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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DESCRIPTION
Come grow and lead a team building the next-generation SDN for AWS networking services.
As a Software Development Manager in Hyperplane, you will lead a team towards building a new platform which implements new features within AWS VPC, and making it work at extraordinary scale. In this role, you will provide technical leadership, solve complex software problems, and make impactful trade-offs between short-term and long-term results. You’ll think in terms of architecture, not just code, and will help elevate our ability to build and operate high availability systems worldwide.
With us, you will provide leadership and management for a development team to innovate and deliver core control plane software required to support EC2 Networking organization. This is a hands-on position that requires broad engineering competence and in-depth technical knowledge of control plane software development, DevOps roles, continuous integration, infrastructure tools and distributed systems, as well as demonstrated experience in planning, organizing, refactoring, and conducting software development projects in a dynamic environment.
A successful candidate is comfortable in a leadership role and seeks to mentor and grow less experienced engineers on the team. You understand customer obsession and live and breathe operational excellence. You know when to partner with and influence other teams to deliver results. You will emphasize hiring and developing the best talent at AWS.
Ready to make a durable mark on the computer industry? Come join us for this unique opportunity that blends leadership, technology, and accelerating customer growth!
Here at AWS, we embrace our differences. We are committed to furthering our culture of inclusion. We have ten employee-led affinity groups, reaching 40,000 employees in over 190 chapters globally. We have innovative benefit offerings, and host annual and ongoing learning experiences, including our Conversations on Race and Ethnicity (CORE) conference. Amazon’s culture of inclusion is reinforced within our 16 Leadership Principles, which remind team members to seek diverse perspectives, learn and be curious, and earn trust.
Our team puts a high value on work-life balance. It isn’t about how many hours you spend at home or at work; it’s about the flow you establish that brings energy to both parts of your life. We believe striking the right balance between your personal and professional life is critical to life-long happiness and fulfillment. We offer flexibility in working hours and encourage you to find your own balance between your work and personal lives.
Our team is dedicated to supporting new members. We have a broad mix of experience levels and tenures, and we’re building an environment that celebrates knowledge sharing and mentorship. Our senior members enjoy one-on-one mentoring and thorough, but kind, code reviews. We care about your career growth and strive to assign projects based on what will help each team member develop into a better-rounded engineer and enable them to take on more complex tasks in the future.
Key job responsibilities
In this role, you will manage one or two two-pizza teams. You will drive the technical direction, foster team culture, grow engineers, deliver exciting features and world class software defined control plane solutions to internal and external customers.
A day in the life
There is no average day for a Hyperplane SDM. This sounds cliché, but we are constantly growing, learning, and improving. A Hyperplane SDM works with the team to set realistic delivery targets while insisting on the highest standards. They earn trust with the team, leadership, and our partners with clear, honest communication, delivering results, and embracing a bias for action. We are constantly learning, always curious, and not afraid to dive deep to fully understand problems in our very complex space. Our SDMs are our builders’ cheerleaders – unblocking, coaching, encouraging, and counseling as needed.
About the team
The Hyperplane organization builds and runs a global software-defined network, powering products such as NAT Gateway, Transit Gateway, AWS Network Load Balancer, and more. As a foundational network service, every day the team designs for and solves problems at an unprecedented scale.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- 3+ years of engineering team management experience
- 7+ years of working directly within engineering teams experience
- 3+ years of designing or architecting (design patterns, reliability and scaling) of new and existing systems experience
- Knowledge of engineering practices and patterns for the full software/hardware/networks development life cycle, including coding standards, code reviews, source control management, build processes, testing, certification, and livesite operations
- Experience partnering with product or program management teams
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience in communicating with users, other technical teams, and senior leadership to collect requirements, describe software product features, technical designs, and product strategy
- Experience in recruiting, hiring, mentoring/coaching and managing teams of Software Engineers to improve their skills, and make them more effective, product software engineers
Amazon is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected veteran status, disability, or other legally protected status.
Los Angeles County applicants: Job duties for this position include: work safely and cooperatively with other employees, supervisors, and staff; adhere to standards of excellence despite stressful conditions; communicate effectively and respectfully with employees, supervisors, and staff to ensure exceptional customer service; and follow all federal, state, and local laws and Company policies. Criminal history may have a direct, adverse, and negative relationship with some of the material job duties of this position. These include the duties and responsibilities listed above, as well as the abilities to adhere to company policies, exercise sound judgment, effectively manage stress and work safely and respectfully with others, exhibit trustworthiness and professionalism, and safeguard business operations and the Company’s reputation. Pursuant to the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.
Our inclusive culture empowers Amazonians to deliver the best results for our customers. If you have a disability and need a workplace accommodation or adjustment during the application and hiring process, including support for the interview or onboarding process, please visit https://amazon.jobs/content/en/how-we-hire/accommodations for more information. If the country/region you’re applying in isn’t listed, please contact your Recruiting Partner.
The base salary range for this position is listed below. Your Amazon package will include sign-on payments and restricted stock units (RSUs). Final compensation will be determined based on factors including experience, qualifications, and location. Amazon also offers comprehensive benefits including health insurance (medical, dental, vision, prescription, Basic Life & AD&D insurance and option for Supplemental life plans, EAP, Mental Health Support, Medical Advice Line, Flexible Spending Accounts, Adoption and Surrogacy Reimbursement coverage), 401(k) matching, paid time off, and parental leave. Learn more about our benefits at https://amazon.jobs/en/benefits.
LOCATION
USA, CA, SANTA CLARA - 212,700.00 - 287,700.00 USD annually
See All 225+ Software Development Manager Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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
- Amazon27

- BKF Engineers11

- NVIDIA11

- Adobe9

- Michael Baker International7

Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software85
- Consulting & Professional Services40
- Electronics & Hardware24
- Banking & Financial Services7
- Retail7
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, BKF Engineers, and NVIDIA, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of June 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 Francisco, Santa Clara, and San Jose. 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 21% of software development manager openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of June 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 225+ 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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