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Director Software Engineer Startup Jobs in Portland, OR

Nike

Director, Software Engineering

Beaverton, OR · On-site

$263K/yr

What you bring * 15+ years leading high-performing software engineering teams, including 5+ years managing direct reports * Strong technical and business communication, strategic thinking, and the ...

Sunbelt Controls

Systems Software Engineer III

Vancouver, WA · On-site

$181K - $214K/yr

Additionally, this role supports the startup, commissioning and troubleshooting of the assigned ... Performs as a lead Systems Software Engineer in the development of large and complex control ...

campus4tech

Software Engineer 5

Beaverton, OR · On-site

Job Title- Software Engineer 5 Location- Beaverton, OR Reporting Type- Onsite Work Timing- Regular ... Startup experience or having built products from the ground up. * Enjoys working in fast-paced ...

Nike

Software Engineer

Beaverton, OR · On-site

... direct impact on the business; help design and build scalable software solutions, make critical ... a engineer-related occupation. Position requires: • Software Development • Testing ...

A-dec, Inc.

Software Engineer, Sr

Newberg, OR

$128K - $169K/yr

May direct the work of drafters, technicians, and others who assist in small projects ... Software development experience using C/C++, Python, TypeScript, and other programming languages.

A-dec, Inc.

Software Engineer, Sr

Newberg, OR · On-site

$128K - $169K/yr

May direct the work of drafters, technicians, and others who assist in small projects ... Software development experience using C/C++, Python, TypeScript, and other programming languages.

nLIGHT

IT Software Engineer- C# - Swing Shift

Camas, WA · On-site

$103K - $135K/yr

This is a growth opportunity within the IT Software Engineering group and is an ideal fit for a ... Direct experience programming with C# .NET, SQL, XML, JSON. * Experience developing Manufacturing ...

Nike

Senior Principal Software Engineer

Beaverton, OR · On-site

$130K - $180K/yr

... will report to the Sr. Director, Reporting & Intelligence Engineering and be part of the ... You will collaborate regularly with software and machine learning engineers in Reporting ...

nLIGHT

IT Software Engineer- C# - Swing Shift

Camas, WA · Hybrid

$103K - $135K/yr

This is a growth opportunity within the IT Software Engineering group and is an ideal fit for a ... Direct experience programming with C# .NET, SQL, XML, JSON. * Experience developing Manufacturing ...

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All JobsSoftware Engineer Startup JobsDirector Software Engineer Startup JobsDirector Software Engineer Startup Jobs in Portland, OR

Director Software Engineer Startup information

See Portland, OR salary details

$147.4K

$269.4K

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

As of Aug 17, 2026, the average yearly pay for director software engineer startup in Portland, OR is $258,676.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $268,300.00 and $268,300.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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 popular job titles related to Director Software Engineer Startup jobs in Portland, OR?

For Director Software Engineer Startup jobs in Portland, OR, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Director Software Engineer Startup jobs in Portland, OR look for?

The top searched job categories for Director Software Engineer Startup jobs in Portland, OR are:

What cities near Portland, OR are hiring for Director Software Engineer Startup jobs?

Cities near Portland, OR with the most Director Software Engineer Startup job openings:

Director Software Engineer Startup jobs near you
Infographic showing various Director Software Engineer Startup job openings in Portland, OR as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 67% In-person, and 33% Hybrid job distribution, with an average salary of $258,676 per year, or $124.4 per hour.

Director, Software Engineering

Nike

Beaverton, OR • On-site

$263K/yr

Full-time

Posted 20 days ago

Nike rating

7.6

Company rating: 7.6 out of 10

Based on 274 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

7th of 104 rated fashion retailers

Job description

WHO YOU'LL WORK WITH
We are looking for an experienced Director of Engineering to join our team in Beaverton, Oregon to lead development of Nike's Product Creation platforms and experiences.
The Director of Engineering will lead, support and develop team members, manage priorities and create results across boundaries. The successful candidate is an inclusive and empowering leader with a history of enabling agile teams to solve technical problems in a product model, including building scalable platforms and web applications.
WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR
We are looking for an experienced Director of Engineering to join our team to lead development of Nike's Product Creation platforms and experiences.
The Director of Engineering will lead, support and develop team members, manage priorities and create results across boundaries. The successful candidate is an inclusive and empowering leader with a history of enabling agile teams to solve technical problems in a product model, including building scalable platforms and web applications.
What you bring
  • 15+ years leading high-performing software engineering teams, including 5+ years managing direct reports
  • Strong technical and business communication, strategic thinking, and the ability to turn strategy into measurable outcomes
  • Proven ability to drive solution design, technical delivery, process improvement, and engineering excellence
  • Experience with Agile software development, DevOps, observability tools, and modern software architecture patterns like micro-services architectures and domain driven design.
  • Ability to create technical architecture diagrams, API specifications, data models, engineering planning and implementation strategy & test documentation
  • Hands-on knowledge of front-end technologies (Javascript or Typescript, React or Vue or Angular), Backend service technologies (Java, Node.js, Python) and cloud-native distributed system technologies (AWS: EC2, ECS, DynamoDB, Lambdas, S3 etc.)
  • Bachelor's degree in computer science, engineering, or equivalent experience

WHAT YOU'LL WORK ON
In addition to building and leading engineering teams, you will plan engineering capacity, manage third-party engagements, manage interactions with stakeholders in the business teams and lead a software delivery organization to innovate and deliver business value at scale. You will also drive engineering excellence and well as best practices for modern web application design and scalable cloud-based service architectures.
We offer a number of accommodations to complete our interview process including screen readers, sign language interpreters, accessible and single location for in-person interviews, closed captioning, and other reasonable modifications as needed. If you discover, as you navigate our application process, that you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please complete the Candidate Accommodation Request Form.

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