ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Director Of Software Engineering Jobs in California

E-Space

Head of Software Engineering

Saratoga, CA

$279K/yr

As Director or VP of Software Engineering, you will own the full software engineering organization for our space vehicle programs - from architecture and embedded systems to communications software ...

E-Space

Head of Software Engineering

Saratoga, CA · On-site

$279K/yr

As Director or VP of Software Engineering, you will own the full software engineering organization for our space vehicle programs -- from architecture and embedded systems to communications software ...

Hermeus

Director, Software Engineering

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$218K - $296K/yr

As the Director of Software Engineering at Hermeus, you will be responsible for overseeing the software engineering function for our high-speed vehicles. Your primary focus will be on leading the ...

Hermeus

Director, Software Engineering

Los Angeles, CA

$272.60K/yr

As the Director of Software Engineering at Hermeus, you will be responsible for overseeing the software engineering function for our high-speed vehicles. Your primary focus will be on leading the ...

Hermeus

Director, Software Engineering

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$218K - $296K/yr

As the Director of Software Engineering at Hermeus, you will be responsible for overseeing the software engineering function for our high-speed vehicles. Your primary focus will be on leading the ...

Skip

Head of Software Engineering

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$298.10K/yr

Bring joy to the team, participate in embarrassing team events, tolerate KZ's terrible music choices Basic Qualifications * 10+ years' experience in professional software engineering * 5+ years of ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

People also search for

All 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 May 28, 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?

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 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 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 engineering jobs pay $500,000?

Senior engineering roles such as Director of Software Engineering, Principal Engineer, or VP of Engineering can reach or exceed $500,000 in total compensation, especially in high-cost living areas or large tech companies. These positions often require extensive experience, leadership skills, and expertise in areas like cloud computing, software architecture, or technical management.

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:
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 May 2026, with employment types broken down into 81% Full Time, 18% Part Time, and 1% Temporary. Highlights an 99% Physical, and 1% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $240,723 per year, or $115.7 per hour.
Director of Software Engineering, Data & AI

Director of Software Engineering, Data & AI

Relativity Space

Long Beach, CA

$266K/yr

Full-time

PTO

Posted 29 days ago

Job description

At Relativity Space, we're building rockets to serve today's needs and tomorrow's breakthroughs. Our Terran R vehicle will deliver customer payloads to orbit, meeting the growing demand for launch capacity. But that's just the start. Achieving commercial success with Terran R will unlock new opportunities to advance science, exploration, and innovation, pioneering progress that reaches beyond the known.

Joining Relativity means becoming part of something where autonomy, ownership, and impact exist at every level. Here, you're not just executing tasks; you're solving problems that haven't been solved before, helping develop a rocket, a factory, and a business from the ground up. Whether you're in propulsion, manufacturing, software, avionics, or a corporate function, you'll collaborate across teams, shape decisions, and see your work come to life in record time. Relativity is a place where creativity and technical rigor go hand in hand, and your voice will help define the stories we're writing together. Now is a unique moment in time where it's early enough to leave your mark on the product, the process, and the culture, but far enough along that Terran R is tangible and picking up momentum. The most meaningful work of your career is waiting. Join us.

About the Team:

Relativity Space is on a mission to better connect humanity to space and the universe beyond our planet. With decades of experience scaling world-class technology organizations like Google, CEO Eric Schmidt is guiding Relativity into its next phase: advancing Terran R toward launch and building the foundation for long-term impact.

The Data & AI organization at Relativity Space is a critical pillar supporting our work to build autonomous rocket factories and launch platforms. Our mission is to develop and integrate data engineering, machine learning, and AI technologies that provide actionable insights, automate decision-making, and drive efficiencies across our operations.

As a director, you'll shape the strategies and technologies that power these systems. You will lead a cross-functional team focused on delivering high-performance data pipelines, building scalable AI models, and ensuring that AI-driven automation plays a central role in transforming operations from Earth to Mars

About the Role:

As the Director of Data & AI, you will be responsible for the strategic direction and technical leadership of our data and AI initiatives, which include:

  • Data Engineering: Lead the design and implementation of scalable data architectures, including ETL pipelines, data modeling, data warehouse management, and reporting infrastructure, ensuring high-quality, actionable data across all systems.
  • Data Platform: Oversee the development of a distributed data platform that supports mission-critical applications, enabling real-time data ingestion, access, and orchestration for test and launch and factory operations.
  • Machine Learning & AI: Direct the design, development, and deployment of AI and machine learning models that leverage our data to drive automation, decision-making, and predictive analytics across the organization. Ensure these models are scalable, reliable, and move the needle on critical metrics for the company.
  • Leadership & Mentorship: Lead, mentor, and grow a team of software engineers, data engineers and machine learning engineers. Create an environment that fosters innovation, continuous learning, and technical excellence while aligning goals with company objectives.
  • Collaboration & Strategy: Partner with leadership and cross-functional users across the company to define the long-term strategy for data and AI initiatives, aligning the technical roadmap with company goals.
In this role, you will define the future of how Relativity Space uses data and AI to drive smarter, more efficient operations.

About You:

  • Education: Degree in Computer Science.
  • Experience: 10+ years of experience in software engineering, data engineering or machine learning, with at least 5 years in a leadership role, overseeing large-scale systems.
  • AI & Machine Learning Expertise: Experience designing, building, and deploying AI models and machine learning systems, particularly in high-performance or mission-critical environments. Proficient in AI techniques including deep learning, reinforcement learning, and natural language processing.
  • Foundational Machine Learning Knowledge: Understanding of core ML concepts. Experience with advanced models such as Transformers/LLMs, LSTM models, time-series forecasting, and predictive analytics for real-time decision-making and automation. Familiarity with the mathematical underpinnings of ML.
  • AI Infrastructure Experience: Experience with building and scaling AI infrastructure, including deploying and managing machine learning models in production environments. Experience with agentic architectures (e.g., MCP).
  • Data Engineering: Experience in building scalable data architectures, including ETL pipelines, data modeling, and analytics.
  • Expertise with modern data tools and technologies (e.g., Kafka, Spark, SQL, NoSQL, data lakes).
  • Cloud & Platform Development: Understanding of cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, etc.), containerization (Docker, Kubernetes), and orchestration for building and deploying services.
  • Leadership & Strategy: Demonstrated ability to lead and mentor teams, build a strong technical culture, and drive organizational change.
  • Experience in developing strategic roadmaps and managing cross-functional collaborations to align on company-wide data and AI objectives.

Nice to haves but not required:

  • Direct experience with aerospace or manufacturing

Travel:

  • Occasional visits to Relativity Space facilities across the United States

At Relativity Space, we are committed to transparency and fairness in our compensation practices. Actual compensation will be determined based on experience, qualifications, and other job-related factors.
Compensation is only one part of our total rewards package. Relativity Space offers competitive salary and equity, a generous PTO and sick leave policy, parental leave, an annual learning and development stipend, and more! To see some of the benefits & perks we offer, please visit here.

Hiring Range:
$245,000—$336,500 USD

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.

If you need a reasonable accommodation, please contact us at accommodations@relativityspace.com.