Senior Manager, Software Development Jobs

Explore senior manager, software development opportunities on Ladders, where professionals can find vetted roles paying $100,000 or more. Senior managers guide engineering teams, shape technical direction, and help organizations deliver reliable software that meets business needs.

What Does a Senior Manager of Software Development Do?

Senior managers oversee software development teams and programs, translating organizational priorities into technical plans and delivery goals. Depending on the company, they may manage multiple teams, partner with product and design leaders, guide architecture decisions, and establish practices for quality, security, and dependable releases.

Common Responsibilities

  • Lead, coach, and develop software engineers and engineering managers.
  • Set team priorities, delivery plans, and measurable performance goals.
  • Collaborate with product, design, security, and business stakeholders.
  • Guide technical strategy, architecture, and modernization initiatives.
  • Improve engineering processes, code quality, and release reliability.
  • Manage staffing, budgets, risks, and cross-team dependencies.

Skills and Qualifications Employers Seek

Employers commonly look for substantial software engineering experience, a record of leading teams, and the ability to balance technical judgment with business priorities. Useful strengths include people management, strategic planning, systems design, clear communication, and experience with modern development practices. Requirements vary by organization, industry, and the scope of the role.

Find Senior Software Development Leadership Roles

Use Ladders to explore senior manager, software development jobs and discover opportunities that match your experience and career goals. Compare role requirements, leadership scope, and compensation details as you search for your next software engineering management position.

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1
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$180K - $230K *

Drive market dominance by owning the GTM strategy for innovative AppSec products, collaborating closely with technical teams and sales to ensure successful launches and impactful messaging that resona...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$92K - $154K *

Unlock potential by leading complex, cross-functional projects in a fast-paced infrastructure environment, driving execution among diverse technical and business teams, while adapting to evolving prio...

Colorado, USRemote

4 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$182K - $240K *

Pioneer a high-impact Corporate Systems strategy, leading a dedicated Product Management team to transform internal platforms. Drive cross-functional initiatives in Finance, People, and Sales to deliv...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$157K - $283K *

Take ownership of the design and management of high-profile ADA upgrade projects, ensuring effective execution, budget adherence, and client satisfaction while leading cross-functional teams in a dyna...

RemoteRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   15+ years exp.  •   Real Estate & Construction

$72K - $114K *

Lead the charge in product marketing by defining positioning, executing go-to-market strategies, and collaborating across teams to deliver compelling narratives that resonate with technical audiences...

RemoteRemote

Reposted 4 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$90K - $101K *

Optimize our marketing web platform by spearheading the integration of Contentstack and Next.js. Utilize your advanced front-end skills to maintain diverse CMS and enhance development workflows throug...

RemoteRemote

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Telecommunications & Hardware

$140K - $165K *

Empower teams by leading complex, cross-functional programs that enhance cloud infrastructure. Drive execution through ambiguity, ensuring high-impact delivery while collaborating with engineering and...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$110K - $220K *

Unlock potential by leading the design and implementation of scalable data solutions. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive data strategies, ensuring quality and compliance while fostering...

Bentonville, ARRemote

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Retail & Consumer Goods

$125K - $150K *

Join a team that's redefining customer trust through innovative engineering. Lead squads to automate security assessments, driving strategic roadmaps while fostering a high-accountability culture and...

CanadaRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$143K - $286K *

Innovate with us as a technical leader, driving scalable platform solutions and AI integration. Collaborate across teams to enhance reporting accuracy and deliver high-quality outputs that support str...

Sunnyvale, CARemote

1 week ago

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

$225K - $265K *

Accelerate progress at a mission-critical team, leading Data Streaming to enhance data ingestion pipelines. Build a skilled team, ensure pipeline reliability, and collaborate cross-functionally to sup...

United StatesRemote

4 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$199K - $274K *

Transform enterprise-scale engineering capabilities by leading the TORC function, fostering collaboration across security and operations, and delivering innovative solutions for risk and control manag...

United StatesRemote

Yesterday

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$105K - $163K *

Transform database environments by leading architecture and administration efforts across multiple platforms, ensuring compliance and performance for mission-critical applications in a dynamic, remote...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$147K - $220K *

Lead the charge in driving enterprise sales across regulated industries, managing the full sales lifecycle from strategic targeting to contract negotiation, while building relationships with C-suite e...

Colorado, USRemote

4 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$147K - $220K *

Elevate your career by driving strategic sales initiatives in highly regulated industries. Own the full sales lifecycle, engage C-suite executives, and lead complex negotiations to achieve ambitious r...

RemoteRemote

4 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$150K - $175K *

Join a team that's driving transformation in insurance technology by leading complex SaaS programs. You'll ensure delivery excellence, manage risks, and enhance client confidence while shaping the fut...

United StatesRemote

5 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$100K - $120K *

Drive innovation as a Product Manager II, owning product strategy and roadmap. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver impactful features and leverage AI tools for rapid prototyping while e...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 5 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Business Services

$110K - $130K *

Shape the future of education by owning content strategy for assessments. Collaborate with experts and district leaders to enhance quality and drive adoption, leveraging insights to inform product dir...

United StatesRemote

5 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$156K - $195K *

Own the end-to-end B2B2C enrollment funnel by transforming data into actionable insights, optimizing processes, and leading cross-functional collaboration to enhance growth and ensure successful membe...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$130K - $140K *

Lead the charge in managing complex IT projects, ensuring timely delivery and exceptional service. Collaborate with teams and stakeholders to drive successful outcomes while adhering to project manage...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$120K - $145K *

Innovate your career by designing and developing safety-critical firmware for vehicle control systems. Collaborate with a multidisciplinary team to enhance performance and ensure compliance with forma...

Toronto, ONRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$85K - $115K *

Lead the charge in driving product adoption and optimizing customer success through hands-on technical guidance, ensuring clients maximize value from their SaaS solutions while managing complex accoun...

CanadaRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$170K - $261K *

Join a team that's redefining autonomy in robotics. As a Senior Software Engineer, you'll develop cutting-edge C++ software for motion planning and controls, collaborating with experts to enhance safe...

RemoteRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$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...

RemoteRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$110K - $130K *

Manage configuration and release processes for software, ensuring accuracy and traceability of components, dependencies, and documentation. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to analyze impacts a...

Chicago, ILRemote

Yesterday

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

  • What does a senior manager of software development do?question toggle

    A senior manager leads software development teams, sets delivery priorities, supports team growth, and works with stakeholders to align engineering work with business goals. The role may also include technical strategy, architecture oversight, budgeting, and coordination across teams.

  • What qualifications are typically required for senior manager, software development jobs?question toggle

    Employers often seek significant software engineering experience, demonstrated people leadership, and strong communication and planning skills. Some roles also require experience with particular technologies, industries, or large-scale systems; qualifications differ by employer.

  • How is a senior manager of software development different from an engineering manager?question toggle

    Titles vary across companies. Senior managers often oversee a broader scope, such as multiple teams, engineering managers, or cross-organization initiatives, while engineering managers may focus on one team. Responsibilities depend on the organization’s structure.

  • Do senior manager, software development jobs pay $100,000 or more?question toggle

    Ladders focuses on vetted professional jobs paying $100,000 or more. Actual compensation for a specific role can vary based on location, company, industry, experience, and responsibilities; review each listing for available salary information.

  • Where can I find senior manager, software development jobs?question toggle

    Browse Ladders for senior manager, software development openings and review listings for role scope, qualifications, location, and compensation details.