Explore Director, Software Engineering opportunities on Ladders, where professionals can find vetted jobs paying $100,000 or more. Directors of Software Engineering guide teams that design, build, and maintain software products and platforms. They connect business goals with technical execution, helping organizations deliver reliable, secure, and scalable technology.
Responsibilities vary by company and industry, but commonly include setting engineering direction, leading managers and technical teams, shaping architecture decisions, and overseeing software delivery. Directors partner with product, security, operations, and executive stakeholders to prioritize work, manage resources, improve development practices, and address risks. They may also support hiring, coaching, performance management, and long-term talent development.
Employers often seek a strong foundation in software development and engineering leadership, along with the ability to communicate clearly across technical and business teams. Relevant strengths can include organizational planning, software architecture, cloud platforms, agile delivery, security awareness, budgeting, and managing multiple teams. The right background depends on the employer’s products, technology stack, and organizational structure.
Director roles can be found across industries, from technology and financial services to healthcare, retail, and enterprise software. Compare opportunities by scope, company, location, work arrangement, and compensation. Ladders focuses on vetted professional jobs with salaries of $100,000 or more, making it easier to discover senior engineering leadership roles aligned with your experience and career goals.
$143K - $241K *
Collaborate with cross-functional teams to design and implement scalable data solutions, optimize performance, and enhance software architecture while adhering to coding standards and leveraging AI to...
2 weeks ago
Director, Project Management & Resource Operations
$150K - $172K *
Drive strategic leadership for project and resource management, ensuring timely delivery and optimal resource utilization. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance customer experience and fi...
2 weeks ago
$151K - $216K *
Unlock your potential by leading a dynamic engineering team to deliver innovative solutions, drive technical excellence, and foster collaboration while serving the U.S. Government in a hybrid work env...
Reposted 2 weeks ago
Sr. Staff Cyber Defense Engineer
$181K - $301K *
Elevate our cyber defense capabilities by architecting advanced detection and response systems. Lead cross-functional initiatives, influence technical strategy, and enhance security measures to protec...
1 week ago
Multi-disciplinary Project Manager
$85K - $130K *
Grow and lead complex multidisciplinary projects from initiation to completion. Collaborate with diverse teams and clients to deliver high-quality results while managing budgets, schedules, and relati...
2 weeks ago
$95K - $185K *
Deliver impactful solutions as a technical leader to drive system resilience, architect observability, and empower engineers, while establishing strong SLO-driven processes across diverse cloud enviro...
3 weeks ago
Director - Data Platforms & Architecture
$162K - $244K *
Shape the future of cloud architecture by leading diverse teams, driving Azure modernization, and connecting business objectives with innovative solutions. As a technical leader, you will foster inclu...
2 weeks ago
$110K - $130K *
Transform data into actionable insights by building robust data pipelines, dashboards, and monitoring frameworks. Leverage expertise in Skyline DataMiner to enhance network performance analytics and e...
2 weeks ago
Director, Mainframe Systems Programming
$135K - $205K *
Lead the charge in delivering client-focused mainframe solutions. Oversee diverse projects, manage teams, and leverage strategic insights to enhance hardware and software lifecycle management while fo...
1 week ago
Displays Software Engineer, C/C++
$120K - $145K *
Create real-time user interface applications for automated aircraft systems, collaborating with a dynamic team of engineers. Lead the design and implementation to enhance pilot experiences, ensuring s...
Reposted 3 weeks ago
$180K - $250K *
Innovate the design and delivery of cutting-edge SaaS solutions powered by data, ML, and AI. Own key technical areas driving high-quality product features through collaboration, backend development, a...
Reposted 4 days ago
$125K - $150K *
Drive scalable data architecture by designing robust operational systems, balancing streaming and batch processing. Collaborate with founders and engineers to enhance real-time insights and drive impa...
Reposted 2 weeks ago
Engineering Manager, Provider Ecosystem
$150K - $180K *
Grow a dynamic team driving OpenRouter’s provider ecosystem, managing innovations across diverse models and endpoints, ensuring quality and efficiency in inference services for millions of requests da...
