SDE, with at least 1+ year of experience using Amazon Builder Tools at Amazon or AWS.
- Experience with designing and building complex software applications and features at Amazon's quality bar.
- Experience developing with AWS CDK.
- Familiarity with the full life cycle of software development, from design and implementation to testing and deployment.
- Experience with AWS services specifically Lambda and Step Functions (SQS, CDK, Lambda, DynamoDB, and CloudWatch also nice to have)
- Proficiency in Node, React, and/or Typescript
Software Development Engineer
Hybrid – 3 days a week
Worksite Location: 17300 Laguna Canyon Road, Irvine, California, 92603, United States
6 months + extensions
Local candidates preferred but relocate candidates are also fine
MUST be Ex-Amazon
ANY VISA ON W2
Top Skills - Must Haves
Java / Python
Need Ex-Amazon
Software development
Aws
APIs
ReactJS
Top Skills' Details
1. Full Stack: 8+ years experience designing and building with Java, Kotlin, Python, or similar back-end language AND 3+ years React or similar FE language
2. Prior experience at Amazon including experience with Amazon Builder Tools for coding, API Design, building event-driven systems, orchestration, etc.
3. AWS development experience with AWS CDK, Lambda, SNS, SQS, DynamoDB, RDS, Redshift, S3, Opensearch, etc.
Job Description
We are looking for an L5 Software Development Engineer who has experience working with Amazon Builder Tools in the Amazon ecosystem. This person will be joining a TGS project team focused on new platform and feature enhancements to an existing system that supports billions of items of inventory and thouands of vendors. This engineer will be building new code at the Amazon quality bar and will also help with AI integration, DevOps, Testing, and other standard responsibilities for an Amazon SDE. This will be a full stack project with many standard AWS development services (CDK, SQS, Lambda, DynamoDB, and CloudWatch). This person will have experience designing and writing clean, maintainable code and testing and debugging code as needed.
Technical Skills
Former Amazon FTE (or 12+ month contractor at Amazon) Required
- Candidate must have experience with Amazon Builder Tools
Required qualifications
- 10+ years of experience as an SDE, with at least 1+ year of experience using Amazon Builder Tools at Amazon or AWS.
- Experience with designing and building complex software applications and features at Amazon's quality bar.
- Experience developing with AWS CDK.
- Familiarity with the full life cycle of software development, from design and implementation to testing and deployment.
- Experience with AWS services specifically Lambda and Step Functions (SQS, CDK, Lambda, DynamoDB, and CloudWatch also nice to have)
- Proficiency in Node, React, and/or Typescript
See All 370+ Software Development Manager Jobs in California
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Find JobsSoftware Development Manager Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Software Development Manager Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Amazon79
- Amazon Web Services46
- Apple31
- Esri19
- Adobe15
Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software108
- E-Commerce & Online Marketplaces34
- Retail33
- Electronics & Hardware18
- Distribution & Wholesale15
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in software development manager jobs across California.
- Bachelor's degree in computer science, software engineering, or a closely related field required
- Five or more years of software engineering experience with two or more years in a management role
- Proven ability to lead full software development lifecycle from design through deployment and support
- Experience managing cross-functional engineering teams in Agile or Scrum environments
- Strong technical foundation in at least one major language such as Java, Python, or Go
- Demonstrated experience recruiting, mentoring, and retaining engineering talent in competitive markets
Software Development Manager Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a software development manager in California?
Most software development managers in California follow a path from individual contributor engineer to senior engineer to technical lead before stepping into management. California employers typically expect a bachelor's degree in computer science or software engineering, several years of hands-on development experience, and a demonstrated ability to guide technical decisions and mentor junior engineers. There is no state-issued license for this role, so building a leadership record within California's engineering-heavy industries is the primary credential.
Which companies hire software development managers in California?
Employers hiring software development managers in California right now include Amazon, Amazon Web Services, and Apple, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. California's density of enterprise software, semiconductor, and consumer technology companies means openings at this level appear across both legacy tech giants and fast-scaling startups throughout the state.
Which California cities have the most software development manager jobs?
The cities with the most software development manager openings in California are San Jose, Sunnyvale, and Cupertino. The Bay Area dominates because it is home to the largest concentration of major technology headquarters in the country, while Los Angeles draws demand from entertainment technology, fintech, and aerospace software, and San Diego adds openings through its biotech and defense technology sectors.
Are there remote software development manager jobs in California?
Yes, and more than most fields. About 34% of software development manager openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, reflecting how thoroughly desk-based and collaboration-tool-dependent this work has become. The portions of the role most likely to remain fully remote are individual team management, code review oversight, and sprint planning, while roles requiring hands-on data center work or embedded systems tend to require on-site presence.
How can I get hired as a software development manager in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is moving from a senior individual contributor role into an engineering team lead or staff engineer position at a California employer, then transitioning into formal management. Large California technology companies including Apple, Google, and Salesforce run internal rotational and early leadership programs that prepare senior engineers for management. Building a portfolio of cross-functional project ownership and mentorship within your current team is the credential that carries the most weight when making that transition.
Where can I find and apply to software development manager jobs in California?
You can find and apply to software development manager jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings at companies across the state. Find roles that fit your experience and location and apply directly through the listings.
See All 370+ Software Development Manager Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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