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Director Software Engineer Startup Jobs in California

NetApp

Director, Software Engineer

San Jose, CA · On-site

$296K/yr

Job Summary As the Director of Software Development for NetApp AI Business Unit, you will lead and scale a high-performing engineering organization to deliver innovative, large-scale services for ...

Walmart

(USA) Director, Software Engineering

Sunnyvale, CA · On-site

$169K - $338K/yr

The Director, Software Engineering leads the execution and delivery of complex software and AI/ML ... Walmart Data Ventures operates with the agility of a nimble startup, delivering best-in-class data ...

Walmart

(USA) Director, Software Engineering

San Jose, CA · On-site

$169K - $338K/yr

The Director, Software Engineering leads the execution and delivery of complex software and AI/ML ... Walmart Data Ventures operates with the agility of a nimble startup, delivering best-in-class data ...

Walmart

(USA) Director, Software Engineering

San Mateo, CA · On-site

$169K - $338K/yr

The Director, Software Engineering leads the execution and delivery of complex software and AI/ML ... Walmart Data Ventures operates with the agility of a nimble startup, delivering best-in-class data ...

Walmart

(USA) Director, Software Engineering

Fremont, CA · On-site

$169K - $338K/yr

The Director, Software Engineering leads the execution and delivery of complex software and AI/ML ... Walmart Data Ventures operates with the agility of a nimble startup, delivering best-in-class data ...

Walmart

(USA) Director, Software Engineering

Cupertino, CA · On-site

$169K - $338K/yr

The Director, Software Engineering leads the execution and delivery of complex software and AI/ML ... Walmart Data Ventures operates with the agility of a nimble startup, delivering best-in-class data ...

Walmart

(USA) Director, Software Engineering

Hayward, CA · On-site

$169K - $338K/yr

The Director, Software Engineering leads the execution and delivery of complex software and AI/ML ... Walmart Data Ventures operates with the agility of a nimble startup, delivering best-in-class data ...

Walmart

(USA) Director, Software Engineering

Milpitas, CA · On-site

$169K - $338K/yr

The Director, Software Engineering leads the execution and delivery of complex software and AI/ML ... Walmart Data Ventures operates with the agility of a nimble startup, delivering best-in-class data ...

Lucid Motors

Director, Software Programs

Newark, CA

The Director, Software Programs partners closely with Product, Systems Engineering, Software Engineering , Product & Technology Integration , Vehicle Testing , Supply Chain , Manufacturing , Quality ...

Lucid Motors

Director, Software Programs

Newark, CA · On-site

... Engineering and Vehicle Programs. The team's success will be measured on the consistency of software release commitments vs delivery. • Establish improved methods for capacity planning ...

Diality

Director, Software Engineering

Irvine, CA · Hybrid

$223K - $260K/yr

The Director of Software Engineering reports to Director of Product Development and leads Diality ... engineer contractors. * Familiarity with cloud-connected medical device systems, mobile ...

Diality Inc

Director, Software Engineering

Irvine, CA · On-site

$223K - $260K/yr

The Director of Software Engineering reports to Director of Product Development and leads Diality ... engineer contractors. * Familiarity with cloud-connected medical device systems, mobile ...

Lumilens

Director, Software Manufacturing

San Jose, CA · On-site

$296K/yr

We're a well-funded startup backed by Mayfield and led by veterans who've built and scaled some of ... You'll work alongside a team of world-class engineers solving some of the hardest challenges in ...

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Director Software Engineer Startup information

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.

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.

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 are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a director software engineer at a startup?

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 the most commonly searched types of Software Engineer Startup jobs in California? The most popular types of Software Engineer Startup jobs in California are:
What are popular job titles related to Director Software Engineer Startup jobs in California? For Director Software Engineer Startup jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
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Director Software Engineer Startup jobs near you

Director, Software Engineer

NetApp

San Jose, CA • On-site

$296K/yr

Other

Medical, Life, Retirement, PTO

This job post has expired 1 day ago. Applications are no longer accepted.

NetApp rating

9.4

Company rating: 9.4 out of 10

Based on 5 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

2nd of 481 rated business services

Job description

Job Summary

As the Director of Software Development for NetApp AI Business Unit, you will lead and scale a high-performing engineering organization to deliver innovative, large-scale services for both cloud and On Premises that delight customers and accelerate business growth. In this key leadership role, you will help set technical direction, build and mentor strong teams, and drive execution across complex, multi-team initiatives.

You will demonstrate ownership and insist on high standards of quality, maintainability, performance, availability, and customer experience. You will simplify complexity, work backward from customer needs, and deliver measurable results. This role requires strong collaboration with senior leaders across AI and other business units. Prior experience in storage systems is preferred but not mandatory.

Key Responsibilities

As a Director, Software Development, you will:

  • Help define strategic direction for software development and architecture across multiple teams and product lines.
  • Lead and scale engineering teams, ensuring alignment with business objectives and technical excellence.
  • Drive end-to-end software development lifecycle in an Agile environment, from feature definition to production support.
  • Establish and optimize development processes, operational metrics, and continuous improvement initiatives.
  • Mentor and develop engineering managers and senior engineers, fostering a culture of innovation, accountability, and inclusion.
  • Collaborate with senior leadership and cross-functional teams to define priorities and deliver customer-centric solutions.
  • Champion operational excellence, including reliability, scalability, and performance of cloud-native services.
  • Recruit and retain top talent, building diverse, high-performing teams.
  • Advocate for best practices in engineering and operations across the organization.
Key Qualifications
  • 15+ years of industry experience in software development, including large-scale distributed systems.
  • 7+ years of leadership experience, managing engineering teams and technical leaders.
  • Track record of delivering scalable, available, and low-latency cloud services.
  • Hands-on experience with cloud-native architectures on AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud.
  • Well versed in using agentic engineering using local and/or frontier models.
  • Hands-on experience using Distributed Storage Systems.
  • Strong business acumen and ability to influence strategy & direction with senior leadership.
  • Strong communication skills, capable of presenting complex technical concepts to diverse audiences.
  • Experience defining and implementing best practices for the full software development lifecycle.
  • Solid understanding of performance, scalability, and enterprise system architecture.
  • Experience with data processing, analytics, and AI/ML systems.
  • Prior experience building CI/CD infrastructure for large-scale deployments.

Preferred qualifications

  • Domain expertise on knowledge graphs, semantics and data modeling.
  • Hands-on experience with Distributed Database Systems.
  • Hands-on experience with training and deploying AI models.

Compensation:
The target salary range for this position is 227,800 - 338,800 USD. The salary offered will be determined by the candidate's location, qualifications, experience, and education and may be outside of this range. Final compensation packages are competitive and in line with industry standards, reflecting a variety of factors, and include a comprehensive benefits package. This may cover Health Insurance, Life Insurance, Retirement or Pension Plans, Paid Time Off, various Leave options, Performance-Based Incentives, employee stock purchase plan, and/or restricted stocks (RSU's), with all offerings subject to regional variations and governed by local laws, regulations, and company policies. Benefits may vary by country and region, and further details will be provided as part of the recruitment process. 

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