Director, Software Engineering Jobs

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.

What Does a Director of Software Engineering Do?

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.

Skills and Experience Employers Value

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.

Explore Director, Software Engineering Careers

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.

Remote
caret down
Compensation
caret down
Position Level
caret down
Time Posted
caret down
Industries
caret down
Locations
caret down
More
1
caret down

$155K - $175K *

Shape the future of data engineering by leading a team to optimize and manage Snowflake and PostgreSQL platforms, ensuring security, performance, and cost efficiency while driving automation and best...

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$255K - $300K *

Unlock your potential by leading the development of critical AI infrastructure that enhances user experience and builds trust in a regulated financial environment. Drive innovative solutions through c...

3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$150K - $180K *

Drive innovative engineering projects that leverage AI and complex data to create impactful product experiences. Collaborate with teams and customers to shape solutions, ensuring high-quality delivery...

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$193K - $210K *

Unlock potential by leading the design and development of scalable cloud-based software solutions. Drive innovation in microservices architecture while mentoring a talented team in a collaborative, fa...

2 weeks ago

  •   15+ years exp.  •   Information Technology

$179K - $243K *

Champion the development of a central hardware support function, leading multiple teams to enhance the reliability and maintainability of the world's largest robotics fleet while driving strategic ini...

Today

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

$179K - $243K *

Lead the charge in developing a robust hardware support function, overseeing multiple teams to ensure the reliability and maintainability of a vast robotics fleet while setting strategic direction and...

6 days ago

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

$174K - $252K *

Transform the future of technology by leading software development initiatives, driving innovation, and optimizing distributed systems while collaborating with cross-functional teams to deliver high-i...

4 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$110K - $130K *

Empower the future of aviation by designing and developing cutting-edge software for airborne platforms. Collaborate with a skilled team to enhance products and support innovative 5G solutions in a dy...

Ottawa, ONIn-Person

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Telecommunications & Hardware

$125K - $150K *

Take ownership of product strategy and execution, driving innovation in code transformation across diverse technical domains. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver impactful solutions for...

RemoteRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$130K - $155K *

Lead the charge in product strategy and execution, transforming customer needs into innovative solutions across diverse technical domains, while collaborating with cross-functional teams to drive impa...

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$204K - $290K *

Lead the technical strategy of a dynamic team, ensuring high-quality project delivery while fostering collaboration across product development. Advocate for best practices in code and operational proc...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$110K - $130K *

Lead the charge in embedded systems engineering for consumer electronics. Manage project timelines, guide a multi-disciplinary team, and ensure delivery of high-quality products in a fast-paced enviro...

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$135K - $160K *

Join a dynamic team as a Principal Software Engineer, leading technology initiatives and architecting scalable solutions for investment software. Collaborate across functions to enhance system perform...

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$150K - $180K *

Join a team that's shaping healthcare innovation through advanced engineering leadership. In this role, you'll architect AI-driven workflows, lead development efforts, and establish best practices, dr...

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$184K - $250K *

Join a team that's shaping the future of industrial automation software. Lead and mentor engineers to build high-performing applications for mission-critical data center operations, driving innovation...

6 days ago

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

$262K - $364K *

Lead the charge in developing innovative software solutions, guiding teams through design, architecture, and deployment. Drive technical direction and ensure project success while fostering collaborat...

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$130K - $200K *

Explore innovative solutions as you enhance site performance and scalability. Collaborate with engineering teams to streamline technology and develop robust monitoring tools, ensuring optimal deployme...

Yesterday

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Education, Government & Non-Profit

$168K - $253K *

Pioneer innovative data-driven decision-making and analytics capabilities that enhance patient care, support business operations, and foster collaboration across the organization while leading a team...

Reposted 1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$150K - $180K *

Empower our growth by leading enterprise systems and IT initiatives. Oversee application management, data governance, and workplace technology to enhance operational efficiency and support a dynamic t...

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$160K - $200K *

Unlock potential by leading technical direction in autonomy systems. Drive ownership of advanced perception, prediction, and planning components with cross-stack influence, facilitating innovation and...

RemoteRemote

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Transportation

$160K - $190K *

Shape the future of autonomy by leading technical direction in Perception, Prediction, and Planning. As the senior-most contributor, you'll influence cross-stack design and ensure functional architect...

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Transportation

$166K - $200K *

Champion the evolution of autonomous systems by driving innovative solutions in Perception, Prediction, and Planning. Influence the entire autonomy stack while collaborating with cross-functional team...

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Transportation

$180K - $240K *

Champion a high-output engineering team, blending hands-on coding with leadership. Drive AI-native practices, enhance team culture, and collaborate across functions to deliver impactful systems that e...

6 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$125K - $160K *

Champion the integration of software and firmware in UAVs, driving cross-functional collaboration and technical milestones. Leverage your engineering expertise to ensure seamless delivery and validati...

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$203K - $275K *

Shape the future of security engineering by leading and mentoring a team to develop scalable tools and automation solutions that enhance security across the organization, tackling critical security pr...

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Media

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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

    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?question toggle

    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?question toggle

    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?question toggle

    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?question toggle

    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.