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Software Engineer Manager Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Orvix Engineering

Software Engineer

Los Angeles, CA

Work closely with other engineers, project managers, designers, and stakeholders to ensure software solutions align with project objectives and timelines. * Collaborate with product managers and ...

Tang and Company

Software Engineer

Torrance, CA · On-site +1

Reporting to the Software Engineering Manager, you will play a key role in designing, developing, testing, and deploying software solutions that support business operations and deliver exceptional ...

Tang and Company

Software Engineer

Torrance, CA · On-site +1

Reporting to the Software Engineering Manager, you will play a key role in designing, developing, testing, and deploying software solutions that support business operations and deliver exceptional ...

Tang and Company

Software Engineer

Torrance, CA · On-site

Reporting to the Software Engineering Manager, you will play a key role in designing, developing, testing, and deploying software solutions that support business operations and deliver exceptional ...

Britive

Software Engineer

San Francisco, CA

Collaborate with product management and engineering teams to design and integrate software, conduct code reviews, and troubleshoot product issues. * Perform proof of concepts to identify best design ...

Judge Group, Inc.

Software Engineer

Redondo Beach, CA · On-site

$110 - $120/hr

Role: Software Engineer Location: ( Onsite) Employment type: Contract to Hire Responsibilities ... management, and stakeholder teams. * Experience working on Agile or Scrum teams, or strong ...

ETAP Software

Software Engineer

Irvine, CA · On-site

The Software Engineer will develop and maintain electrical systems applications that deliver ... configure, and manage required databases (e.g., NoSQL and relational databases) • Ensure all ...

Beacon Software

Software Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

Software Engineer We're looking for a versatile Software Engineer to drive technical innovation and ... We manage our expectations and those of our partners to take advantage of the 8th wonder of the ...

ResMed, Inc.

Manager,Cloud Development

San Diego, CA · On-site

Senior Software Engineer, Manager - AWS Developer (Digital Health) We're looking for a Senior Software Engineer, Manager (AWS Developer) to lead and grow an engineering team delivering cutting-edge ...

Chestnut (yc X25)

Software Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$100K - $200K/yr

Software Engineer Chestnut is hiring a software engineer to help Americans save billions of dollars ... Interest in people management/mentoring. * Experience working with sensitive data (finance, biotech ...

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Software Engineer Manager information

See California salary details

$98.2K

$167.2K

$197.9K

How much do software engineer manager jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 9, 2026, the average yearly pay for software engineer manager in California is $167,163.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $170,700.00 and $170,700.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are some common challenges faced by Software Engineer Managers when transitioning from an individual contributor role?

Software Engineer Managers often find the shift from coding-focused work to leadership responsibilities challenging. Instead of primarily writing code, their days are filled with mentoring team members, managing project timelines, and facilitating communication between technical and non-technical stakeholders. Balancing technical oversight with people management, and learning to delegate effectively, are critical skills to develop. Additionally, they must stay current with technology trends while focusing on team growth and performance.

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

AspectSoftware Engineer ManagerSoftware Developer
CredentialsBachelor's or higher in CS or related field; often leadership experienceBachelor's degree in CS or related field; coding skills
Work EnvironmentLeads teams, manages projects, collaborates with stakeholdersFocuses on coding, designing, and implementing software solutions
Industry UsageCommon in tech companies, startups, large enterprisesWidespread across industries, including tech, finance, healthcare
Search & Comparison IntentUnderstanding managerial roles, career progressionTechnical skills, coding responsibilities

The main difference between a Software Engineer Manager and a Software Developer lies in their responsibilities. The manager oversees teams, manages projects, and aligns technical work with business goals, while the developer primarily focuses on coding and building software solutions. Both roles require strong technical skills, but the manager also needs leadership and project management abilities.

What is a Software Engineer Manager?

A Software Engineer Manager is a professional who leads a team of software engineers, overseeing the design, development, and deployment of software projects. They are responsible for managing team performance, setting goals, and ensuring that projects are completed on time and within budget. In addition to technical expertise, they also handle hiring, mentoring, and career development of team members. Software Engineer Managers often collaborate with other departments to align technical solutions with business objectives. Their role combines leadership, project management, and deep technical knowledge.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Software Engineer Manager, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Software Engineer Manager, you need a solid background in software development, team leadership experience, and often a degree in computer science or a related field. Familiarity with project management tools (like Jira), version control systems (such as Git), and cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure) is typically required, along with relevant certifications. Exceptional communication, problem-solving, and mentoring abilities help you build effective teams and drive project success. These skills ensure you can lead technical initiatives, foster collaboration, and deliver high-quality software solutions in dynamic environments.
What are the most commonly searched types of Software Engineer jobs in California? The most popular types of Software Engineer jobs in California are:
What are popular job titles related to Software Engineer Manager jobs in California? For Software Engineer Manager jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Software Engineer Manager jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Software Engineer Manager jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Software Engineer Manager jobs? Cities in California with the most Software Engineer Manager job openings:
Software Engineer Manager jobs near you
Infographic showing various Software Engineer Manager job openings in California as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 84% Full Time, 15% Part Time, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 93% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 4% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $167,163 per year, or $80.4 per hour.

