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Director Software Engineer Startup Jobs in California

Logos Space

Director, Software Engineering

San Diego, CA · On-site

$268K/yr

The Director will lead a team of software engineers, architects, and managers to deliver high-quality, scalable, and reliable software solutions that meet the evolving needs of our business. The full ...

NextHop AI

Software Engineer

Santa Clara, CA · On-site

As an AI infrastructure startup, we are developing innovative systems to enable large-scale AI ... Participate in all parts of software engineering, ranging from design and implementation of ...

NextHop Systems

Software Engineer

Santa Clara, CA

As an AI infrastructure startup, we are developing innovative systems to enable large-scale AI ... Participate in all parts of software engineering, ranging from design and implementation of ...

NextHop AI

Software Engineer

Santa Clara, CA · On-site

As an AI infrastructure startup, we are developing innovative systems to enable large-scale AI ... Participate in all parts of software engineering, ranging from design and implementation of ...

Mintex Technology

Software Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$185K/yr

This role is ideal for ambitious builders who thrive in fast-paced startup environments and want ... Software Engineering experience * Strong backend engineering skills with Python * Experience ...

SnapLogic

Director, Software Engineering

San Mateo, CA · On-site

$288K/yr

As the Director of Software Engineering, you are a hands-on, "rock star" Java developer and ... By balancing technical excellence with business ROI, you will spearhead SRE and agile process ...

SnapLogic

Director, Software Engineering

San Mateo, CA

$288K/yr

As the Director of Software Engineering, you are a hands-on, "rock star" Java developer and ... By balancing technical excellence with business ROI, you will spearhead SRE and agile process ...

Ring Inc

Director, Software Engineering

San Mateo, CA · On-site

$260 - $380/hr

As the Director of Software Engineering, you are a hands‑on, "rock star" Java developer and ... By balancing technical excellence with business ROI, you will spearhead SRE and agile process ...

Cotality

Director, Software Engineering

Irvine, CA · On-site

$271K/yr

Cotality is seeking a highly experienced and strategic Director of Software Engineering to lead our Digital Gateway initiatives. In this critical leadership role, you will hold ultimate ...

AppFolio

Director, Software Engineering

San Diego, CA · On-site

$269K/yr

The Director of Engineering, Developer Productivity will manage and continue to grow a ... Act as the primary technical counterpart for SRE and Security teams, translating reliability and ...

SnapLogic

Director, Software Engineering

San Mateo, CA

$288K/yr

As the Director of Software Engineering, you are a hands-on, "rock star" Java developer and ... By balancing technical excellence with business ROI, you will spearhead SRE and agile process ...

Meta

Director, Software Engineering

Menlo Park, CA · On-site

$271K - $347K/yr

Meta is seeking a Director of Software Engineering to lead the CI Care organization within Integrity, focused on building user-facing experiences that keep our platforms safe. In this role, you will ...

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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, 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 the most commonly searched types of Software Engineer Startup jobs in California? The most popular types of Software Engineer Startup jobs in California are:
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Director Software Engineer Startup jobs near you

Director, Software Engineering

Facebook App

Menlo Park, CA

$271K/yr

Full-time

Posted 23 days ago

Meta rating

7.8

Company rating: 7.8 out of 10

Based on 45 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

136th of 246 rated software companies

Job description

Meta is seeking a Director of Software Engineering to lead the CI Care organization within Integrity, focused on building user-facing experiences that keep our platforms safe. In this role, you will lead an organization across multiple teams including User Reporting, User Appeals, Business Appeals and Community Notes, spanning Menlo Park and London. You will drive the technical vision and execution for the Integrity related user experiences including AI-driven user chat that transforms how users interact with our integrity systems. This is an opportunity to combine deeply technical front-end expertise and AI know-how with organizational leadership, delivering user experiences at massive scale while advancing Meta's mission to protect our community.
Director, Software Engineering Responsibilities:
  • Define and drive the engineering strategy for CI Care's user-facing integrity products, including the AI-driven chat experience initiative.
  • Lead an organization of approximately 45 people across User Reporting, User Appeals, Business Appeals and Community Notes teams spanning Menlo Park and London.
  • Drive technical excellence in front-end engineering and user experience across all team deliverables
  • Build and scale the engineering organization by attracting, developing, and retaining engineering leaders (M2s) and senior individual contributors
  • Partner with product, design, and data science leadership to shape roadmaps that enhance user experience while removing bad actors from the platform
  • Champion AI/ML integration into user-facing integrity experiences, particularly the chat experience initiative
  • Manage distributed teams across multiple geographies, ensuring effective collaboration between MPK and London-based reports
  • Establish a self-reinforcing team culture that values engineering craft, operational excellence, and continuous improvement
  • Drive org health by proactively diagnosing and addressing issues surfaced through team feedback, attrition signals, and manager effectiveness data
  • Represent engineering perspective in executive-level planning and strategic decision-making for Integrity initiatives

Minimum Qualifications:
  • 10+ years of experience in software engineering, with a focus on front end or UI development
  • 7+ years of engineering management experience, including managing engineering managers
  • Track record of building and scaling engineering organizations, including recruiting, developing, and managing the performance of engineers and engineering leaders
  • Experience establishing technical strategy and roadmaps across multiple teams with demonstrated ability to drive execution against them
  • Experience forming cross-functional partnerships across product, design, and data science to deliver large-scale engineering outcomes

Preferred Qualifications:
  • Experience leading engineering teams through significant platform or tooling transitions, including the adoption of AI-augmented development workflows
  • Experience managing distributed or geographically dispersed engineering organizations
  • Track record of contributing to org-wide or company-wide initiatives such as recruiting programs, engineering culture, or site leadership efforts

About Meta:
Meta builds technologies that help people connect, find communities, and grow businesses. When Facebook launched in 2004, it changed the way people connect. Apps like Messenger, Instagram and WhatsApp further empowered billions around the world. Now, Meta is moving beyond 2D screens toward immersive experiences like augmented and virtual reality to help build the next evolution in social technology. People who choose to build their careers by building with us at Meta help shape a future that will take us beyond what digital connection makes possible today—beyond the constraints of screens, the limits of distance, and even the rules of physics.
Meta is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, transgender status, sexual stereotypes, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. We also consider qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state and local law. Meta participates in the E-Verify program in certain locations, as required by law. Please note that Meta may leverage artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies in connection with applications for employment.
Meta is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for candidates with disabilities in our recruiting process. If you need any assistance or accommodations due to a disability, please let us know at accommodations-ext@meta.com.
$271,000/year to $347,000/year + bonus + equity + benefits
Individual compensation is determined by skills, qualifications, experience, and location. Compensation details listed in this posting reflect the base hourly rate, monthly rate, or annual salary only, and do not include bonus, equity or sales incentives, if applicable. In addition to base compensation, Meta offers benefits. Learn more about benefits at Meta.

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