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Director Of Software Engineering Jobs in Washington, DC

Eccalon LLC

Director of Software Engineering

Hanover, MD

$249K/yr

We are looking for a visionary and technically strong Director of Software Engineering to lead our engineering teams in building scalable, secure, and high-performance software solutions. This role ...

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Director Of Software Engineering information

See Washington, DC salary details

$157.4K

$287.7K

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

As of Sep 4, 2026, the average yearly pay for director of software engineering in Washington, DC is $276,260.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $286,500.00 and $286,500.00 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 Washington, DC?

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

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Director Of Software Engineering jobs near you
Infographic showing various Director Of Software Engineering job openings in Washington, DC as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 67% In-person, and 33% Hybrid job distribution, with an average salary of $276,260 per year, or $132.8 per hour.

Director of Software Engineering

Eccalon LLC

Hanover, MD

$249K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 7 days ago

Job description

Job Summary:

We are looking for a visionary and technically strong Director of Software Engineering to lead our engineering teams in building scalable, secure, and high-performance software solutions. This role is pivotal in shaping our technical strategy, driving engineering excellence, and delivering innovative products in a fast-paced, tech-driven environment.

Responsibilities:

  • Leadership & Strategy
    • Define and execute the engineering roadmap in alignment with company goals and product strategy, and technical leadership.
    • Lead and mentor tech leads, software and QA engineers across multiple teams.
    • Foster a high-performance culture focused on innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement.
    • Establish clear goals, metrics, and accountability frameworks for engineering teams
  • Technical Oversight
    • Help guide architectural decisions and ensure adherence to modern software engineering principles.
    • Champion best practices in software design, testing, deployment, and operations.
    • Evaluate and implement new technologies to improve scalability, reliability, and developer productivity.
  • Project & Product Delivery
    • Collaborate with leadership, design, and the Product Delivery Office to deliver high-quality software on time and within scope.
    • Strong command of SDLC best practices, agile methodologies, and application lifecycle management
    • Ensure robust monitoring, alerting, and incident response practices are in place.

Required Qualifications:

  • Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field.
  • 10+ years of software engineering experience, including 5+ years in a leadership role.
  • Proven experience leading engineering teams in a technical product or SaaS company.
  • Excellent communication and cross-functional collaboration skills
  • Deep understanding of cloud-native architectures (AWS and Azure), microservices, and distributed systems.
  • Strong communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to influence across departments.
  • Experience with Agile, Scrum, or SAFe methodologies.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Familiarity with security and compliance standards (e.g., FedRAMP, PCI, etc.)
  • Background in AI/ML, data engineering, or platform engineering is a plus.
Eccalon logo

About Eccalon

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

We are a cross-functional collective of innovative minds that leverages technology to tackle the most challenging problems of this generation for clients, the nation, and the world. Eccalon fosters creativity, curiosity, and imagination across all departments and divisions to pioneer new ideas, products, and services. We advance innovation.​

Industry

Guided missile and space vehicle manufacturing

Company size

11 - 50 Employees

Headquarters location

Hanover, MD, US

Year founded

2017

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