Software Engineer Manager, Virtualization

Google

Sunnyvale, CA • On-site

Full-time

Posted 13 days ago

Google rating

8.8

Company rating: 8.8 out of 10

Based on 92 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

31st of 186 rated software companies

Job description

Minimum qualifications:
  • Bachelor's degree, or equivalent practical experience.
  • 8 years of experience in software development.
  • 3 years of experience with developing infrastructure, distributed systems or networks, or experience with compute technologies, storage, or hardware architecture.
  • 2 years of experience in a people management or team leadership role.
  • Experience with people management, project management, mentoring and C/C or Rust.

Preferred qualifications:
  • Master's degree or PhD in Computer Science or related technical field.
  • 3 years of experience working in a structured organization.
  • Experience in technical infrastructure, Linux internals, virtual machine monitor and Linux Kernel.

About the job
Like Google's own ambitions, the work of a Software Engineer goes beyond just Search. Software Engineering Managers have not only the technical expertise to take on and provide technical leadership to major projects, but also manage a team of Engineers. You not only optimize your own code but make sure Engineers are able to optimize theirs. As a Software Engineering Manager you manage your project goals, contribute to product strategy and help develop your team. Teams work all across the company, in areas such as information retrieval, artificial intelligence, natural language processing, distributed computing, large-scale system design, networking, security, data compression, user interface design; the list goes on and is growing every day. Operating with scale and speed, our exceptional software engineers are just getting started -- and as a manager, you guide the way.
With technical and leadership expertise, you manage engineers across multiple teams and locations, a large product budget and oversee the deployment of large-scale projects across multiple sites internationally.
The AI and Infrastructure team is redefining what's possible. We empower Google customers with breakthrough capabilities and insights by delivering AI and Infrastructure at unparalleled scale, efficiency, reliability and velocity. Our customers include Googlers, Google Cloud customers, and billions of Google users worldwide.
We're the driving force behind Google's groundbreaking innovations, empowering the development of our cutting-edge AI models, delivering unparalleled computing power to global services, and providing the essential platforms that enable developers to build the future. From software to hardware our teams are shaping the future of world-leading hyperscale computing, with key teams working on the development of our TPUs, Vertex AI for Google Cloud, Google Global Networking, Data Center operations, systems research, and much more.
Individual pay is determined by factors including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.
US: $207000 - $301000 (USD) 20% bonus target bonus equity benefits
Learn more about benefits at Google .
Responsibilities
  • Set and communicate team priorities that support the broader organization's goals. Align strategy, processes, and decision-making across teams.
  • Set clear expectations with individuals based on their level and meet regularly with individuals to discuss performance and development and provide feedback and coaching.
  • Lead the development of the virtual machine monitor (VMM) and cloud hypervisor (CHV) and input-output memory management (IOMMU) unit stack.
  • Oversee the development of specialized tooling to support engineering practices within the virtualization and systems programming space.
  • Support the delivery of the virtualization layer across production hosts, ensuring compatibility across various product lines and hardware configurations.

Information collected and processed as part of your Google Careers profile, and any job applications you choose to submit is subject to Google's Applicant and Candidate Privacy Policy .
Google is proud to be an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. We are committed to building a workforce that is representative of the users we serve, creating a culture of belonging, and providing an equal employment opportunity regardless of race, creed, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, national origin, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy or related condition (including breastfeeding), expecting or parents-to-be, criminal histories consistent with legal requirements, or any other basis protected by law. See also Google's EEO Policy , Know your rights: workplace discrimination is illegal , Belonging at Google , and How we hire .
If you have a need that requires accommodation, please let us know by completing our Accommodations for Applicants form .
Google is a global company and, in order to facilitate efficient collaboration and communication globally, English proficiency is a requirement for all roles unless stated otherwise in the job posting.
To all recruitment agencies: Google does not accept agency resumes. Please do not forward resumes to our jobs alias, Google employees, or any other organization location. Google is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes.

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