Director of Software Engineering Jobs

Explore Director of Software Engineering jobs on Ladders, where professionals can find vetted opportunities with salaries of $100,000 or more. These senior technology leaders guide engineering teams, shape software strategy, and help organizations deliver reliable products and platforms.

What Does a Director of Software Engineering Do?

A Director of Software Engineering sets direction for software development across teams or departments. Typical responsibilities include defining engineering priorities, overseeing architecture and delivery, managing budgets and staffing, and partnering with product, design, security, and business leaders. Directors also develop engineering managers, improve development practices, and ensure teams can build and maintain software at scale.

Skills and Experience Employers Seek

Employers commonly look for a strong background in software development and engineering leadership, along with experience managing managers and cross-functional teams. Valuable qualifications may include technical strategy, cloud and platform technologies, software architecture, cybersecurity awareness, agile delivery, hiring, and organizational planning. The exact requirements vary by company, industry, and the scope of the role.

Director of Software Engineering Salary and Career Outlook

Compensation depends on factors such as location, company size, industry, technical scope, and leadership experience. Many director-level roles include a combination of base salary and additional compensation, such as bonuses or equity. Ladders focuses on professional jobs paying $100,000 or more, helping experienced candidates explore senior engineering opportunities.

Find Director of Software Engineering Jobs

Browse current openings and compare responsibilities, qualifications, and compensation details. Use relevant keywords and location preferences to narrow your search, and tailor your resume to show measurable outcomes such as products launched, systems scaled, reliability improved, or engineering organizations grown.

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$154K - $260K *

Develop AI-driven workflows to enhance CI/CD systems, ensuring safe, efficient software delivery. Collaborate with teams to reduce tech debt and improve production reliability while scaling engineerin...

RemoteRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$110K - $130K *

Lead the charge in software innovation while mentoring a high-performing engineering team. Drive technical solutions and ensure project success through hands-on involvement, fostering a culture of con...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$120K - $145K *

Lead a dynamic team of software engineers to enhance data import systems, ensuring efficient document processing and integration. Drive technical direction, improve engineering practices, and foster a...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$196K - $330K *

Join a dynamic team to define technical strategy, drive software design, and build high-performing engineering cultures that deliver scalable solutions while ensuring operational excellence and contin...

RemoteRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Real Estate & Construction

$252K - $300K *

Unlock potential by leading the technical strategy for Data Labs, guiding engineering teams to innovate AI training solutions, and shaping the future of model evaluation and deployment in a rapidly ev...

United StatesRemote

Today

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$208K - $306K *

Join a team that's redefining engineering excellence by leading platform services that enhance software development. Drive innovation, consolidate capabilities, and foster a culture of collaboration t...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$174K - $273K *

Lead the charge in a high-impact Growth team, managing and mentoring engineers, optimizing delivery, and driving product strategy to enhance customer acquisition and engagement efficiently...

RemoteRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$150K - $180K *

Lead and inspire a blended team of developers to enhance AI-driven legal automation platforms, ensuring technical excellence, delivery, and collaboration across functions while managing architecture...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Legal & Accounting

$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

6 days ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Transportation

$134K - $180K *

Drive engineering excellence and innovation by leading a globally distributed team in automation and AI workflows, enabling seamless internal integrations while enhancing productivity and employee exp...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$242K - $275K *

Lead the charge in developing and deploying robust containerized software, manage CI/CD workflows, and grow a cohesive engineering team to enhance customer security operations and software delivery ac...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$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...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$255K - $290K *

Drive the technical vision for a complex database platform, ensuring scalability and performance. Lead architecture decisions, mentor engineers, and collaborate across teams to enhance data infrastruc...

United StatesRemote

5 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$165K - $180K *

Transform healthcare solutions by leading the design and development of scalable, high-performance systems. Collaborate with cross-functional teams and mentor junior engineers to drive innovation and...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$162K - $290K *

Contribute to building cutting-edge software systems that harness AI to solve real-world operational challenges. Drive technical strategy, collaborate across teams, and develop full-stack solutions in...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$150K - $180K *

Join a team that's redefining the onboarding experience for human and AI agents by leading innovative UX and engineering teams. Drive growth through strategic roadmap ownership, hands-on leadership, a...

RemoteRemote

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$162K - $290K *

Drive innovation in quality engineering by leading a multidisciplinary team to enhance test infrastructure and ensure scalable, reliable, and high-quality customer experiences across our cloud solutio...

RemoteRemote

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$109K - $183K *

Unlock the potential of software engineering by leading projects that enhance security and reliability within complex applications. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver high-quality, cus...

United StatesRemote

4 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$120K - $150K *

Join a team that's shaping the future of AI engineering by leading a dynamic group of engineers and Technical Leads. Drive workforce strategy, enhance team capabilities, and ensure sustainable deliver...

United StatesRemote

4 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$125K - $150K *

Lead the modernization of a data platform, ensuring reliability and security while managing engineering teams across legacy and new technologies. Drive AI-native practices and uphold quality standards...

United StatesRemote

Reposted today

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Education, Government & Non-Profit

$110K - $130K *

Partner with us to transform customer experience operations into a seamless, data-driven journey. Your leadership will unify departments for consistency, enabling effective strategies that enhance cus...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 4 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Legal & Accounting

$135K - $160K *

Unlock the potential of NetBox Delivery by leading software design, enhancing production reliability, and mentoring engineers. Shape the technical direction and ensure seamless deployment on Cloud and...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$200K - $245K *

Champion innovative software solutions by leading the design and implementation of scalable systems and APIs. Collaborate across teams to enhance user experiences while mentoring engineers and driving...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$150K - $180K *

Lead the charge in developing next-gen data platforms, driving strategic insights and AI solutions. Oversee data architecture, governance, and quality, while mentoring a high-performing team to foster...

RemoteRemote

3 days ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Telecommunications & Hardware

$192K - $266K *

Drive best-in-class travel support through strategic leadership and operational excellence. Oversee lodging, flights, and customer advocacy, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and exception...

United StatesRemote

Reposted yesterday

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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

    A Director of Software Engineering leads software engineering teams or departments, sets technical and organizational priorities, oversees delivery and architecture, and works with business and product leaders to meet company goals.

  • What qualifications are usually required for Director of Software Engineering jobs?question toggle

    Requirements often include substantial software development experience, a record of engineering leadership, and skills in areas such as software architecture, team building, delivery planning, and cross-functional collaboration. Specific expectations differ by employer.

  • How much do Directors of Software Engineering earn?question toggle

    Pay varies based on location, industry, company size, role scope, and experience. Ladders features vetted professional jobs paying $100,000 or more; review each listing for its compensation information.

  • How can I find Director of Software Engineering jobs?question toggle

    Search Ladders for Director of Software Engineering openings, then refine results by location and other preferences. Review each job's requirements and highlight relevant leadership experience and measurable engineering outcomes in your application.