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Software Dev Manager Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Software Development Manager

Carlsbad, CA · On-site

$209K - $313K/yr

Your team owns the core onboard session management stack running on the Mobility Access Server ... The day-to-day You will provide leadership for the development of software for edge platforms used ...

About This Job Axos Bank is seeking a Software Development Manager, AVP to lead engineering delivery for Axos Bank's Core Services platform, the backbone of the enterprise. This leader will own end ...

New

About This Job Axos Bank is seeking a Software Development Manager, AVP to lead engineering delivery for Axos Bank's Core Services platform, the backbone of the enterprise. This leader will own end ...

About This Job Axos Bank is seeking a Software Development Manager, AVP to lead engineering delivery for Axos Bank's Core Services platform, the backbone of the enterprise. This leader will own end ...

New

Axos Bank is looking for an experienced, product-oriented Software Development Manager to join our software engineering team and help ensure that the experience of our clients is second to none. This ...

Software Development Manager

San Diego, CA · On-site +1

$120K - $140K/yr

Axos Bank is looking for an experienced, product-oriented Software Development Manager to join our software engineering team and help ensure that the experience of our clients is second to none. This ...

Ring is looking for a Software Development Manager responsible for leading a team of engineers working on the development and production of products, focusing on safety and security based connected ...

Ring is looking for a Software Development Manager responsible for leading a team of engineers working on the development and production of products, focusing on safety and security based connected ...

As our Software Development Manager, you will be responsible for designing and implementing projects to enhance and improve our digital banking platform, in line with our product roadmap and delivery ...

As our Software Development Manager, you will be responsible for designing and implementing projects to enhance and improve our digital banking platform, in line with our product roadmap and delivery ...

Software Development Manager, Ring

Sunnyvale, CA · On-site

$144K - $191K/yr

Ring is looking for a Software Development Manager responsible for leading a team of engineers working on the development and production of products, focusing on safety and security based connected ...

AVP, Software Development Manager

San Diego, CA · On-site

$131K - $173K/yr

... Software Development to enhance and improve their digital banking platform. The role involves designing and implementing projects, collaborating with IT leadership, and managing a portfolio of ...

Software Development Manager - Compiler

Cupertino, CA · On-site

$152K - $201K/yr

This is all enabled by edge software stack, the AWS Neuron Software Development Kit (SDK), which ... As a Manager III you be leading a team of experienced compiler engineers developing compiler ...

Software Development Manager, eero

Los Gatos, CA · On-site

$143K - $189K/yr

... managing teams of Software Engineers to improve their skills, and make them more effective, product software engineers - Experience with networking fundamentals - Excellent communication skills with ...

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Showing results 1-20

Software Dev Manager information

See California salary details

$78.5K

$140.2K

$176.2K

How much do software dev manager jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 4, 2026, the average yearly pay for software dev manager in California is $140,241.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $121,900.00 and $160,900.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Software Dev Manager vs Software Engineer?

AspectSoftware Dev ManagerSoftware Engineer
CredentialsBachelor's/Master's in CS or related field, leadership experienceBachelor's/Master's in CS or related field, coding skills
Work EnvironmentTeam leadership, project management, cross-department collaborationDesign, develop, test software applications
Industry UsageUsed in tech companies, software firms, IT departmentsUsed across tech, finance, healthcare, and more

The main difference is that a Software Dev Manager oversees teams and projects, focusing on leadership and strategy, while a Software Engineer primarily focuses on coding and developing software. Both roles require technical skills, but the manager role adds leadership and project management responsibilities.

What is a software dev manager?

Software Dev Managers are professionals who lead and oversee software development teams within an organization. They are responsible for managing projects, guiding developers, setting technical direction, and ensuring that software products are delivered on time and meet quality standards. In addition to technical expertise, they also handle team management tasks such as hiring, mentoring, and performance reviews. Their role is crucial in bridging the gap between business goals and technical implementation.

How does a software dev manager balance technical leadership with people management responsibilities?

A Software Dev Manager is often responsible for both guiding the technical direction of projects and supporting the professional growth of their team members. This balance requires clear communication, regular one-on-one meetings, and staying up-to-date with technical trends while also handling performance reviews, hiring, and team development. Effective managers delegate technical tasks appropriately, foster a collaborative team culture, and act as a bridge between developers and other departments. This dual focus can be challenging but is essential for driving both project success and employee satisfaction.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a software dev manager, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Software Development Manager, you need a strong background in software engineering, leadership experience, and typically a degree in computer science or a related field. Familiarity with project management tools (like Jira), version control systems (such as Git), and agile methodologies is essential, and certifications like PMP or Scrum Master can be advantageous. Excellent communication, problem-solving, and team-building abilities help you effectively lead diverse teams and manage stakeholder expectations. These skills and qualifications are crucial for delivering high-quality software on schedule, fostering team growth, and achieving organizational goals.
What cities in California are hiring for Software Dev Manager jobs? Cities in California with the most Software Dev Manager job openings:
Infographic showing various Software Dev Manager job openings in California as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 82% Full Time, 8% Part Time, 1% Temporary, 7% Contract, and 2% Summer. Highlights an 80% Physical, 6% Hybrid, and 14% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $140,241 per year, or $67.4 per hour.

