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Director Software Development Jobs in Washington

AppFolio

Director, Software Engineering

Washington, DC

$286K/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 ...

Maximus

Software Development Manager

VA · On-site +1

$124K - $163K/yr

General information Job Posting Title Software Development Manager Date Tuesday, June 16, 2026 City ... Direct Management Experience of developers. - Experienced in guiding and supporting developers ...

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Director Software Development information

See Washington salary details

$118.4K

$201.6K

$273K

How much do director software development jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 10, 2026, the average yearly pay for director software development in Washington is $201,578.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $173,300.00 and $233,900.00 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 Washington? The most popular types of Software Development jobs in Washington are:
What cities in Washington are hiring for Director Software Development jobs? Cities in Washington with the most Director Software Development job openings:
What are popular job titles related to Director Software Development jobs in WA? For Director Software Development jobs in WA, the most frequently searched job titles are:
Director Software Development jobs near you
Infographic showing various Director Software Development job openings in Washington as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 80% Full Time, 17% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 89% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $201,578 per year, or $96.9 per hour.
Director of Software Engineering

Director of Software Engineering

Quantum Space

Rockville, MD • On-site

$257K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement

Posted 19 days ago

Job description

Who We're Looking For
Quantum Space is redefining mobility and maneuverability in space. Our high-mobility Ranger spacecraft platforms support national security, civil, and commercial missions with unmatched flexibility and propulsion capability. We build fast, iterate quickly, and deploy mission-critical systems that operate reliably in the most demanding environments. We're looking for a Director, Software Engineering to lead the development of the software systems that power our spacecraft, ground infrastructure, and mission operations.
This role is for a technical leader who combines deep software engineering expertise with proven organizational leadership. You have built and scaled high-performing engineering teams, delivered complex software systems for aerospace, defense, robotics, or other safety-critical environments, and understand how to balance speed, quality, and mission assurance. You are comfortable operating at both the strategic and technical levels-setting engineering direction, developing talent, and engaging directly with architects and engineers on critical technical decisions.
You know how to build software organizations that execute. You have experience leading multidisciplinary teams, establishing engineering processes that enable rapid delivery, and creating a culture of ownership and accountability. Whether supporting spacecraft autonomy, flight software, ground systems, mission planning, or cloud infrastructure, you understand that software is increasingly the differentiator for mission success.
Where You'll Make an Impact
  • Lead and grow Quantum Space's software engineering organization across flight software, ground systems, mission operations software, autonomy, and supporting infrastructure
  • Establish technical vision, engineering standards, and development processes that enable rapid, reliable delivery of mission-critical software
  • Partner with systems engineering, spacecraft engineering, mission operations, and executive leadership to align software roadmaps with company objectives
  • Drive software architecture decisions that support scalable spacecraft platforms, mission flexibility, and future product growth
  • Build and mentor engineering managers, technical leads, and individual contributors while fostering a culture of technical excellence and accountability
  • Oversee software development lifecycle activities including requirements management, architecture reviews, testing, verification, validation, and release management
  • Ensure software products meet mission assurance, cybersecurity, reliability, and performance requirements
  • Support customer engagements, technical reviews, and proposal efforts for government and commercial programs
  • Champion modern development practices including DevSecOps, CI/CD, automation, cloud-native architectures, and model-based engineering where appropriate
  • Collaborate across the organization to identify and remove execution bottlenecks while improving engineering effectiveness and product quality
What It Takes
  • Bachelor's degree or higher in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical discipline
  • 12+ years of software engineering experience, including significant leadership responsibility managing engineering teams and technical programs
  • Experience building and delivering complex software systems for aerospace, defense, robotics, autonomous systems, or other mission-critical environments
  • Proven success leading software organizations through periods of rapid growth and increasing technical complexity
  • Strong understanding of software architecture, distributed systems, cloud infrastructure, embedded systems, or flight software development
  • Experience managing engineering budgets, staffing plans, technical roadmaps, and organizational priorities
  • Demonstrated ability to balance technical excellence with execution speed in a fast-paced development environment
  • Strong communication skills with the ability to engage effectively with customers, executive leadership, and technical teams
Nice-to-Have Experience
  • Experience developing spacecraft flight software, autonomy systems, mission planning software, or ground systems
  • Familiarity with aerospace software standards, mission assurance practices, and software verification and validation processes
  • Experience supporting national security, defense, or civil space programs
  • Background in DevSecOps, cloud-native architectures, digital engineering, or model-based systems engineering
  • Experience scaling software teams from startup through growth-stage environments
  • Active U.S. Top Secret or TS/SCI clearance, or eligibility to obtain one
What You'll Get
Leadership - Build and lead the software organization responsible for the systems that enable next-generation space mobility
Impact - Develop software that directly supports critical national security, civil, and commercial space missions
Growth - Shape Quantum Space's engineering culture, technical strategy, and organizational capabilities as the company scales
Compensation - Competitive base salary, meaningful equity, and top-tier benefits including medical, dental, vision, generous leave, HSA, 401(k) matching, and equity sharing
Location: Rockville, MD
Base Salary: $220,000 to $280,000
Additional Requirements
To comply with U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including ITAR, applicants must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, protected individual per 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

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