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Software Engineer Manager Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

You will report to a Software Engineering Manager. Responsibilities: * Partner with Engineers, Data Scientists, Product Managers, and Business Partners to build software for business and user impact

Work with other engineers, managers, product management, quality analysts, and operations teams to develop innovative technical solutions that meet market needs with respect to functionality ...

Work with other engineers, managers, product management, quality analysts, and operations teams to develop innovative technical solutions that meet market needs with respect to functionality ...

About You You are a passionate Software Engineer who wants to develop and scale our multi-tenant ... This position will report to the Engineering Manager. Your Impact Key Responsibilities:

Studied Computer Science at UC Berkeley; worked at Ironclad for 5 years as a Software Engineer and Engineering Manager; south Indian classical dancer * Umer: CS at NUS; interned at Visa and a couple ...

Reporting to the VP of Software Engineering, you will oversee efforts across multiple teams and departments, working closely with their Technical Leads, Research and Engineering Managers. As a ...

Reporting to the VP of Software Engineering, you will oversee efforts across multiple teams and departments, working closely with their Technical Leads, Research and Engineering Managers. As a ...

Reporting to the VP of Software Engineering, you will oversee efforts across multiple teams and departments, working closely with their Technical Leads, Research and Engineering Managers. As a ...

Senior Software Engineer

Richmond, CA · On-site

$140K - $185K/yr

Reporting to the Digital Engineering Manager, this role partners closely on technical execution ... The Staff Software Engineer ensures that digital initiatives - come to life reliably, and are ...

Senior Software Engineer

Richmond, CA · On-site

$140K - $185K/yr

Reporting to the Digital Engineering Manager, this role partners closely on technical execution ... The Staff Software Engineer ensures that digital initiatives - come to life reliably, and are ...

Showing results 21-40

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 Aug 10, 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?

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 cities in California are hiring for Software Engineer Manager jobs? Cities in California with the most Software Engineer Manager job openings:
Infographic showing various Software Engineer Manager job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 77% Full Time, 20% Part Time, 2% Temporary, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 84% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 13% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $167,163 per year, or $80.4 per hour.

Software Engineer

Lyft

San Francisco, CA • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Posted 5 days ago


Lyft rating

7.6

Company rating: 7.6 out of 10

Based on 33 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

2nd of 9 rated taxi private hire


Job description

At Lyft, our purpose is to serve and connect. We aim to achieve this by cultivating a work environment where all team members belong and have the opportunity to thrive.
With over half a billion rides and counting, Lyft is solving hard problems in a rapidly growing domain with a lot of data and creative solutions in Marketplace, Mapping, Fraud, Growth and beyond. Building a next-generation platform for low-cost, ultra-immersive transportation to improve people's lives requires robust, scalable software systems operating at massive scale. Our highly motivated Software Engineers work on these challenging problems and build the systems that directly impact various aspects of our core business.
If you are a critical thinker with experience building software systems, passionate about solving business problems through well-crafted code and working in a dynamic, creative, and collaborative environment, we are searching for you.
As an associate software engineer, you will be designing, building, and launching the services that power the platform's core products. Compared to similarly-sized technology companies, the set of problems that we tackle is incredibly diverse. They cut across transportation, distributed systems, backend services, mapping, personalization, and real-time infrastructure. We are hiring motivated engineers across each of these areas. We're looking for someone who is passionate about solving problems with code, building reliable and maintainable systems, and is excited about working in a fast-paced, innovative, and collegial environment.
You will report to a Software Engineering Manager.

Responsibilities:
  • Partner with Engineers, Data Scientists, Product Managers, and Business Partners to build software for business and user impact
  • Perform technical analysis and build proof-of-concept prototypes to explore and propose solutions to both new and existing problems
  • Design and develop software components, services, and APIs
  • Write production quality code to launch and operate systems at scale
  • Evaluate software systems against business goals, reliability, and performance requirements
Experience: 
  • B.S., M.S., or Ph.D. in Computer Science or other quantitative fields or related work experience
  • Passion for building impactful software systems leveraging expertise in one or multiple areas
  • Proficiency in Python, Golang, or other programming language
  • Excellent communication skills and fluency in English
  • Strong understanding of software engineering fundamentals, including data structures,algorithms, system design, testing, and distributed systems
Benefits:
  • Great medical, dental, and vision insurance options with additional programs available when enrolled
  • Mental health benefits
  • Family building benefits
  • Child care and pet benefits
  • 401(k) plan with company match to help save for your future
  • In addition to 12 observed holidays, salaried team members have discretionary paid time off, hourly team members have 15 days paid time off
  • 18 weeks of paid parental leave. Biological, adoptive, and foster parents are all eligible
  • Subsidized commuter benefits
  • Monthly Lyft credits and complimentary Lyft Pink membership

Lyft is an equal opportunity employer committed to an inclusive workplace that fosters belonging. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regards to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, age, genetic information, or any other basis prohibited by law. We also consider qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with applicable federal, state and local law.

Lyft highly values having employees working in-office to foster a collaborative work environment and company culture. This role will be in-office on a hybrid schedule - Team Members will be expected to work in the office 3 days per week on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Lyft considers working in the office at least 3 days per week to be an essential function of this hybrid role. Your recruiter can share more information about the various in-office perks Lyft offers. Additionally, hybrid roles have the flexibility to work from anywhere for up to 4 weeks per year. #Hybrid

The expected base pay range for this position in the San Francisco area is $108,000 - $135,000, not inclusive of potential equity offering, bonus or benefits. Salary ranges are dependent on a variety of factors, including qualifications, experience and geographic location. Your recruiter can share more information about the salary range specific to your working location and other factors during the hiring process.


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About Lyft

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

At Lyft, our mission is to improve people's lives with the world's best transportation. To do this, we start with our own community by creating an open, inclusive, and diverse organization.

Industry

Ground public transportation

Company size

5,001 - 10,000 Employees

Headquarters location

San Francisco, CA, US

Year founded

2012

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