Explore Software Development Manager Jobs

Software Development Managers lead engineering teams that design, build, test, and maintain software products and platforms. They connect technical execution with business priorities, helping teams deliver reliable, valuable software while fostering an environment where engineers can do their best work. Explore vetted Software Development Manager opportunities paying $100,000 or more on Ladders.

What Does a Software Development Manager Do?

Responsibilities vary by company and team, but commonly include hiring and developing engineers, setting goals and delivery plans, coordinating projects, and partnering with product, design, security, and operations teams. Managers may also guide architecture and technical decisions, monitor quality and delivery risks, and communicate progress to stakeholders. The balance between people leadership and hands-on technical work depends on the organization.

Skills and Qualifications Employers Look For

Employers often seek experience leading software teams and delivering production systems, along with a strong understanding of software development practices. Helpful strengths include coaching and feedback, project planning, prioritization, clear communication, and cross-functional collaboration. Familiarity with areas such as cloud platforms, distributed systems, DevOps, security, or agile methods may be important depending on the role.

Career Paths and Opportunities

Software Development Managers work across industries, including technology, finance, healthcare, retail, and enterprise services. Experienced leaders may progress to senior engineering management, director or vice president roles, or broader technology leadership positions. Some also move into product-focused or technical strategy roles, drawing on their experience guiding teams and delivering software.

Find Your Next Software Development Manager Role

Use Ladders to explore Software Development Manager openings with salaries of $100,000 or more. Compare role scope, team responsibilities, technical expectations, and compensation details to identify opportunities that fit your leadership experience and career goals. Tailor your resume to highlight team outcomes, delivery impact, and the scale or complexity of the systems you have helped build.

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$150K - $180K *

The Security Program Manager will be responsible for securing OpenAI's critical product launches by coordinating security reviews and managing risks across cross-functional teams. This role ensures th...

RemoteRemote

Reposted 4 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$150K - $200K *

Join a dynamic team to build scalable web applications and APIs, leveraging modern technologies. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to create innovative solutions that enhance business workflows...

RemoteRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Media

$466K - $500K+*

Accelerate progress at the forefront of ML infrastructure, collaborating with cross-functional teams to design and implement user-centric solutions that enhance model development and deployment for di...

United StatesRemote

3 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Hospitality & Recreation

$140K - $240K *

Lead the development of innovative software solutions while mentoring a talented engineering team. Collaborate with cross-functional partners to enhance product quality and drive strategic vendor rela...

Georgia, USRemote

3 weeks ago

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

$160K - $200K *

Empower innovation by developing robust AI systems and scalable services. Join as a vital software engineer—crafting solutions in Go and Python, while collaborating across functions to shape user-cent...

Austin, TXRemote

4 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$110K - $130K *

Join a dynamic team to develop and customize software solutions, leveraging your expertise in Java, AWS, and agile methodologies. Collaborate on innovative projects that meet client needs while enhanc...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$125K - $150K *

Elevate project delivery by managing integrated schedules for data center builds, ensuring timely execution across teams and partners. Drive risk management and governance while building scalable proc...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

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

$200K - $235K *

Engineer innovative AI/ML solutions by collaborating with teams to design, deploy, and manage scalable models. Drive impactful insights through seamless API integration and advanced training resources...

RemoteRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$150K - $180K *

Advance your career by leading the design and implementation of agent evaluations, enhancing the performance of AI systems through innovative techniques and team collaboration in a dynamic software en...

United StatesRemote

1 month ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$120K - $216K *

Champion the development of high-performance REST APIs, leading architectural decisions and mentoring engineers. Collaborate across teams to enhance system performance and establish best practices in...

Cambridge, ONRemote

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$101K - $206K *

Join a team that's redefining AI product development by leading high-performing engineering teams. Drive innovation and collaboration across functions to deliver scalable AI solutions, while fostering...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$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

$140K - $185K *

Elevate your career by managing a dynamic data engineering team, shaping scalable data pipelines, and driving innovative data solutions to enhance enterprise data strategies and execution efficiency a...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 2 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$150K - $200K *

Unlock potential by transforming workflows and enhancing team capabilities through AI. Collaborate across departments to implement innovative solutions that streamline operations and drive sustained a...

CanadaRemote

Today

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$139K - $174K *

Join our team to shape the future of our platform by designing robust APIs, improving service connectivity, and evolving legacy systems into modern architectures, all while fostering a collaborative e...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$90K - $110K *

Lead the charge in optimizing customer operations by enhancing support and service delivery. Drive team performance, improve workflows, and leverage AI to elevate customer experience and satisfaction...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise 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 3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$128K - $252K *

Lead the charge in building and managing high-performing software engineering teams. Drive innovation, optimize processes, and deliver high-quality applications while fostering a culture of excellence...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$130K - $180K *

Innovate your career by leading product strategy and execution in AI-driven simulation and autonomy. Collaborate with customers and technical teams to transform complex needs into impactful product so...

San Francisco, CARemote

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$120K - $145K *

Pioneer innovative software solutions for defense programs by leveraging your expertise in C#, .NET, and SQL Server. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure secure, compliant, and high-quali...

United StatesRemote

Today

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$120K - $145K *

Empower global business practices by leading diverse project teams in innovative industries. Collaborate with stakeholders to ensure project success through effective management and integration of cut...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Consumer Technology

$114K - $155K *

Transform the testing landscape by developing automated solutions for AI products. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance testing strategies, ensuring quality and reliability in a fast-pac...

CanadaRemote

Yesterday

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$93K - $166K *

Transform the future by leading complex projects that drive innovation and efficiency. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver business value while managing scope, schedule, and resources i...

United StatesRemote

Reposted today

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Education, Government & Non-Profit

$190K - $267K *

Unlock potential by designing and building innovative developer tools that enhance software development processes. Collaborate across teams to improve reliability, usability, and scalability of servic...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Media

$197K - $240K *

Join us to define and own the product strategy for Wallets, shaping the future of stablecoin and payment solutions. Collaborate across teams to drive customer adoption and business impact through inno...

San Francisco, CARemote

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

  • What does a Software Development Manager do?question toggle

    A Software Development Manager leads software engineers and coordinates the planning, development, and delivery of software. The role typically combines team leadership, project execution, stakeholder communication, and technical oversight.

  • What qualifications are commonly required for Software Development Manager jobs?question toggle

    Requirements vary, but employers commonly look for a background in software engineering, experience delivering production software, and a record of leading or mentoring technical teams. Some roles also request experience with specific platforms, architecture, or development methods.

  • How much do Software Development Manager jobs pay?question toggle

    Compensation varies based on location, industry, company size, experience, and role scope. Ladders focuses on vetted professional jobs paying $100,000 or more, so explore current listings for salary information and details.

  • What skills are important for a Software Development Manager?question toggle

    Important skills often include people management, coaching, prioritization, project planning, communication, and cross-functional collaboration. Technical judgment and familiarity with the organization’s software stack and delivery practices are also valuable.

  • What career growth can follow a Software Development Manager role?question toggle

    Potential paths include senior engineering manager, director of engineering, vice president of engineering, or other technology leadership roles. Career options depend on a person's strengths, experience, and the organization’s structure.