Director of Software EngineeringJob Description
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Job Title: Director of Software Engineering
Location: Remote/Hybrid (Major US Tech Hubs)
Type: Full-time
About the Role:
We are seeking a visionary Director of Software Engineering to lead multiple engineering teams and drive technical excellence across our organization. This role will be responsible for setting technical direction, mentoring engineering leaders, and ensuring the successful delivery of complex software projects. The ideal candidate will combine deep technical knowledge with strong leadership abilities to build and scale high-performing engineering teams.
Key Responsibilities:
- Lead and mentor a team of 30+ software engineers across multiple product lines
- Define and implement technical strategy aligned with business objectives
- Establish engineering best practices, coding standards, and architectural guidelines
- Drive innovation and adoption of new technologies and methodologies
- Manage resource allocation and capacity planning across engineering teams
- Collaborate with product management to define technical roadmaps
- Oversee system architecture decisions and technical debt management
- Build and maintain relationships with key technical partners and stakeholders
- Foster a culture of engineering excellence and continuous improvement
- Own delivery of major technical initiatives and strategic projects
Perks:
- Competitive salary and equity compensation
- Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance
- Flexible PTO and remote work options
- Professional development and conference attendance
- 401(k) matching and stock options
Director of Software Engineering Responsibilities
Hiring a director of software engineering? Here's what you can expect them to handle:
- Develop and execute technical strategy aligned with business goals
- Build and lead high-performing engineering teams through hiring and mentorship
- Drive architectural decisions and technology selection across projects
- Establish engineering processes, standards, and best practices
- Manage relationships with stakeholders and technical partners
- Oversee technical planning and resource allocation
- Guide career development for engineering staff
- Ensure delivery of high-quality software products on schedule
Qualifications to Be a Director of Software Engineering
Here's what a solid candidate typically brings to the table:
Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or related field (Master's preferred)10+ years of software engineering experience5+ years of engineering management experienceProven track record of leading large-scale technical projectsStrong understanding of software architecture and design patternsDirector of Software Engineering Prerequisites
Before you even think of hiring, make sure your candidates have:
Experience with modern software development methodologiesTrack record of successful team building and mentorshipExcellent communication and presentation skillsDemonstrated ability to drive technical innovationExperience with cloud platforms and distributed systemsDirector of Software Engineering Hard Skills
The “must-haves” on every recruiter's checklist:
Programming Languages: Java, Python, JavaScriptCloud Technologies: AWS, Azure, GCPArchitecture: Microservices, API Design, System DesignDevOps: CI/CD, Infrastructure as CodeData Management: SQL, NoSQL, Data WarehousingSecurity: Application Security, Identity ManagementPerformance: Scalability, Optimization, MonitoringTesting: Test Automation, Quality AssuranceDirector of Software Engineering Soft Skills
Tech skills get them in the door—soft skills help them stick around.
Strategic Leadership and VisionTeam Building and MentorshipCommunication and PresentationProblem-Solving and Decision MakingStakeholder ManagementChange ManagementConflict ResolutionProject ManagementDirector of Software Engineering Salary by Experience Level
Entry Level (0-2 Years)
$180k – $280k
Common Titles
Junior Director of Software Engineering, Associate Director of Software Engineering
Mid Level (2-5 Years)
$220k – $350k
Common Titles
Director of Software Engineering, Director of Software Engineering II
Senior Level (5+ Years)
$280k – $500k
Common Titles
Senior Director of Software Engineering, Lead Director of Software Engineering
Frequently Asked QuestionsAbout Director of Software Engineering Hiring
A Director typically manages multiple teams and focuses on technical execution, while a VP has broader organizational responsibility and strategic influence. Directors usually report to VPs and have more hands-on involvement in day-to-day engineering operations.
Use scenario-based interviews focusing on past leadership challenges, team building experiences, and technical decision-making. Request detailed examples of how they've scaled engineering organizations and handled conflicts.
While both are important, prioritize management experience and leadership skills. The candidate should have enough technical knowledge to make architectural decisions, but their primary value comes from their ability to lead teams and drive results.
Watch for candidates who can't provide specific examples of team building, lack knowledge of modern engineering practices, or show poor communication skills. Also be wary of those who focus solely on technical details while ignoring people management aspects.
A Director typically manages 20-50 engineers across multiple teams. The optimal span depends on organization structure and product complexity, but they should have at least 3-4 direct reports who are engineering managers.
Tools and Programs Director of Software Engineering Use
Here's what their digital toolbox might look like:
Project Management
Jira•Asana
Version Control
GitHub•GitLab
CI/CD
Jenkins•CircleCI
Monitoring
Datadog•New Relic
Documentation
Confluence•Notion
Communication
Slack•Microsoft Teams
Cloud Platforms
AWS•Azure
Collaboration
Zoom•Google Workspace
Job Description Examples
Backend EngineerDevOps EngineerDevOps Engineer InternDevOps ManagerDirector of Software EngineeringFull Stack EngineerJunior DevOps EngineerJunior QA EngineerJunior Software EngineerLead DevOps EngineerLead Software EngineerQA EngineerQA InternSenior DevOps EngineerSenior Frontend EngineerSenior Full Stack EngineerSenior QA EngineerSenior Software EngineerSoftware Engineering InternSoftware Engineering Manager
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