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Director Software Engineer Startup Jobs in Raleigh, NC

About the Role This role provides senior leadership across software engineering delivery, people management, and technical direction. You will guide large, distributed teams, contribute deep ...

About the Role This role provides senior leadership across software engineering delivery, people management, and technical direction. You will guide large, distributed teams, contribute deep ...

Director Software Engineering

Raleigh, NC · On-site

$136K - $252K/yr

About the Role This role provides senior leadership across software engineering delivery, people management, and technical direction. You will guide large, distributed teams, contribute deep ...

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Director Software Engineer Startup information

See Raleigh, NC salary details

$135.1K

$246.9K

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

As of Jul 13, 2026, the average yearly pay for director software engineer startup in Raleigh, NC is $237,108.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $245,900.00 and $245,900.00 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, 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 Raleigh, NC? The most popular types of Software Engineer Startup jobs in Raleigh, NC are:
What are popular job titles related to Director Software Engineer Startup jobs in Raleigh, NC? For Director Software Engineer Startup jobs in Raleigh, NC, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Director Software Engineer Startup jobs in Raleigh, NC look for? The top searched job categories for Director Software Engineer Startup jobs in Raleigh, NC are:
What cities near Raleigh, NC are hiring for Director Software Engineer Startup jobs? Cities near Raleigh, NC with the most Director Software Engineer Startup job openings:
Director, Software Engineering (Individual Contributor)

Director, Software Engineering (Individual Contributor)

Fidelity Investments

Chapel Hill, NC • On-site

$210K/yr

Full-time

Posted 5 days ago


Fidelity Investments rating

8.7

Company rating: 8.7 out of 10

Based on 266 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

17th of 148 rated financial services


Job description

Job Description:

Director, Software Engineering

Note: Fidelity will not provide immigration sponsorship for this position.

The Role

We are seeking a highly experienced software engineer to lead the design and development of

We are looking for a highly experienced Director, Software Engineer (IC) to join the Alternative Investments Platform Engineering Team in the Brokerage Recordkeeping Technology organization. You will bring a strong background of innovation, technical expertise and a passion for engineering best practices to the team. In this job you will be working on a key initiative for the Alternative Investments space providing strong technical leadership by working closely with Business, Product, Architecture and Engineering teams and guide the path to build a strong foundational layer for the initiative.

  • Define product solutions by working directly with business, product and architecture teams.
  • Provide technical architecture, design, build, and support complex software applications for the Alts platform optimized for low latency and high throughput.
  • Enable data‑driven and insightful decision making through effective use of analytics and AI
  • Help navigate new technologies and cloud-based deployments to help deliver high value to our business.
  • Establish and reinforce engineering standards, patterns, and guidelines for the Alts platforms
  • Proactively lead process and technology improvement initiatives.
  • Stay on top of the latest engineering trends and practices and bring them back to the team when appropriate.
  • Mentor junior team members and contractors.

The Expertise and Skills You Bring

  • 15 plus years of platform development experience, building complex applications leveraging Java and Cloud based processes.
  • 5 plus years of technical leadership, and mentoring software developers
  • Extensive experience in Java / Spring boot / Spring Core / Web Services (REST) / Kubernetes orchestration.
  • Ability to drive technical discussions, arbitrate and influence better software design promoting best in breed software engineering and quality.
  • Strong experience with API design and best practices using Swagger and OpenAPI.
  • Good experience in event driven integrations like Kafka.
  • Experienced with using GenAI developer assist tools (e.g. GitHub Copilot).
  • Strong experience building CI/CD pipelines using Jenkins, Maven, etc. and solid understanding of version control using GIT and maintenance of pipelines.
  • Experience in front end application development using Angular is a plus
  • Good understanding of financial applications and specifically around Alternative Investments is a plus
  • Robust critical thinking skills coupled with a desire for growth, to learn and to engage with peers in technical and design discussions.
  • Excellent active listening, verbal and written communication skills and brings excitement that builds collaboration and community.

The Team

Our team builds and maintains the platform for the sales and service of the Alternative Investments product in Fidelity. Our team works in close partnership with our business using agile methodologies and best in breed cloud native technology to deliver robust and resilient solutions. We strive to provide the best user experience and technology to help our business partners achieve their goals. Our team works nimbly from the front end to the middle tier to our back-end SQL systems.

Fidelity’s Onsite Working Model
Fidelity is transitioning to a full-time onsite working model through a phased rollout across regions and roles. Currently, some roles and locations require 100% onsite presence, while others require less. Onsite expectations are likely to evolve as the rollout continues. This transition does not apply to fully remote roles.

Certifications:Category:Information Technology

Please be advised that Fidelity’s business is governed by the provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, the Investment Company Act of 1940, ERISA, numerous state laws governing securities, investment and retirement-related financial activities and the rules and regulations of numerous self-regulatory organizations, including FINRA, among others. Those laws and regulations may restrict Fidelity from hiring and/or associating with individuals with certain Criminal Histories.


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