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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
$125K - $150K *
Lead the charge in optimizing mission-critical Mainframe applications, providing technical leadership and advanced support for Life Insurance systems. Drive performance enhancements and mentor teams t...
1 week ago
Director, Corporate Development
$174K - $262K *
Advance your career by leading M&A initiatives, driving integration, and shaping strategic acquisitions in a dynamic tech environment. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure successful deal...
3 days ago
$250K - $280K *
Lead a dynamic product management team to shape innovative solutions in mental health care. Drive strategy, foster collaboration, and empower your team to deliver impactful products that enhance the t...
2 weeks ago
$150K - $185K *
Lead cross-functional teams to drive excellence in software development for a SaaS platform, ensuring timely delivery and high-quality outcomes while fostering a collaborative engineering culture. Inn...
Reposted 6 days ago
Senior Software Engineer, Platform
$132K - $161K *
Elevate your career by enhancing the reliability and scalability of production systems. Lead database migrations, optimize cloud data platforms, and build self-service tools to empower engineers in a...
Today
$110K - $145K *
Champion innovation as you lead a dynamic engineering team to develop a cutting-edge Operational Decisioning Platform, shaping architecture and practices while driving collaboration and excellence acr...
1 week ago
$93K - $114K *
Join a team that's committed to ensuring seamless operations of USDA's eWCMD application. You'll oversee maintenance, coordinate issue resolution, and maintain compliance while managing resources to d...
4 weeks ago
Sr Program Manager, Client Delivery
$155K - $180K *
Drive successful delivery of complex, multi-year programs in a dynamic environment. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to manage scope, budget, and timelines while ensuring client satisfaction an...
2 weeks ago
$140K - $170K *
Lead the charge in developing innovative workforce products, guiding a dynamic team to enhance user access frameworks and policies while collaborating closely with Product Managers to drive project su...
2 days ago
Software Engineer II - Developer Productivity
$150K - $165K *
Support our Developer Productivity team by enhancing developer tooling and infrastructure. Collaborate with engineers to streamline workflows, improve build systems, and optimize release automation, e...
1 week ago
Director, Automation & Controls Engineering
$221K - $305K *
Take ownership of the automation and controls engineering team, driving the development of advanced manufacturing systems. Lead initiatives to enhance reliability, scalability, and autonomy in product...
1 week ago
Senior Manager, Product Software Arch and Eng
$213K - $319K *
Lead the charge in building a secure, scalable API-first Compute Platform, driving AI-Native engineering practices and operational excellence while managing high-performing teams to enhance infrastruc...
3 weeks ago
Senior Manager, Product Software Arch and Eng
$177K - $265K *
Champion innovative engineering practices by leading a high-performing team to develop a secure, scalable API-first Compute Platform, enhancing automation and AI-driven operations across the organizat...
3 weeks ago
Software Development Manager, Elastic Container Service
$171K - $286K *
Lead and develop a team of engineers to enhance a large-scale distributed system. Drive operational excellence, collaborate across teams, and ensure high availability and security while delivering inn...
4 days ago
$108K - $130K *
Lead the charge in delivering impactful software solutions for government clients. Collaborate with a dynamic development team to design and enhance web-based applications, ensuring operational excell...
4 weeks ago
$120K - $145K *
Elevate operational excellence by collaborating with a dynamic team to design, develop, and support front-end services for government tools, delivering effective solutions that align with mission-crit...
4 weeks ago
Lead Engineer, Enterprise Systems Software
$147K - $179K *
Empower enterprise systems by leading SAP architecture, security, and development. Drive technical governance, optimize solutions, and mentor teams to ensure compliance and operational excellence acro...
3 weeks ago
Strategic Software Development Engineer
$110K - $130K *
Transform software development by prototyping across embedded, full stack, and autonomy domains. Collaborate with teams to deliver innovative solutions, ensuring rapid transition from concept to produ...
2 weeks ago
System Development Engineering Manager
$120K - $145K *
Lead the charge in software development strategy, ensuring systems are effective and user-friendly. Manage cross-functional teams, drive project success, and implement operational policies to adapt to...
Reposted today
Lead Software Engineer- Developer Practices
$120K - $145K *
Deliver innovative software solutions by developing, designing, and troubleshooting secure microservices in a DevOps environment. Collaborate with teams to enhance operational stability and user exper...
4 weeks ago
$100K - $120K *
Join an innovative team to define product vision, collaborate with stakeholders, and drive software strategies that enhance user satisfaction and business success through Agile methodologies and conti...
3 weeks ago
Staff Software Engineer, DevEx
$162K - $290K *
Elevate your career by shaping the technical direction of our Developer Experience team. Collaborate on cutting-edge AI coding tools and scalable infrastructures that enhance productivity across the e...
Reposted 3 weeks ago
$104K - $175K *
Unlock potential by developing and enhancing complex software systems, working both independently and collaboratively. Engage in innovative analytics, real-time systems, and contribute to design and i...
4 weeks ago
$110K - $130K *
Lead the charge in transforming complex challenges into streamlined solutions. Collaborate across teams to enhance operational efficiency, drive data integrity, and manage critical projects that prope...
2 days ago
$185K - $225K *
Launch innovative full-stack solutions, owning features from backend to UI. Collaborate with a remote team to enhance agent workflows and ensure secure, reliable experiences in a regulated financial e...
1 week ago
What does a Director of Software Development do?
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?
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?
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?
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?
Potential next steps include vice president of engineering, senior technology leadership, or chief technology officer roles, depending on experience and organizational structure.