Director of Software Development Jobs

Explore Director of Software Development opportunities on Ladders, where professionals can find vetted jobs paying $100,000 or more. These senior technology leaders guide software engineering teams, shape development strategy, and deliver reliable products and platforms aligned with business goals.

What Does a Director of Software Development Do?

Directors of Software Development oversee the people, processes, and technical plans behind software delivery. They partner with executives, product leaders, and engineering teams to set priorities, manage resources, improve development practices, and ensure projects meet requirements for quality, security, and performance. Depending on the organization, the role may include managing multiple teams, platforms, or product areas.

Skills and Qualifications

Employers commonly seek a strong background in software engineering and experience leading engineering managers or large development teams. Valuable strengths include technical judgment, strategic planning, budgeting, talent development, cross-functional communication, and familiarity with modern development methods, cloud platforms, architecture, and software delivery practices. Requirements vary by company, industry, and scope of responsibility.

Career Outlook and Opportunities

Director-level software development roles are available across technology companies and in sectors such as finance, healthcare, retail, and professional services. The position can lead to broader technology leadership, including vice president of engineering, chief technology officer, or other executive roles. Browse current listings to compare responsibilities, industries, and compensation.

Find Director of Software Development Jobs on Ladders

Ladders focuses on vetted professional opportunities with salaries of $100,000 or more. Search Director of Software Development jobs to discover leadership positions that match your experience, preferred industry, and career goals.

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$146K - $244K *

Lead strategic acquisitions and partnerships to drive growth initiatives, collaborating with cross-functional teams and managing due diligence for impactful financial transactions that align with long...

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$146K - $164K *

Transform cloud infrastructure by designing scalable, secure solutions using automation tools. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance cloud capabilities and best practices, driving innovat...

Waterloo, ONIn-Person

Reposted 1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$152K - $191K *

Transform business capabilities by leading strategy and delivery oversight for Digital Technology. Collaborate across functions to align priorities, drive measurable outcomes, and enhance organization...

Yesterday

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Media

$135K - $165K *

Lead the charge in developing innovative AI products by designing, building, and maintaining full-stack applications and backend services, while ensuring platform reliability and security in a collabo...

Toronto, ONIn-Person

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Media

$155K - $180K *

Join a team that's redefining AI integration by leading the development of innovative, event-driven architectures for real-time AI systems. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to create smarter so...

Ottawa, ONIn-Person

3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$95K - $115K *

Build strong customer relationships post-launch by ensuring seamless operational handoffs. Drive cross-functional collaboration to align production with commitments, manage orders end-to-end, and proa...

3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$150K - $180K *

Unlock the potential of your career by leading our DevOps strategy, managing cloud infrastructure, and driving automation. Collaborate with teams to enhance performance and security while fostering a...

4 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Transportation

$150K - $180K *

Transform software delivery by leading a skilled team in the execution of DevOps strategies, driving automation, and optimizing cloud infrastructure for performance, security, and resilience across or...

Los Angeles, CARemote

4 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Transportation

$175K - $230K *

Shape the future of transportation infrastructure by leading multidisciplinary teams in program management. Drive strategic initiatives, enhance performance, and ensure successful delivery of complex...

Today

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Technical Services

$125K - $150K *

Champion the technical strategy for a transformative mobile platform, enhancing developer efficiency and scalability. Lead AI-native initiatives, drive architectural excellence, and collaborate across...

Montreal, QCIn-Person

Yesterday

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$200K - $400K *

Transform customer experiences by designing and building robust systems for configuring, training, and monitoring AI agents, ensuring usability for non-technical teams while maintaining powerful funct...

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$168K - $227K *

Empower the evolution of secure cloud infrastructure by leading the architecture and technical direction for EC2 control-plane services in air-gapped regions, driving innovation and reliability in gov...

Today

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Retail & Consumer Goods

$80K - $95K *

Transform client relationships and drive business growth by managing strategic accounts, generating leads, and collaborating with teams to deliver innovative mechanical solutions that meet client need...

Today

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Technical Services

$240K - $330K *

Champion the future of onboard software for autonomous vehicles, leading teams to deliver robust embedded firmware, operating systems, and middleware. Drive strategic vision and ensure quality across...

1 week ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Transportation

$240K - $330K *

Champion the development of onboard software for autonomous vehicles, leading cross-functional teams to ensure a robust software foundation. Drive strategic vision, quality, and operational excellence...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Transportation

$240K - $330K *

Join a team that's redefining the software foundation for autonomous vehicles. Lead cross-functional teams to deliver high-quality onboard software, ensuring safety and reliability while driving innov...

1 week ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Transportation

$240K - $330K *

Lead the charge in developing the onboard software foundation for autonomous vehicles, overseeing embedded firmware, operating systems, and middleware. Drive cross-functional collaboration and ensure...

1 week ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Transportation

$110K - $135K *

Innovate and shape the future of system services by developing Python tools for Linux devices. Collaborate across teams to deliver robust APIs and enhance CI/CD pipelines while ensuring clear document...

Waterloo, ONIn-Person

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Consumer Technology

$170K - $200K *

Lead a dynamic software development team, driving innovation and quality in application delivery. Foster collaboration and growth while implementing AI tools to enhance productivity and maintain criti...

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Telecommunications & Hardware

$184K - $225K *

Join a team that's redefining technology delivery excellence and release management. Lead cross-functional initiatives, ensuring operational readiness and governance across a diverse technology portfo...

2 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$184K - $225K *

Lead the charge in technology delivery and release management, ensuring operational excellence and governance across a diverse technology portfolio. Drive collaboration and continuous improvement to e...

2 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$184K - $225K *

Champion delivery excellence and release governance across technology portfolios. Drive operational readiness and continuous improvement while collaborating with stakeholders to ensure predictable out...

2 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$145K - $175K *

Grow your career with a leadership role overseeing project development teams, driving solar and energy storage initiatives from concept to execution. Collaborate cross-functionally to ensure project s...

4 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Energy & Utilities

$128K - $189K *

Drive engineering excellence by leading cross-regional teams to deliver innovative platform integrations, ensuring high-quality, scalable solutions that align with strategic business goals in a dynami...

3 weeks ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Business Services

$128K - $189K *

Drive engineering excellence by leading cross-regional teams to deliver innovative platform integrations, ensuring high-quality, scalable solutions that align with strategic business goals in a dynami...

3 weeks ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Business Services

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

  • What does a Director of Software Development do?question toggle

    A Director of Software Development leads software engineering teams and delivery, sets development priorities, allocates resources, and works with business and product leaders to deliver secure, reliable software.

  • What qualifications are commonly required for Director of Software Development jobs?question toggle

    Employers typically look for substantial software engineering experience, a record of leading teams, and strengths in strategy, communication, planning, and delivery. Specific technical and education requirements vary by employer.

  • How much do Director of Software Development jobs pay?question toggle

    Compensation varies based on factors such as employer, location, industry, and role scope. Ladders features vetted professional jobs paying $100,000 or more; review each listing for its compensation details.

  • Where can a Director of Software Development work?question toggle

    These leaders work across technology companies and many other industries, including finance, healthcare, retail, and professional services.

  • What roles can follow a Director of Software Development position?question toggle

    Potential next steps include vice president of engineering, senior technology leadership, or chief technology officer roles, depending on experience and organizational structure.