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Director Of Software Engineering Jobs in California

General Galactic

Director of Software

El Segundo, CA · On-site

$150 - $210/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Led by former SpaceX, Varda, Impulse, and Relativity engineers, our vision is to dominate cislunar ... As Director of Software, you will work directly with the founders and technical team to define and ...

Nextpower

Director of Software Engineering, NX Designer

Fremont, CA · On-site

$240K - $260K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

The Director of Software Engineering will lead the maintenance, development, and delivery of the next generation of cloud-based, integrated system engineering platform. This leader will drive ...

Stanford Climate Ventures

Director of Software

El Segundo, CA · On-site

$120 - $160/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Led by former SpaceX, Varda, Impulse, and Relativity engineers, our vision is to dominate cislunar ... As Director of Software, you will work directly with the founders and technical team to define and ...

Diality Inc

Director, Software Engineering

Irvine, CA · On-site

$223K - $260K/yr

The Director of Software Engineering reports to Director of Product Development and leads Diality's Software Engineering and Software Verification & Validation organizations. This role serves as the ...

Diality

Director, Software Engineering

Irvine, CA · Hybrid

$223K - $260K/yr

The Director of Software Engineering reports to Director of Product Development and leads Diality's Software Engineering and Software Verification & Validation organizations. This role serves as the ...

Mango, Inc.

Director of Software

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$180 - $280/hr

Director of Software Join a fast growing startup in a role that blends cutting edge biotech with ... Located in Los Angeles, our team combines expertise in business, mechanical engineering ...

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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

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:

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For Director Of Software Engineering jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

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The top searched job categories for Director Of Software Engineering jobs in California are:

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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, Core Platform

Everpure

Santa Clara, CA

$297K/yr

Full-time

PTO

Re-posted yesterday

Job description

THE ROLE

As the Director of Software Engineering for Core Platform, you will lead a 20+ person engineering organization responsible for the foundational architecture that powers FlashBlade's industry-leading data storage solutions. You will champion the convergence of critical metadata systems across our major product lines, advance next-generation data reduction capabilities, and stabilize high-performance resource management frameworks. Collaborating closely with peer engineering organizations, Architecture, and Product Management, your mission is to deliver bulletproof infrastructure that impacts our global platform scale for years to come.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

  • Own FlashBlade's Architectural Foundations: Lead and direct engineering teams responsible for metadata infrastructure, resource allocation, and system configuration layers, ensuring zero-downtime reliability and optimized performance at massive scale.

  • Advance High-Impact Data Reduction: Provide strategic direction and organizational stability to mature an early-stage data reduction capability into a core, market-differentiating product asset.

  • Drive Global Platform Convergence: Direct the cross-functional engineering initiatives to unify critical shared infrastructure across flagship product lines, successfully managing complex architectural dependencies and rigorous testing disciplines.

  • Cultivate and Stabilize Engineering Talent: Act as an intentional leader to your organization by coaching engineering managers, mentoring technical staff, and building a sustainable culture of craft, accountability, and continuous operational improvement.

  • Govern Delivery Health and Operational Rigor: Define and enforce corporate reliability standards, automated testing disciplines, and proactive technical debt management to secure the long-term success of our functional business units.

WHAT YOU BRING

  • Proven Leadership in Scale: Demonstrated success as a battle-tested leader directing multiple engineering teams through subordinate managers, with a track record of stabilizing complex organizations and developing leadership talent.

  • Deep Systems Expertise: Substantial background in systems software, distributed systems, or storage infrastructure, allowing you to engage credibly with senior engineers on complex technical trade-offs.

  • Strategic Change Management: Ability to analyze abstract situations across functional areas, build consensus in sensitive situations, and negotiate critical technical paths across product and architecture partners.

  • Operational Excellence: Strong instincts for enterprise infrastructure health, including budgeting resources, establishing performance requirements, and implementing strategic testing frameworks where correctness is non-negotiable.

  • Location: We are primarily an in-office environment and therefore, you will be expected to work from the Santa Clara, CA office in compliance with Everpure's policies, unless you are on PTO, or work travel, or other approved leave.

#LI-ONSITE #LI-BL1

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