An apparatus in one embodiment comprises a processing platform that includes a plurality of processing devices each comprising a processor coupled to a memory. The processing platform is configured to implement at least a component control layer of a multi-layer application management architecture for a plurality of applications comprising controlled components. The applications are managed at least in part utilizing interactions between the component control layer and an overlying orchestration layer of the multi-layer application management architecture. The component control layer comprises at least one component controller configured to interface with one or more of the controlled components. The component controller is implemented as an application management microservice presenting a standardized application programming interface to the orchestration layer. Different instances of the component controller are illustratively utilized by respective ones of at least first and second different configuration management systems associated with the orchestration layer.