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Director Software Engineer Startup Jobs in Portland, OR

Principal, Software Engineer

Beaverton, OR · On-site

$140K - $188K/yr

This role reports to the Director of Engineering for Activity Apps and collaborates across mobile ... WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR Nike is seeking a Principal Software Engineer who brings architectural depth ...

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 ...

Lead Software Engineer - NIKE Inc., Beaverton, OR. Manage the coordination and overall integration ... direct, review or approve project design changes; assess project feasibility by analyzing ...

Software Engineer 4- Ink

Vancouver, WA · On-site

$250K - $372K/yr

Ensure proper API support for Technical Directors to customize per-show or craft last-mile ... Qualifications * 6+ years of software engineering experience, preferably supporting animation ...

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 ...

Showing results 21-40

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 Sep 7, 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 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 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 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 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:

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 80% In-person, and 20% Hybrid job distribution, with an average salary of $258,676 per year, or $124.4 per hour.

Embedded Software Engineer - Kernel

Sightline Intelligence

Portland, OR • On-site

$100K - $120K/yr

Full-time

Posted 11 days ago


Job description

Job Title: Embedded Software Engineer - Kernel

Department: Software Engineering

Reports To: Team Lead Engineer and Director of Software Engineering 

FLSA Status: Exempt, Salary, Full-Time

Travel: No

Shift: Monday – Friday, standard day schedule.

Supervisory Level: None

The Embedded Software Engineer on our Kernel team will collaborate with Software Engineering, Customer Support, and Sales to develop and maintain low-level software. This role works across the Linux kernel, new hardware bring-up, encoder/decoder, networking and software libraries to support new capabilities, software releases, and customer needs.

  • Design, develop, and maintain embedded software in C/C++ for video processing systems.
  • Contribute to software development in some of the following areas:
  • Develop and maintain embedded software solutions using Linux build systems, including Yocto, for various hardware platforms.
  • Optimize and maintain software library support for existing and future platforms and customers.
  • Build, configure and debug Linux kernels across a variety of hardware platforms.
  • Develop Linux drivers for videos, communication, memory, network, and other electrical subsystems. 
  • Manage configuration and release of library to existing and future customers.
  • Collaborate with Customer Support and Sales teams to ensure seamless integration and deployment of customer-requested changes.
  • Work directly with customers to collect requirements and deliver tailored solutions.
  • Rapidly learn new technologies and adapt to evolving hardware/software environments. 
  • Other duties as assigned. 

Qualifications:          

  • Bachelor’s degree in engineering, computer science, or related field.
  • 3+ years of experience in C/C++ development for embedded systems.
  • Strong expertise in building, packaging, and deployment workflows for embedded platforms, such as Nvidia systems. 
  • Understanding cross-compilation and runtime environments for performance-sensitive libraries on embedded platforms.
  • Knowledge of multimedia encoding/decoding, video and image preferred.
  • Familiar with Linux build systems, kernel development, and device driver debugging.
  • Must be authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis.

Competencies: To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:

 Apply Expertise in Technology

Complies with policies on acceptable use of technology; Applies knowledge of computer skills to perform the job successfully; Displays the ability to learn new computer skills.

Strategic Thinking

Develops strategies to achieve organizational goals. Understands organizations’ strengths and weaknesses. Analyzes market and competition to identify external threats and opportunities. Adapts strategy to changing conditions.

Planning/Organizing

Prioritizes and plans work activities; Uses time efficiently; Plans for additional resources; Sets goals and objectives; Organizes or schedules other people and their tasks; Develops realistic action plans.

Business Acumen

Ability to connect people with strategies for operational and financial outcomes.

Learn & Research

Demonstrates the understanding of newly presented information and retention for future applications.

Math Skills

Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.

Reliability

Good attendance; Balances professional and personal commitments effectively; Delivers work product on time and within the assigned parameters of the task.

Cultural Awareness

Awareness to think and act in intercultural environments appropriately; Respecting the diverse backgrounds of the people around them.

Gives & Receives Feedback

Articulates positive and constructive feedback appropriately; Gives recognition to a job well done; Upholds accountability; Accepts feedback from all employees.

Communication & Collaboration

Works effectively within a team; Shares information and acknowledges others’ efforts; Helps others when workloads are high; Keeps team and supervisor information of tasks.

Analytical

Synthetizes complex or diverse information; Collects and researches data; Uses intuition and experience to complement data

Innovation

Generates creative and original ideas of approaches; Seeks to improve performance; Proactive to identify and create new opportunities.

Physical Demands: 

This role requires standing, walking, and sitting for extended periods; communicating in person and by phone; using hands to operate objects or controls; and reaching with hands and arms. Occasional stooping, kneeling, bending, crouching, and lifting up to 25 pounds may be required. Close and distance vision, depth perception, color vision, and focus adjustment are also needed. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Work Environment 

Work is performed primarily at a desk using standard office equipment in a quiet, casual environment that encourages open communication, teamwork, mutual respect, and alignment with the organization’s mission, values, and goals.

This job description may not contain a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required to do this job.