Software Development Manager

Viasat, Inc.

Carlsbad, CA • On-site

$209K - $313K/yr

Full-time

Posted 20 days ago


Viasat rating

6.3

Company rating: 6.3 out of 10

Based on 11 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

78th of 96 rated telecommunications companies


Job description

About us

One team. Global challenges. Infinite opportunities. At Viasat, we’re on a mission to deliver connections with the capacity to change the world. For more than 35 years, Viasat has helped shape how consumers, businesses, governments and militaries around the globe communicate. We’re looking for people who think big, act fearlessly, and create an inclusive environment that drives positive impact to join our team.


What you'll do

You will lead the Connectivity Management team within Viasat's Commercial Aviation platform, responsible for the software that gets passengers and crew devices onto the network aboard commercial aircraft. Your team owns the core onboard session management stack running on the Mobility Access Server. When a passenger mobile device connects mid-flight, your software is what makes it happen. 

This is a multi-year architectural modernization, not a maintenance role – you'll help shape how a mission-critical, resource-constrained system evolves in production. 

What you'll lead: 

  • A geographically distributed team of engineers and architecture stakeholders 

  • Design, implementation, and production ownership of onboard connectivity services 

  • A multi-year architectural modernization of the session management stack 

  • Quality improvements: automated testing pipelines to catch session-management faults before they reach aircraft 

  • Observability: per-component resource budgets and structured metrics to ground systems 

  • Cross-team integration with other engineering teams and organizations 

This is a sitebased role, employees work 3+ days (60%+) per week from a Viasat office or work location within a standard fiveday workweek.


The day-to-day

You will provide leadership for the development of software for edge platforms used in Aviation, delivering connectivity to end user devices leveraging Viasat’s networks.  The team you lead will support support the critical infrastructure used for creating, testing, and delivering this connectivity via dedicated mobility access servers (MAS).  We are looking for leader of a product team that can design, write, and deliver software services to our commercial aircraft. You will influence new designs, architectures, and methods for large-scale distributed systems. As part of our DevOps model, you will develop the service and own it from cradle to grave.


What you'll need
  • 7+ years of hands-on software engineering (Go, Python, or Java) with systems programming in Linux  

  • 2+ years leading a cross-functional software team in an agile/DevOps, including distributed time zones 

  • Strong networking fundamentals: DHCP, DNS, NAT, iptables, TCP/IP, Layer ¾, etc  

  • Experience with distributed systems where state synchronization failures have real production SLA consequences 

  • Hands-on Linux, systemd, and containerized workloads (Docker, Kubernetes) 

  • Bachelor's degree or higher in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or a related field 


What will help you on the job
  • Protocol-level networking: AMQP/RabbitMQ, HTTP/3 / QUIC, RADIUS, DHCP option encoding 

  • Experience building automated integration test frameworks for distributed systems (not just unit tests) 

  • Experience modernizing a legacy stateful system incrementally in production (feature-flagged migration, dual-run) 

  • Familiarity with aviation or embedded edge platform constraints — resource-limited hardware, over-the-air software delivery, regulatory environments 

  • CI/CD experience with Github Actions or Jenkins 

  • Modern AI-enhanced development workflow 


Salary range
$168,000.00 - $265,000.00 / annually.For specific work locations within San Jose, the San Francisco Bay area and New York City metropolitan area, the base pay range for this role is $209,000.00- $313,000.00/ annually
At Viasat, we consider many factors when it comes to compensation, including the scope of the position as well as your background and experience. Base pay may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Additional cash or stock incentives may be provided as part of the compensation package, in addition to a range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, dependent on the position offered. Learn more about Viasat's comprehensive benefit offerings that are focused on your holistic health and wellness at https://careers.viasat.com/benefits.
EEO Statement

Viasat is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, seeking to create a welcoming and diverse environment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, marital status, genetics, age, or veteran status or any other applicable legally protected status or characteristic. If you would like to request an accommodation on the basis of disability for completing this on-line application, please click here.

Qualifications:
  • 7+ years of hands-on software engineering (Go, Python, or Java) with systems programming in Linux  

  • 2+ years leading a cross-functional software team in an agile/DevOps, including distributed time zones 

  • Strong networking fundamentals: DHCP, DNS, NAT, iptables, TCP/IP, Layer ¾, etc  

  • Experience with distributed systems where state synchronization failures have real production SLA consequences 

  • Hands-on Linux, systemd, and containerized workloads (Docker, Kubernetes) 

  • Bachelor's degree or higher in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or a related field 

Education:UNAVAILABLEEmployment Type: FULL_TIME

What Viasat employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom


ViaSat logo

About ViaSat

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

At Viasat, we're on a mission to deliver connections with the capacity to change the world. For more than 35 years, Viasat has helped shape how consumers, businesses, governments and militaries around the globe communicate.

Industry

Telecommunications

Company size

5,001 - 10,000 Employees

Headquarters location

Carlsbad, CA, US

Year founded

1986