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Director Of Software Engineering Jobs in California

Fervo Energy

Director of Software Engineering

Oakland, CA

$290K/yr

Position Description Fervo is hiring a Director of Software Engineering to build and lead the software organization responsible for our internal application layer. Reporting directly to the CTO, this ...

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All JobsOf Software Engineering JobsDirector Of Software Engineering JobsDirector Of Software Engineering Jobs in California

Director Of Software Engineering information

See California salary details

$137.2K

$250.7K

How much do director of software engineering jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 6, 2026, the average yearly pay for director of software engineering in California is $240,723.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $249,700.00 and $249,700.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a director of software engineering, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Director of Software Engineering, you need deep technical expertise in software development, proven leadership experience, and a relevant degree such as in computer science or engineering. Familiarity with agile methodologies, cloud platforms, project management tools (like Jira), and experience with architectural frameworks are typically required. Outstanding communication, strategic thinking, and the ability to mentor and motivate teams are vital soft skills in this role. These skills ensure effective project delivery, foster innovation, and build high-performing teams aligned with organizational goals.

What does a director of software engineering do?

A Director of Software Engineering leads and manages software development teams within an organization. They oversee the planning, execution, and delivery of software projects, ensuring high quality and timely completion. Their responsibilities include defining technical strategy, mentoring engineering managers and developers, fostering collaboration, and aligning technology initiatives with business goals. Additionally, they often play a key role in recruitment, budgeting, and setting best practices for software development processes.

What is the difference between Director Of Software Engineering vs Software Development Manager?

AspectDirector Of Software EngineeringSoftware Development Manager
ResponsibilitiesOversees multiple teams, sets strategic goals, manages budgets, and aligns software projects with business objectives.Manages day-to-day software development teams, ensures project delivery, and coordinates technical tasks.
Required CredentialsBachelor's or Master’s in Computer Science or related field, extensive experience in software development, leadership skills.Bachelor's in Computer Science or related field, strong technical background, experience managing development teams.
Work EnvironmentStrategic, cross-team collaboration, executive communication, often in larger organizations.Technical focus, project management, direct team oversight, often in mid-sized companies.

The main difference is that the Director Of Software Engineering focuses on strategic leadership and organizational oversight, while the Software Development Manager handles daily team management and project execution. Both roles require technical expertise and leadership skills, but the director role involves broader business alignment and higher-level decision-making.

What are some common challenges faced by a director of software engineering when managing cross-functional teams?

A Director of Software Engineering often manages teams composed of engineers, product managers, and designers, which can present challenges in aligning priorities and communication styles. Balancing the technical needs of the engineering team with broader business objectives requires clear communication and strong leadership. Additionally, adapting to rapidly changing technology while ensuring consistent delivery and maintaining team morale is a key challenge. Proactive stakeholder management and fostering a culture of collaboration are essential for success in this role.

What does a director of software engineering do?

As a director of software engineering, your responsibilities are to oversee the daily operations of the software engineering department and the long-term application of strategic planning for the department. You are ultimately responsible for creating policies and objectives for the department in collaboration with other director-level positions in the company. You are also heavily involved in the department’s finances and project management, and you often oversee multiple projects. At larger companies, you may have fewer technical duties, but for small and mid-sized companies, you may code or provide technical and managerial expertise on specific projects.

More about Director Of Software Engineering jobs
What are the most commonly searched types of Of Software Engineering jobs in California? The most popular types of Of Software Engineering jobs in California are:
What are popular job titles related to Director Of Software Engineering jobs in California? For Director Of Software Engineering jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Director Of Software Engineering jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Director Of Software Engineering jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Director Of Software Engineering jobs? Cities in California with the most Director Of Software Engineering job openings:
Director Of Software Engineering jobs near you
Infographic showing various Director Of Software Engineering job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $240,723 per year, or $115.7 per hour.

Director of Software Engineering - Security

Apple

Cupertino, CA • On-site

$312K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 10 days ago

Apple rating

8.0

Company rating: 8.0 out of 10

Based on 677 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

7th of 30 rated technology retailers

Job description

The Apple Service Engineering (ASE) team builds and provides systems and infrastructure that fuel Apple's services (such as Apple TV, App Store, Apple Music, Apple Fitness, iCloud, Siri, and Maps). We are the foundation on which Apple's software developers build the products that our customers love. Our services have to scale globally, stay highly available, and meet the high security expectations for our billions of customers. The Security team within ASE is seeking a strategic and hands-on Director of Software Engineering to lead our engineering teams in building secure, scalable, and high-performance security systems. The ideal candidate is a technical leader with a strong background in distributed systems, cloud security, and secure software development.
Description
As the Director of Software Engineering for ASE, you will lead and inspire a world-class team of software engineers to build and deliver secure solutions which underpin very large scale services at Apple. You will be a key member of the security leadership team, responsible for setting and executing the strategic vision for software security across all of Apple Services Engineering. You will ensure that security is a fundamental consideration in every aspect of our work, from the initial design of our systems to the deployment and the infrastructure that supports it.
Minimum Qualifications
15+ years of software security engineering experience, with 10+ years in leadership roles
Proven ability to scale engineering teams and deliver high-impact projects
Strong background in distributed systems and cloud-native architectures
Experience at various layers of the application stack, from system software to cloud applications
Deep knowledge of secure development lifecycle (SDLC) methodologies and secure coding practices
The ability to guide teams in integrating security and quality into development
Experience with cloud security (AWS, Azure, or GCP) and infrastructure as code
Deep knowledge of security frameworks and identity and access management
Preferred Qualifications
Ability to collaborate cross-functionally with program managers and engineering partners
Experience in influencing and driving key product innovations and opportunities across diverse stakeholders
Experience with open source development

What Apple employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom

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About Apple

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Imagine what you could do here! At Apple, new ideas have a way of becoming extraordinary products, services, and customer experiences very quickly. Bring passion and dedication to your job and there's no telling what you could accomplish. Dynamic, intelligent people and inspiring, innovative technologies are the norm here. The people who work here have reinvented entire industries with all Apple Hardware products. The same real passion for innovation that goes into our products also applies to our practices strengthening our dedication to leave the world better than we found it.

Industry

Computer and electronic product manufacturing

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Cupertino, CA, US

Year founded

1976

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