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Director Of Software Engineering Jobs in California

Fervo Energy Company

Director of Software Engineering

Oakland, CA · On-site

$290K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

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 ...

Fervo Energy

Director of Software Engineering

Oakland, CA

$290K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

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 17, 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 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 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.

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 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 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.

More about Director Of Software Engineering jobs

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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

Farmers and Merchants Bank of Long Beach

Seal Beach, CA • On-site

$176K - $327K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 21 days ago

Job description

Job Summary
The Director of Software Engineering will be a senior leader responsible for leading the design, development, and delivery of innovative, customer-facing financial products and digital services for FMB. Reporting to the CIO, the Director of Software Engineering will own the engineering roadmap and execution, drive technical strategy and scale high-performing engineering teams to support the growth ambitions of FMB. You will oversee the entire software development lifecycle, ensuring that all products are delivered with high quality, exceptional scalability, and robust security, all while aligning with the FMB's overall technology vision.
Essential Duties
Technical Strategy and Execution:
Develop and implement the engineering roadmap in alignment with the CIO?s strategic objectives and the business goals of FMB. Translate product vision into buildable architecture, delivery timelines, and scalable systems.Engineering Leadership and Team Management: Lead, mentor, and scale a diverse team of engineering managers, software developers, data engineers, and automation specialists responsible for building innovative software products. Establish clear roles, expectations, and growth paths for all engineering personnel.
Product Delivery and Quality Assurance:
Own the delivery process for all software, overseeing the full development lifecycle from sprint planning to deployment. Implement and enforce engineering best practices, including code quality standards, automated testing strategies, and a rigorous, metrics-driven approach to delivery.Platform and Architectural Oversight: Oversee architectural decisions and technology selection to ensure the scalability, performance, and security of customer-facing systems. Guide teams in developing and maintaining robust platforms built on cloud-native solutions and microservices architecture, ensuring high availability and resilience in a dynamic financial environment.Workflow Automation and RPA: Drive the adoption and implementation of Robotic Process Automation (RPA) and intelligent workflow automation solutions to streamline internal operations, reduce manual effort, and improve efficiency across banking processes. Collaborate with business units to identify automation opportunities and deliver scalable, secure automation frameworks.
Data Engineering and Analytics Enablement:
Lead the design and development of data pipelines, ETL processes, and data integration frameworks to support real-time analytics, reporting, and AI-driven insights. Ensure data quality, governance, and compliance with regulatory standards while enabling advanced analytics and machine learning capabilities.Budgeting and Resource Management: Manage the engineering department's budget, including headcount planning, technology investments, and resource allocation across multiple engineering projects. Ensure resources are used efficiently to maximize ROI and achieve product goals.
Collaboration with Key Stakeholders:
Collaborate extensively with cross-functional teams, including business, project management, Information Security, and the CIO's technology team, to define product requirements, manage dependencies, and ensure seamless execution. Act as a key spokesperson for the engineering organization, reporting progress and technical vision to the CIO and other executive stakeholders.Talent Management: Oversee the interview, recruitment, and onboarding processes for engineering talent. Create and implement strategies to attract and retain top-tier engineers with highly specialized financial technology skills.
Risk Management and Compliance:
Work closely with the risk and CISO's team to ensure that all software applications and their underlying infrastructure adhere to the bank?s security policies and financial regulatory requirements.Complies with all State and Federal Banking regulatory requirements, including but not limited to: BSA, Anti-Money Laundering OFAC, CIP, Financial Elder Abuse Reporting, Sexual Harassment, Information Security and privacy requirements. Acts as the control point for the office to ensure that all CIP, BSA, OFAC requirements, procedures and time frames are met.
Required Knowledge
Technical Expertise:
Proven expertise in modern programming languages (Java, Python, Full Stack) and software design patterns relevant to financial applications.
Cloud and Microservices: Extensive experience with cloud computing platforms (AWS, Azure - preferred) and developing distributed, microservices-based architectures. DevOps and CI/CD: Demonstrated success in implementing and managing CI/CD pipelines and modern DevOps practices.
Workflow Automation/RPA: Hands-on experience with RPA platforms (e.g., UiPath, Automation Anywhere, Blue Prism) and intelligent automation strategies.
Data Engineering:
Strong knowledge of data architecture, ETL pipelines, data lakes, and real-time streaming technologies (e.g., Kafka, Spark).
Financial Services:
Deep knowledge of the financial services industry, including an understanding of transaction processing, data security standards, and regulatory compliance.
Basic Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Excellent leadership and management skills
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
Excellent analytical and organization skills
Hands-on troubleshooting abilities of complex problems
Requires proactive knowledge of current and future concepts of potential IT sectors.
Equipment Operated
Lap/desk top computers
Standard Office Equipment (copiers, fax machines, etc.)
Physical Requirements & Work Environment
Requires sitting for prolonged periods of time.
Requires lifting up to 25 lbs.
Office setting with controlled temperature.
Education and Experience
Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a closely related field is required. A master's degree in a related field such as Computer Science, Software Engineering, or Organizational Leadership is preferred.10+ years of progressively responsible experience in software engineering, with at least 5 years in a senior leadership role managing cross-functional technical teams.
As a part of the Bank's internal control systems, employees holding sensitive positions are required to be absent from their duties for a minimum of two consecutive weeks each year. This position has been deemed to meet the test for a sensitive position, and therefore you will be required to meet the minimum absence requirement each and every year.This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive, and employees will be required to perform additional related work duties as assigned by their immediate supervisor and/or management. Farmers and Merchants Bank of Long Beach reserves the right to revise or change job duties and responsibilities as the need arises. This job description does not constitute a written or implied contract of employment.
January 22, 2026