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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$145K - $175K *

Elevate your career by developing cutting-edge cloud services infrastructure. Join a passionate team to enhance user privacy and deliver high-quality, scalable applications for millions of Apple custo...

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$184K - $250K *

Lead the charge in developing innovative solutions for GPU and HPC capacity on EC2. Manage a dynamic team, drive technical direction, and enhance customer experience through strategic roadmap executio...

2 weeks ago

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

$220K - $240K *

Innovate customer-centric digital strategies, leading engineering teams to enhance e-commerce platforms and mobile applications, driving measurable growth in traffic, conversion, and satisfaction thro...

Reposted 1 week ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Staffing

$107K - $221K *

Elevate program execution by coordinating cross-functional teams, managing dependencies, and ensuring evidence-gated delivery. Drive stakeholder alignment and optimize AI and cloud adoption for impact...

5 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Business Services

$110K - $130K *

Drive your career forward by leading the enterprise testing strategy, enhancing quality engineering practices, and fostering collaboration across teams to ensure reliability and consistency in complex...

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$198K - $272K *

Champion the evolution of a developer platform by understanding user needs, defining optimal workflows, and integrating security and observability. Drive innovation for internal developers and their a...

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$90K - $110K *

Champion client success by managing strategic accounts and executing capital projects. Drive revenue growth through relationship building and project oversight in industrial processing sectors, ensuri...

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Business Services

$150K - $180K *

Reimagine engineering workflows by developing scalable tools and AI-driven automation systems that enhance productivity, reliability, and software quality across teams, while collaborating with engine...

5 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$148K - $201K *

Drive the future of autonomous delivery by leading R&D site planning, launch, and operations integration. Collaborate across teams to ensure technical readiness and develop repeatable processes for ef...

1 week ago

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

$120K - $145K *

Advance your career by leading data center development projects from planning to execution. Collaborate with diverse stakeholders to drive operational efficiency, risk management, and timely delivery...

Reposted 2 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$120K - $145K *

Lead the charge in enhancing developer experience by optimizing CI/CD pipelines, integrating AI tools, and empowering engineering teams to deliver high-quality software rapidly while ensuring security...

Yesterday

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$150K - $180K *

Lead the Mobile Development Productivity team, setting technical strategy and enhancing mobile app development efficiency. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to tackle challenges and drive innova...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$160K - $190K *

Optimize software engineering strategies to enhance patient support services. Lead cross-functional teams in developing scalable, secure solutions while driving innovation and best practices in a coll...

Today

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$140K - $190K *

Architect and drive the development of a cloud-native data enrichment service, ensuring performance and scalability. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to implement best practices while mentoring...

CanadaRemote

Today

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$140K - $190K *

Join a team that's shaping the future of SaaS architecture. As a Staff Software Engineer, you'll design scalable solutions, mentor peers, and enhance developer experience, driving impactful modernizat...

CanadaRemote

Yesterday

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$200K - $280K *

Transform the engineering landscape by leading a team that balances management with hands-on coding. Drive product quality and innovation while mentoring engineers and collaborating directly with foun...

3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$163K - $230K *

Unlock your potential as a Senior Software Engineer I, driving impactful solutions for appointment-based businesses. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance user experiences and take owners...

United StatesRemote

Today

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Technical Services

$130K - $155K *

Join a team that's redefining Field Intelligence by leading technology strategy and product management. Drive innovation in analytics and AI to enhance decision-making and field effectiveness across a...

4 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$130K - $155K *

Unlock your potential as a Senior Manager in Product Management, leading the technology strategy and roadmap for a unified Field Intelligence platform. Drive innovation and enhance decision-making thr...

4 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$120K - $135K *

Transform the insurance landscape by leading product innovation and development initiatives, enhancing personal Property products to meet member needs and drive profitable growth while ensuring market...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$207K - $300K *

Lead the charge in managing software engineering teams, driving large-scale infrastructure projects, and optimizing technical strategies to enhance product development and team performance across dive...

Today

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$150K - $180K *

Drive excellence in quality engineering by leading a skilled team to evaluate system performance, set testing strategies, and provide actionable insights for product readiness across innovative hardwa...

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$160K - $200K *

Drive the successful delivery of enterprise SaaS implementations, managing multiple projects from kickoff to go-live. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure customer satisfaction and measur...

3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$138K - $165K *

Lead the charge in enhancing developer productivity and satisfaction by driving technical strategy and implementing AI-driven solutions. Collaborate across teams to streamline workflows and mentor eng...

Today

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$130K - $155K *

Elevate the future of fund management by owning product strategy and execution. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver AI-driven solutions that enhance user experience and drive customer v...

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

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.