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Software Dev Manager Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Axos Bank

Software Development Manager

San Diego, CA · On-site

$110K - $140K/yr

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 ...

Axos Bank

Software Development Manager

Irvine, CA · On-site

$110K - $140K/yr

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 ...

Axos Bank

Software Development Manager

Coronado, CA · On-site

$110K - $140K/yr

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 ...

Axos Bank

Software Development Manager

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$110K - $140K/yr

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 ...

Axos Bank

Software Development Manager

San Diego, CA · On-site

$110K - $140K/yr

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 ...

MSI group

Sr. Software Development Manager

Fremont, CA · On-site

$150K - $200K/yr

Job Title: Sr. Software Development Manager Pay Range: $150,000.00-$200,000.00 Annually Location: Fremont, CA, USA Description: We are looking for an experienced Software Development Manager to lead ...

Amazon

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 ...

Amazon

Software Development Manager, Ring

Sunnyvale, CA

$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 ...

Axos Bank

AVP, Software Development Manager

San Diego, CA · On-site

$110K - $140K/yr

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 ...

Axos Bank

AVP, Software Development Manager

San Diego, CA · On-site

$110K - $140K/yr

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 ...

Amazon

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 ...

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All JobsSoftware Dev JobsSoftware Dev Manager JobsSoftware Dev Manager Jobs in California

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 Sep 14, 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 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 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 does a software development manager do?

A software development manager oversees software projects, manages development teams, and ensures timely delivery of high-quality software products. They coordinate project planning, allocate resources, and collaborate with stakeholders, often using tools like Agile or Scrum methodologies. Strong leadership, technical knowledge, and communication skills are essential for this role.

What are the most commonly searched types of Software Dev jobs in California?

The most popular types of Software Dev jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Software Dev Manager jobs?

Cities in California with the most Software Dev Manager job openings:

Software Dev Manager jobs near you
Infographic showing various Software Dev Manager job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 82% Full Time, 15% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 79% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 18% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $140,241 per year, or $67.4 per hour.

Software Development Manager

Chico, CA • On-site

LULUS FASHION LOUNGE LLC
See more jobs at LULUS FASHION LOUNGE LLCexternal

$130K - $150K/yr

Full-time

Posted 20 days ago

Job description

The Software Development Manager oversees individual Software Developers and Development teams ensuring Lulus is meeting internal and external stakeholder needs for support and roadmap deliverables. They will ensure development teams are delivering against timelines as well as ensuring developer productivity, efficiency, quality, and documentation of the software development process for developers. The Development Manager will be a well-balanced leader, cultivating a culture of quality and timely software delivery from a technical aspect while placing equal emphasis on the growth and impact of each team member from a coaching perspective. The Development Manager will remove obstacles that impede delivery and create an environment where engineering teams can consistently deliver high-quality software. The Development Manager will work closely with the Director of Development on day-to-day operations to ensure KPIs for individuals and teams are measured and reported transparently, as well as help enforce and roll out process change to meet goals and objectives.
Schedule: The role follows a hybrid schedule based out of our Chico office, working onsite Tuesday through Thursday during standard business hours (approximately 9:00 AM-5:00 PM), with Monday and Friday remote.
What You'll Do
  • Maximize development team throughput by ensuring requirements, risks, and status are clearly and honestly communicated between developers, product, and QA, enforcing scope and estimation discipline, and proactively addressing performance or engagement issues before they impact delivery
  • Foster individual and team growth, engagement, and retention
  • Manage the development team including performance reviews and promotions, hiring and separation of employees and task assignment, workload, and performance metric monitoring of team and individual employees
  • Develop and execute the technical roadmap in partnership with cross-functional teams
  • Identify systemic bottlenecks and implement improvements to engineering processes and delivery
  • Drive continuous improvement initiatives across engineering practices, tooling, automation, and developer experience
  • Drive team adoption of AI-assisted development tools and practices, establishing usage guidelines and mentoring developers to improve productivity and code quality
  • Own team deliverables and timelines, forming and defending technical opinions on design and scope rather than simply relaying team status to stakeholders
  • Monitor and enforce software development practices and processes with teams and individuals
  • Participate in on-call schedule and response to incidents, ensuring they are resolved quickly with minimal impact
  • Lead technical design discussions and facilitate architectural decision-making
  • Monitor and enforce code quality standards

What You'll Need
  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or Engineering
  • 8+ years of relevant software development and/or engineering management experience
  • 2+ years of direct people management experience, with a proven ability to lead, coach, develop, and retain high-performing software engineering teams, including setting performance expectations, providing feedback, managing performance, and supporting career development
  • Excellent communication; written, oral and group facilitation with the ability to communicate effectively with technical and non-technical stakeholders
  • Can work well under pressure; meeting multiple, and sometimes, competing deadlines
  • Ability to build and maintain positive relationships with teams and individuals
  • Strong technical foundation in software engineering, with the ability to evaluate technical solutions, participate in architectural decisions, and effectively partner with senior engineers.
  • Knowledge of modern software development tools, technologies, and application hosting platforms.
  • Experience establishing and improving engineering practices that support software quality, reliability, security, and maintainability.
  • Strong Agile software development knowledge and experience
  • Scrum master experience
  • Hands-on experience with AI coding assistants (e.g., GitHub Copilot, Claude, Cursor) and a track record of driving team adoption, establishing usage guidelines, or measuring productivity impact.

Nice to Have - Bonus Points!
  • Practical experience embedding AI throughout the SDLC - leveraging AI-assisted and spec-driven (SDD) development practices across planning, code review, QA, and release automation to improve engineering velocity and quality
  • Familiarity with AI/LLM integration patterns (prompt engineering, RAG, agentic workflows, or MCP servers) sufficient to evaluate vendor proposals, guide architecture decisions, and mentor engineers on responsible AI use

We're ready to meet you! Come help us achieve our ambitious goals!
At Lulus, we believe our people are our greatest asset and we seek to structure competitive compensation offers to ensure that we can attract and retain the best talent. Our job postings include an annual base salary range for the role. The stated base salary range represents our good faith estimate as to what candidates are likely to expect, and we tailor our offers within the range based on several factors, including the selected candidate's educational and professional experience, industry knowledge, location, technical and communication skills, and other factors that may prove relevant during the selection process. Base salary is a part of a total compensation package, which, depending on the position, may also include an annual bonus and other benefit programs.

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