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Director Software Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

Director of Software Engineering

Chicago, IL · On-site

$244.70 - $279.20/hr

Director of Software Engineering As a Capital One Director of Software Engineering, you'll work on everything from customer‑facing web and mobile applications using cutting‑edge open source ...

Director, Software Engineering

Mount Prospect, IL · On-site

$251K/yr

The Director of Software Engineering is a senior technology leader responsible for driving the development and delivery of Rauland's enterprise and platform software solutions. This role leads ...

The Director of Software Engineering is a senior technology leader responsible for driving the development and delivery of Rauland's enterprise and platform software solutions. This role leads ...

Director, Software Engineer

Chicago, IL · Hybrid

$146K - $150K/yr

Morgan Stanley Services Group Inc. is seeking a Director, Software Engineer in Chicago, IL to build technical tools, connections, and capabilities to support internal business needs. Develop and ...

Director, Software Engineer

Chicago, IL · On-site

$146K - $150K/yr

Morgan Stanley Services Group Inc. is seeking a Director, Software Engineer in Chicago, IL to build technical tools, connections, and capabilities to support internal business needs. Develop and ...

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Director Software information

See Chicago, IL salary details

$143.2K

$261.7K

How much do director software jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 29, 2026, the average yearly pay for director software in Chicago, IL is $251,270.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $260,600.00 and $260,600.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are Director Software roles?

A Director of Software is a senior leadership position responsible for overseeing the software development teams and guiding the strategic direction of software projects within an organization. They manage engineering managers and developers, set technical vision, ensure projects are aligned with business goals, and often collaborate with other departments like product management and operations. The role requires strong technical expertise, leadership skills, and the ability to balance innovation with operational efficiency. Directors of Software are also tasked with recruiting top talent, mentoring team members, and ensuring software quality and security standards are met.

What are some typical challenges a Director of Software faces when leading cross-functional teams?

A Director of Software often encounters challenges such as aligning priorities across engineering, product, and design teams, ensuring clear communication, and managing competing deadlines. Balancing technical debt reduction with new feature development is also a common concern. Successful Directors build strong relationships with stakeholders, foster a culture of collaboration, and implement processes that support transparency and efficient decision-making.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Director of Software, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Director of Software, you need extensive experience in software development, strong leadership abilities, and a relevant degree in computer science or a related field. Familiarity with technical tools such as project management software (e.g., Jira), cloud platforms, and agile methodologies, as well as certifications like PMP or Scrum Master, is highly beneficial. Exceptional problem-solving, communication, and team management skills set outstanding candidates apart. These competencies are crucial for guiding teams, delivering high-quality products, and aligning software initiatives with organizational goals.

What is the difference between Director Software vs Software Engineer?

AspectDirector SoftwareSoftware Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's/Master's in CS or related field, leadership experienceBachelor's or higher in CS or related field, coding skills
Work EnvironmentLeadership, strategic planning, cross-team collaborationHands-on coding, development, debugging
Employer & Industry UsageTech companies, software firms, startupsAlmost universal across tech industries
Common Search & ComparisonOften compared for career progression, responsibilitiesEntry to mid-level roles, technical focus

The main difference between a Director Software and a Software Engineer lies in their responsibilities and experience. Directors focus on strategic planning, team leadership, and project oversight, often requiring leadership credentials. Software Engineers are primarily involved in coding and technical development. While Software Engineers are more hands-on with daily technical tasks, Directors oversee multiple projects and teams, guiding overall software development strategies.

What are the most commonly searched types of Software jobs in Chicago, IL? The most popular types of Software jobs in Chicago, IL are:
What cities near Chicago, IL are hiring for Director Software jobs? Cities near Chicago, IL with the most Director Software job openings:
Infographic showing various Director Software job openings in Chicago, IL as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $251,270 per year, or $120.8 per hour.

Director of Software Engineering

Hobbsnews

Chicago, IL • On-site

$244.70 - $279.20/hr

Other

Posted 15 days ago


Job description

Director of Software Engineering

As a Capital One Director of Software Engineering, you'll work on everything from customer‑facing web and mobile applications using cutting‑edge open source frameworks, to highly‑available RESTful microservices, to back‑end Java based systems and Machine learning models using the hottest techniques in Big Data. You'll bring solid experience in emerging and traditional technologies such as node.js, Java, GO, AngularJS, React, Python, REST, JSON, XML, Ruby, Perl, NoSQL databases, relational databases, Spark, Artifactory, Maven, iOS, Android, and AWS/Cloud Infrastructure to name a few.

You Will
  • Lead, manage and grow multiple teams of product focused software engineers
  • Mentor and guide the professional and technical development of engineers on your team
  • Work with product managers to understand desired application capabilities and testing scenarios
  • Continuously improve software engineering practices
  • Work within and across Agile teams to design, develop, test, implement, and support technical solutions across a full‑stack development tools and technologies
  • Lead the craftsmanship, availability, resilience, and scalability of your solutions
  • Bring a passion to stay on top of tech trends, experiment with and learn new technologies, participate in internal and external technology communities, and mentor other members of the engineering community
  • Encourage innovation, implementation of cutting‑edge technologies, inclusion, outside‑of‑the‑box thinking, teamwork, self‑organization, and diversity
  • Work across to improve the velocity of your and other teams
  • Lead efforts to deploy new and existing applications into AWS environments
  • Break existing monolithic applications into micro‑service architectures and build new microservices
Basic Qualifications
  • Bachelor’s Degree
  • At least 7 years’ experience in software development
  • At least 5 years’ experience in people management
Preferred Qualifications
  • Master’s Degree in Computer Science or a Master’s Degree in Software Engineering
  • 10+ years’ of experience in software development
  • 5+ years’ of experience in Agile practices
  • Experience leveraging interactive AI tooling to accelerate productivity, utilizing capabilities beyond basic code completion

Capital One will consider sponsoring a new qualified applicant for employment authorization for this position.

The minimum and maximum full‑time annual salaries for this role are listed below, by location. Please note that this salary information is solely for candidates hired to perform work within one of these locations, and refers to the amount Capital One is willing to pay at the time of this posting. Salaries for part‑time roles will be prorated based upon the agreed upon number of hours to be regularly worked.

Chicago, IL: $244,700 - $279,200 for Director, Software Engineering

McLean, VA: $269,100 - $307,200 for Director, Software Engineering

Plano, TX: $244,700 - $279,200 for Director, Software Engineering

Candidates hired to work in other locations will be subject to the pay range associated with that location, and the actual annualized salary amount offered to any candidate at the time of hire will be reflected solely in the candidate’s offer letter.

This role is also eligible to earn performance based incentive compensation, which may include cash bonus(es) and/or long term incentives (LTI). Incentives could be discretionary or nondiscretionary depending on the plan.

Capital One offers a comprehensive, competitive, and inclusive set of health, financial and other benefits that support your total well‑being. Learn more at the Capital One Careers website. Eligibility varies based on full‑ or part‑time status, exempt or non‑exempt status, and management level.

Capital One is an equal opportunity employer (EOE, including disability/vet) committed to non‑discrimination in compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. Capital One promotes a drug‑free workplace. Capital One will consider for employment qualified applicants with a criminal history in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable laws regarding criminal background inquiries, including to the extent applicable Article 23‑A of the New York Correction Law; San Francisco, California Police Code Article 49, Sections 4901-4920; New York City’s Fair Chance Act; Philadelphia’s Fair Criminal Records Screening Act; and other applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations regarding criminal background inquiries.

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