ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Director Software Development Jobs in Illinois (NOW HIRING)

Ametek

Director, Software Engineering

Mount Prospect, IL

$251K/yr

The Director of Software Engineering is a senior technology leader responsible for driving the development and delivery of Rauland's enterprise and platform software solutions. This role leads ...

Morgan Stanley

Director, Software Engineer

Chicago, IL · Hybrid

$146K - $150K/yr

Morgan Stanley Services Group Inc. is seeking a Director, Software Engineer in Chicago, IL to build ... developed, and advanced based on their skills and talents. Our workforce reflects a broad cross ...

Morgan Stanley

Director, Software Engineer

Chicago, IL · On-site

$146K - $150K/yr

Morgan Stanley Services Group Inc. is seeking a Director, Software Engineer in Chicago, IL to build ... developed, and advanced based on their skills and talents. Our workforce reflects a broad cross ...

AppFolio

Director, Software Engineering

Chicago, IL

$260K/yr

The Director of Engineering, Developer Productivity will manage and continue to grow a ... Team Leadership & Talent Development * Recruit, screen, and close high-caliber engineering talent ...

AppFolio

IL · On-site

$260K/yr

The Director of Engineering, Developer Productivity will manage and continue to grow a ... Team Leadership & Talent Development * Recruit, screen, and close high-caliber engineering talent ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

All JobsDirector Software Development JobsDirector Software Development Jobs in Illinois

Director Software Development information

See Illinois salary details

$101.3K

$172.5K

$233.5K

How much do director software development jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 28, 2026, the average yearly pay for director software development in Illinois is $172,466.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $148,300.00 and $200,100.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a Director of Software Development do?

A Director of Software Development leads and manages software engineering teams to deliver high-quality software products and solutions. They are responsible for setting technical direction, establishing development processes, and aligning projects with business goals. This role involves overseeing project timelines, mentoring engineering managers, collaborating with cross-functional stakeholders, and ensuring teams have the resources needed for success. The Director also plays a key role in recruiting talent, evaluating team performance, and implementing best practices to drive innovation and efficiency.

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

AspectDirector Software DevelopmentSoftware Engineering Manager
ResponsibilitiesOversees multiple teams, strategic planning, and long-term goalsManages day-to-day team operations, project delivery, and technical guidance
FocusHigh-level leadership, cross-team coordination, and business alignmentTeam management, technical mentorship, and project execution
Required CredentialsBachelor’s or Master’s in CS or related, extensive experience, leadership skillsBachelor’s or Master’s in CS or related, strong technical background, leadership experience

The main difference is that the Director Software Development focuses on strategic leadership and overseeing multiple teams, while the Software Engineering Manager concentrates on managing individual teams and project execution. Both roles require technical expertise and leadership skills, but the director role involves broader organizational responsibilities.

How does a Director of Software Development typically balance technical leadership with people management responsibilities?

As a Director of Software Development, you are expected to provide both technical direction and effective team leadership. This often means splitting your time between high-level architecture decisions, code reviews, and staying updated on emerging technologies, while also focusing on coaching managers, developing talent, and fostering a collaborative team environment. Balancing these areas requires strong delegation skills, setting clear goals and expectations, and maintaining open communication channels. Many directors find success by empowering technical leads to own day-to-day technical decisions, allowing them to focus on strategic planning, cross-functional alignment, and organizational growth.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Director of Software Development, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Director of Software Development, you need extensive experience in software engineering, leadership, project management, and a relevant technical degree. Familiarity with development frameworks, cloud platforms, Agile methodologies, and certifications like PMP or Scrum Master are highly valuable. Strong communication, strategic thinking, and team-building skills help drive cross-functional alignment and motivate high-performing teams. These skills are essential for delivering successful software products, managing complex projects, and fostering innovation within the organization.
What are the most commonly searched types of Software Development jobs in Illinois? The most popular types of Software Development jobs in Illinois are:
What cities in Illinois are hiring for Director Software Development jobs? Cities in Illinois with the most Director Software Development job openings:
What are popular job titles related to Director Software Development jobs in IL? For Director Software Development jobs in IL, the most frequently searched job titles are:
Director Software Development jobs near you
Infographic showing various Director Software Development job openings in Illinois as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 86% Full Time, 11% Part Time, 1% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 92% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $172,466 per year, or $82.9 per hour.
Senior Director Software Development

Senior Director Software Development

Northern Trust

Chicago, IL • On-site

Full-time

Posted 12 days ago

Northern Trust rating

8.1

Company rating: 8.1 out of 10

Based on 25 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

Job description

Job Summary:
Northern Trust is a globally recognized financial institution providing innovative services since 1889. The Senior Director of Software Development will lead technology initiatives, partner with business stakeholders, and manage teams to ensure the successful delivery of enterprise-level applications in the alternative investments domain.
Responsibilities:
• Partner with business stakeholders to design end-to-end platforms, defining components and interactions that support the target operating model.
• Provide strategic direction across technology teams, aligning execution with enterprise goals and influencing senior leadership on outcomes.
• Translate business strategy into technology outcomes by surfacing cross-functional concerns, synthesizing inputs, and building consensus on solutions.
• Build, develop, and organize teams to drive program-level initiatives.
• Manage multiple units or functions through managers and technical leads, overseeing project planning, status reporting, specifications, and implementation for major software solutions.
• Mentor and develop less-senior leaders through coaching and structured growth opportunities.
• Deliver value iteratively and with a sense of urgency.
• Lead capability technology delivery across multiple teams of developers, quality assurance, support and change management technology experts.
• Set performance standards; run performance management; identify training and development needs; and build management capability for advanced leadership roles.
• Manage vendor relationships to ensure outcomes (quality, performance, and scalability) meet business demands.
• Define and govern technical architectures (security, observability, scalability, reliability, and recovery) and ensure compliance.
• Ensure compliance with audit requirements, including change control procedures and data security.
• Improve technology team effectiveness and productivity, and identify opportunities to help business teams do the same.
Qualifications:
Required:
• Demonstrate in-depth functional industry knowledge of alternative investment financial services.
• Demonstrate 10+ years of success designing and building enterprise-level applications, including complex data architectures, in a highly regulated environment (e.g., financial services).
• Demonstrate 10+ years of progressive responsibility leading technical teams (e.g., developers, data engineers, business analysts, quality assurance, and production support).
• Demonstrate understanding of data shape and context design to enable efficient and effective AI/LLM usage.
• Demonstrate strong understanding of modern data storage architectures and data modeling.
• Demonstrate knowledge of microservices architecture, cloud-native development, CI/CD, and automated builds.
• Demonstrate understanding of modern security architectures, including implementing secure applications and protecting PII and HSI in public cloud environments.
• Demonstrate understanding of financial markets and financial instrument types.
• Demonstrate experience with Agile project methodology and collaboration.
• Show strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Communicate effectively in writing and verbally, including with senior executive management.
• Adapt quickly and effectively to change.
• B.S. in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or a related discipline required.
• Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. without the need for employment-based visa sponsorship now or in the future.
Preferred:
• M.S. preferred.
Company:
Northern Trust is a global leader in delivering innovative investment management, asset and fund administration, fiduciary and banking. Founded in 1889, the company is headquartered in Chicago, USA, with a team of 10001+ employees. The company is currently Late Stage.

What Northern Trust employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom

Apply