3 weeks ago
Director, Enterprise Portfolio Enablement
$110K - $130K *
Drive your career with a strategic role focused on enhancing project management standards and integrating enterprise initiatives. Collaborate with leaders to improve clarity, prioritization, and execu...
2 weeks ago
$136K - $160K *
Elevate operations through AI-driven automation to enhance incident management, streamline ticket resolution, and optimize service health with self-healing observability, all while collaborating acros...
Reposted 6 days ago
Lead Director - Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning and Data Engineering
$144K - $288K *
Transform your career by leading enterprise-scale AI/ML initiatives that enhance data engineering capabilities and operational excellence. Drive innovation, security, and compliance for impactful AI s...
Reposted 3 weeks ago
Senior Software Engineer (Big Data)
$135K - $150K *
Join a dynamic team to architect and enhance scalable data pipelines, delivering actionable security insights. Collaborate across disciplines to support large data volumes and refine algorithms, makin...
2 weeks ago
Senior Software Engineer | AI Security Engineering
$170K - $230K *
Engineer scalable AI platforms to identify and address vulnerabilities in production code. Collaborate closely with security and product teams to enhance application security through automated workflo...
3 weeks ago
Senior Director, AI Development and Go to Market Strategy
$168K - $191K *
Contribute to innovative AI development to support homelessness solutions. Lead a team in building tools, fostering partnerships, and executing strategies to ensure ethical AI use while maintaining hu...
4 weeks ago
Staff Software Engineer | Platform Team
$225K - $260K *
Lead the charge in enhancing our platform's foundation. Tackle complex systems, improve developer tooling, and drive AI tool adoption to elevate engineering practices and platform performance across a...
Reposted 2 weeks ago
Director, Technology Integration Delivery
$140K - $175K *
Elevate your career by leading technology integration for M&A, ensuring seamless execution from due diligence to stabilization. Drive cross-functional collaboration and deliver predictable outcomes wh...
Today
Engineering Manager, Proactive Security - Platform
$193K - $285K *
Empower the Security Engineering team by leading the technical vision for platform hardening across global operations, ensuring a secure and resilient delivery network through innovative practices and...
2 weeks ago
$135K - $160K *
Unlock your potential as a Lead Data Software Engineer, driving innovative data solutions and leading cross-functional teams to enhance our data infrastructure and ensure scalability and performance a...
1 week ago
$150K - $180K *
Join a dynamic team to drive operational excellence across Business Units, ensuring accurate forecasting, insightful reporting, and effective execution. Collaborate closely with GMs to enhance perform...
Reposted 2 weeks ago
Senior Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET)
$120K - $145K *
Accelerate progress at our enterprise by driving test automation strategies and building AI-assistance in QA tooling. Collaborate cross-functionally to enhance test frameworks, ensuring robust quality...
4 weeks ago
What does a Director of Software Engineering do?
A Director of Software Engineering leads software development organizations and helps set technical direction. The role commonly includes managing engineering teams, guiding architecture and delivery, partnering with business stakeholders, and supporting hiring and team development.
What qualifications are typically required for Director of Software Engineering jobs?
Requirements vary, but employers often look for substantial software engineering experience, a record of leading teams or managers, strong communication and planning skills, and familiarity with relevant architectures and development practices. Some positions may prefer a bachelor’s or advanced degree, but expectations differ by employer.
How much do Director of Software Engineering jobs pay?
Compensation depends on factors such as location, industry, company size, role scope, and experience. Ladders features vetted professional jobs paying $100,000 or more; review each listing for its specific compensation details.
Where can Director of Software Engineering professionals work?
These leaders work in many sectors, including technology, financial services, healthcare, retail, and enterprise software. Opportunities may be available in office-based, hybrid, or remote arrangements, depending on the employer.
How can I find Director of Software Engineering jobs on Ladders?
Browse the category and review listings for responsibilities, required experience, location, work arrangement, and salary information. Use those details to identify roles that match your leadership background and career priorities.