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Director Software Engineer Startup Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Morgan Stanley

Director, Software Engineer

New York, NY · Hybrid

$149K - $165K/yr

Morgan Stanley Services Group, Inc. is seeking a Director, Software Engineer in New York, NY to develop software for cross-asset Risk and P&L computation system. Collaborate with business users to ...

Morgan Stanley

Director, Software Engineer

New York, NY · On-site

$149K - $165K/yr

Morgan Stanley Services Group, Inc. is seeking a Director, Software Engineer in New York, NY to develop software for cross-asset Risk and P&L computation system. Collaborate with business users to ...

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How much do director software engineer startup jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 5, 2026, the average yearly pay for director software engineer startup in the United States is $243,917.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $253,000.00 and $253,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Director Software Engineer at a startup, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Director Software Engineer at a startup, you need deep expertise in software architecture, coding best practices, and team leadership, often supported by a degree in computer science and significant engineering experience. Familiarity with agile methodologies, cloud platforms (such as AWS or GCP), and project management tools is typically required, along with experience in scaling systems. Exceptional communication, strategic thinking, and the ability to motivate and mentor a diverse team set standout leaders apart in this role. These skills are vital for driving innovation, ensuring technical excellence, and fostering a high-performing engineering culture in a fast-paced startup environment.

What are some common challenges faced by a Director Software Engineer at a startup, and how can they be addressed?

As a Director Software Engineer at a startup, you may encounter challenges such as balancing hands-on technical work with managerial responsibilities, scaling the engineering team rapidly, and adapting to shifting business priorities. It’s important to establish clear communication channels, set achievable milestones, and foster a collaborative culture to keep the team aligned. Leveraging agile methodologies and regularly reviewing technical debt can help maintain product quality while meeting fast-paced deadlines. Building strong relationships with other departments, such as product and design, also ensures that engineering efforts are strategically aligned with the company’s goals.

What does a Director Software Engineer do at a startup?

A Director Software Engineer at a startup leads and manages the engineering team, overseeing the development and delivery of software products. They set technical direction, ensure best practices, and collaborate closely with founders and other departments to align technology with business goals. This role often involves hands-on coding, mentoring junior engineers, and making key architectural decisions. Directors at startups must be adaptable, balancing strategic planning with the fast-paced demands of startup growth.

Is it possible to make 300K as a software engineer?

For a Director Software Engineer at a startup, earning $300,000 annually is possible but typically requires extensive experience, leadership skills, and working in high-paying markets or companies with significant funding. Compensation often includes base salary, bonuses, and stock options, especially in startups with rapid growth. Achieving this level generally involves seniority, specialized expertise, and a strong track record of delivering value to the company.

What is the difference between Director Software Engineer Startup vs Lead Software Engineer?

AspectDirector Software Engineer StartupLead Software Engineer
ResponsibilitiesOversees multiple teams, strategic planning, and project alignmentLeads a specific team or project, technical mentorship
Required CredentialsBachelor's/Master's in CS or related, extensive experienceBachelor's/Master's in CS or related, strong technical background
Work EnvironmentStartup setting, cross-functional collaborationStartup or tech company, hands-on technical work
FocusStrategic leadership, team managementTechnical excellence, project delivery

The main difference between a Director Software Engineer Startup and a Lead Software Engineer lies in scope and focus. The Director typically manages multiple teams and handles strategic planning, while the Lead focuses on technical leadership within a specific team or project. Both roles require strong technical credentials, but the Director's role emphasizes leadership and organizational skills in a startup environment.

More about Director Software Engineer Startup jobs
What cities are hiring for Director Software Engineer Startup jobs? Cities with the most Director Software Engineer Startup job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Software Engineer Startup jobs? The most popular types of Software Engineer Startup jobs are:
What states have the most Director Software Engineer Startup jobs? States with the most job openings for Director Software Engineer Startup jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Director Software Engineer Startup jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Director Software Engineer Startup jobs are:
Director Software Engineer Startup jobs near you
Infographic showing various Director Software Engineer Startup job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 96% Full Time, 2% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 80% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 18% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $243,917 per year, or $117.3 per hour.

Software Engineer -- Varick Agents

David Joseph & Company

San Francisco, CA

$175K - $225K/yr

Full-time

Posted 3 days ago

Job description

Software Engineer — Varick Agents

Location: San Francisco, CA (Onsite, 5 days/week)
Compensation: $175,000 – $225,000 base + equity
Experience Level: 1–4 years
Employment Type: Full-Time

About Varick Agents

Varick Agents builds enterprise AI agents for some of the largest companies in the world — working with $1B–$100B revenue enterprises with a reported 100% production deployment success rate. The team includes talent from Meta, AWS Bedrock, Citadel Securities, McKinsey, and Stanford.

About the Role

This is a high-ownership engineering role building and deploying production AI agents into major enterprise environments. You will ship production code daily, own code quality and engineering standards, and progress toward leading a small engineering team within 6 months.

What You'll Own
  • Build production AI agents against audit specifications
  • Deploy solutions into Salesforce, NetSuite, D365, and similar enterprise systems
  • Ship production code daily
  • Own code quality and engineering standards
  • Take ownership across systems without waiting for direction
  • Progress toward leading a small engineering team within 6 months
Requirements
  • 1–4 years of professional software engineering experience
  • Strong software engineering fundamentals and production development experience
  • AI-native builder experience with Claude, Codex, agent frameworks, or API loops
  • Fast execution and strong ownership mentality
  • Comfortable operating in ambiguity
  • Able to receive and implement feedback quickly
  • Willing to work onsite in San Francisco 5 days/week
Target Backgrounds

Strong signals include experience at Ramp, Cursor, xAI, or top AI-native startups, strong GitHub presence, open source contributions, agent infrastructure experience, LLM application development, and a systems-thinking mindset. Ideal roles: Product Engineer, Software Engineer, AI Engineer, Full Stack Engineer, Agent Infrastructure Engineer, LLM Applications Engineer, Startup Engineer, Founding Engineer, or Early-Stage Startup Builder.

This Role Is NOT For
  • Vibe-coding-only backgrounds
  • Candidates who cannot explain shipped projects
  • Slow executors with weak engineering fundamentals
  • Poor response to feedback
  • Framework memorization without systems understanding
Interview Process
  1. Pending approval
  2. Initial screen
  3. First round
  4. Second round
  5. Third round
  6. Onsite
  7. Offer
Logistics
  • Role is fully onsite in San Francisco — 5 days/week — please only apply if you can commit to this

Shortlisted candidates will be contacted by David Joseph & Co., the recruiting partner managing this search on behalf of Varick Agents.