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Director Software Development Jobs in Illinois (NOW HIRING)

Daniels Health

Software Development Manager

Chicago, IL

$119K - $155K/yr

We are seeking an experienced Software Development Manager will lead a team of five software developers to design, develop, and maintain in-house software solutions that support business operations.

Daniels Health

Software Development Manager

Chicago, IL · On-site

$119K - $155K/yr

We are seeking an experienced Software Development Manager will lead a team of five software developers to design, develop, and maintain in-house software solutions that support business operations.

Daniels Health

Software Development Manager

Chicago, IL

$127K - $167K/yr

We are seeking an experienced Software Development Manager will lead a team of five software developers to design, develop, and maintain in-house software solutions that support business operations.

ULINE

Software Development Manager

Glenview, IL

$121K - $160K/yr

Software Development Manager Pay from $121,000 to $160,000 per year Corporate Headquarters 12575 Uline Drive, Pleasant Prairie, WI 53158 Are you an IT leader passionate about developing a team and ...

ULINE

Software Development Manager

Waukegan, IL · On-site

$121K - $160K/yr

Software Development Manager Pay from $121,000 to $160,000 per year Corporate Headquarters 12575 Uline Drive, Pleasant Prairie, WI 53158 Are you an IT leader passionate about developing a team and ...

ULINE

Software Development Manager

Waukegan, IL · On-site

$121K - $160K/yr

Software Development Manager Pay from $121,000 to $160,000 per year Corporate Headquarters 12575 Uline Drive, Pleasant Prairie, WI 53158 Are you an IT leader passionate about developing a team and ...

Nokia

Software Development Coop

Naperville, IL · On-site

$19.40 - $68/hr

Special Projects Software Dev Co-op Number of Position(s) : 2 Duration : 4 Months Date : September - December, 2026 Location : Naperville, IL or Dallas, TX - Onsite EDUCATIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS ...

Nokia

Software Development Coop

Naperville, IL · Hybrid

Special Projects Software Dev Co-op Number of Position(s) : 2 Duration : 4 Months Date : September - December, 2026 Location : Naperville, IL or Dallas, TX - Onsite EDUCATIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS ...

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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.

Director, Software Engineering

Launch Consulting

Chicago, IL • On-site

$190K - $210K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 6 days ago

Job description


Be a part of our success story. Launch offers talented and motivated people the opportunity to do the best work of their lives in a dynamic and growing company. Through competitive salaries, outstanding benefits, internal advancement opportunities, and recognized community involvement, you will have the chance to create a career you can be proud of. Your new trajectory starts here at Launch!
The Role:
As a Discipline Leader of Solution Architecture & Development here at Launch, you will operate at the intersection of business strategy, emerging technology, and modern architecture. This role is a key leadership position that combines deep technical expertise with consulting acumen to help clients unlock the power of AI across cloud platforms, data ecosystems, and software solutions. In this role, you will be responsible for shaping and delivering enterprise-grade solutions for clients, while also growing and evolving Launch's Solution Architecture discipline. You'll partner with account teams, engineering leads, and executive stakeholders to design high-impact architectures that are scalable, secure, and aligned with business goals-often guiding clients through AI strategy, integration, and enablement along the way.
This is both a hands-on and strategic role-requiring a passion for modern architecture, an understanding of AI's practical applications, and the ability to lead multidisciplinary teams through complex transformation programs.
Responsibilities Include:
  • Lead solution architecture efforts for complex client engagements across cloud, data, AI, and software engineering domains
  • Define and design scalable, secure, and AI-enabled architectures that meet business, technical, and operational requirements
  • Guide clients through strategic technology decisions, including AI integration, data platforms, and cloud modernization
  • Act as a trusted advisor to executive stakeholders-translating business goals into architectural vision and delivery plans
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including business analysts, engineers, designers, and consultants
  • Build and maintain Launch's internal solution architecture frameworks, patterns, and reusable assets
  • Serve as the discipline leader-mentoring architects across the organization and helping shape the evolution of our Architecture practice
  • Partner with internal teams to support business development, including pre-sales solutioning, proposal development, and client presentations
  • Stay on the forefront of emerging technologies and AI capabilities, and contribute thought leadership to the broader Launch community

Required Qualifications:
  • 10+ years of experience in technology consulting, solution architecture and software development, with a track record of leading technical teams
  • Strong background in architecting modern cloud solutions across Azure, AWS, or GCP
  • Professional IT consulting services experience required
  • Strong proficiency in modern programming languages (e.g., Java, C#, Python, JavaScript, .Net, C#) and development frameworks.
  • Extensive experience with software design patterns, microservices architecture, and cloud-native applications
  • Strong understanding of DevOps practices, CI/CD pipelines, and containerization technologies (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes)
  • Excellent problem-solving, critical-thinking, and analytical skills
  • Strong communication and presentation skills, with the ability to convey technical concepts to non-technical audiences
  • Demonstrated experience integrating AI/ML solutions into enterprise architectures, including LLMs, agents, and AI-enhanced platforms
  • Deep knowledge of data architectures, APIs, microservices, and cloud-native application design
  • Ability to connect the dots between business problems, technical strategy, and delivery execution
  • Experience working with cross-functional teams in complex client environments
  • Proven leadership in growing or stewarding a technology capability or discipline
  • Exceptional client-facing skills-able to influence, facilitate, and present to senior executives
  • Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree or certifications (e.g., TOGAF, Azure Architect Expert, AWS Solutions Architect) a plus

Compensation & Benefits:
As an employee at Launch, you will grow your skills and experience through a variety of exciting project work (across industries and technologies) with some of the top companies in the world! Our employees receive full benefits-medical, dental, vision, short-term disability, long-term disability, life insurance, and matched 401k. We also have an uncapped, take-what-you-need PTO policy. The anticipated wage range for this role is $190,000-$210,000. Education and experience will be highly considered, and we are happy to discuss your wage expectations in more detail throughout our internal interview process.
The consulting industry has seen an increase in people falsely representing themselves as recruiters to gather personal information from job seekers. For your safety, do not provide sensitive data to anyone you have not spoken with thoroughly, never provide banking information during the application process and always double check the email address of the recruiter to ensure it's from @launchcg.com - and not a domain with an alternative extension like .net, .org or .jobs. Candidate safety is a top priority at Launch.
Launch Consulting is an equal opportunity employer. It is our practice not to discriminate against any employee or applicant based on any criteria, condition or basis protected by laws or regulations in the locations where we do business. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply. We celebrate diversity and are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect. We believe that diversity, equity and inclusion enable us to better meet our mission and values while serving our clients across the globe. If you have a disability or handicap and would like us to accommodate you in any reasonable way, please inform your Launch representative, or contact us, so that we can discuss the appropriate alternatives available.

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