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Engineer Director Jobs in Reston, VA (NOW HIRING)

Autodesk

Director, IAM Engineering

Reston, VA · On-site

Reporting to the Senior Director, Information Security Engineering , this leader will own the IAM Engineering pillar and build a scalable engineering organization that delivers secure, resilient, and ...

Autodesk

Director, IAM Engineering

Washington, DC · On-site +1

Reporting to the Senior Director, Information Security Engineering , this leader will own the IAM Engineering pillar and build a scalable engineering organization that delivers secure, resilient, and ...

Axle

Associate Director of AI and Data

Rockville, MD · On-site

With experts in biomedical science, software engineering, and program management, we focus on ... As an Associate Director, you will combine deep technical expertise with executive presence ...

Axle

Associate Director of AI and Data

Rockville, MD · On-site

With experts in biomedical science, software engineering, and program management, we focus on ... As an Associate Director, you will combine deep technical expertise with executive presence ...

Maximus

Director Chief Engineer (Program)

Mclean, VA · On-site

General information Job Posting Title Director Chief Engineer (Program) Date Thursday, May 14, 2026 City Mclean State VA Country United States Working time Full-time Description & Requirements ...

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All JobsEngineer Director JobsEngineer Director Jobs in Reston, VA

Engineer Director information

See Reston, VA salary details

$75.9K

$202.6K

$264.2K

How much do engineer director jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 25, 2026, the average yearly pay for engineer director in Reston, VA is $202,567.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $147,200.00 and $263,200.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Engineer Director vs Senior Engineer?

AspectEngineer DirectorSenior Engineer
CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in Engineering, often with leadership experienceBachelor's or Master's in Engineering, technical expertise
Work EnvironmentLeadership roles overseeing teams and projectsHands-on technical work, project execution
Employer & Industry UsageCommon in large organizations, tech, manufacturingWidespread across industries, technical focus

The Engineer Director typically holds a leadership position, managing teams and strategic initiatives, while the Senior Engineer focuses on technical expertise and project execution. Both roles require strong engineering credentials, but the Director emphasizes management and oversight.

What are some common challenges faced by an Engineer Director when leading cross-functional teams?

An Engineer Director often navigates challenges such as aligning diverse technical teams toward shared business goals, managing communication across departments, and balancing resource allocation for multiple projects. Ensuring effective collaboration between engineers, product managers, and other stakeholders requires strong leadership and conflict resolution skills. Additionally, keeping teams motivated while adapting to shifting priorities or tight deadlines is crucial for the success of engineering initiatives.

How much does a director of engineering earn?

A director of engineering typically earns between $120,000 and $200,000 annually, depending on factors such as industry, company size, location, and experience. Senior roles may include bonuses, stock options, and other benefits, reflecting their leadership responsibilities and technical expertise.

What are Engineer Directors?

Engineer Directors are senior leaders in engineering organizations who oversee multiple teams or departments, set technical strategy, and ensure alignment with business goals. They manage engineering managers and lead initiatives related to product development, process improvement, and team growth. Engineer Directors play a critical role in hiring, budgeting, and cross-functional collaboration, serving as a bridge between executive leadership and engineering teams. Their responsibilities often include defining long-term technical vision, fostering innovation, and maintaining high standards for quality and performance.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Engineering Director, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Engineering Director, you need strong leadership abilities, deep technical expertise in engineering disciplines, and a track record of managing complex projects, typically supported by an engineering degree and extensive industry experience. Familiarity with project management tools, engineering software platforms, and certifications like PMP or Six Sigma are often valuable. Exceptional communication, strategic thinking, and team-building skills help drive cross-functional collaboration and innovation. These competencies enable Engineering Directors to align technical teams with business goals, deliver high-quality solutions, and foster organizational growth.

What engineer makes $500,000 a year?

Senior engineering roles such as Director of Engineering, Principal Engineer, or specialized software engineers with extensive experience and expertise in high-demand fields can earn $500,000 or more annually. These positions often require advanced skills, leadership responsibilities, and sometimes stock options or bonuses in addition to base salary.

What does an engineer director do?

An engineer director oversees engineering teams and projects, setting strategic goals, managing budgets, and ensuring technical standards are met. They coordinate between departments, lead innovation efforts, and often have strong leadership and technical skills to guide complex engineering initiatives.

What engineers make $300,000 a year?

Senior engineering roles such as Software Engineering Managers, Principal Engineers, and Engineering Directors often have salaries reaching or exceeding $300,000 annually, especially in high-demand industries like technology, finance, and aerospace. These positions typically require extensive experience, advanced technical skills, and leadership responsibilities, often supplemented by bonuses and stock options.
What are the most commonly searched types of Engineer jobs in Reston, VA? The most popular types of Engineer jobs in Reston, VA are:
What are popular job titles related to Engineer Director jobs in Reston, VA? For Engineer Director jobs in Reston, VA, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Engineer Director jobs in Reston, VA look for? The top searched job categories for Engineer Director jobs in Reston, VA are:
What cities near Reston, VA are hiring for Engineer Director jobs? Cities near Reston, VA with the most Engineer Director job openings:
Engineer Director jobs near you
Director, Software Engineer - Card Tech AI

Director, Software Engineer - Card Tech AI

Capital One

Mclean, VA • On-site

$255K/yr

Full-time

Posted 26 days ago

Capital One rating

7.8

Company rating: 7.8 out of 10

Based on 136 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

67th of 142 rated banks

Job description

Director, Software Engineer - Card Tech AI

We are seeking a Director of Software Engineering to join our team and fundamentally redefine the speed and quality of software development. We are a high-velocity, mission-driven group obsessed with bridging the gap between Intent and Execution (I=E). In this role, you won't just manage; you will operate as a "Player-Coach," functioning both as a high-leverage developer who ships production-ready code in hours as well as mentoring a team to become elite AI-native builders. You will own the technical benchmark, leveraging agentic development tools to its absolute limits through rigorous, spec-driven design to solve complex problems with unprecedented urgency.

This leader must have the ability to attract top-tier talent and the technical "whisperer" skills to ensure AI-generated output is flawless, secure, and scalable. Success requires an innovative mind, a proven track record of delivering next-generation products, and a passion for AI-native execution. You are a master of technical specifications who can translate complex architectures into simple, actionable reality. If you are a high-agency leader ready to define the 100x engineer era and make a massive, visible impact on our company trajectory, this is your team.

Our Directors Are:

  • Technologists: Strong engineering and technology background with the ability to learn quickly and go deep into our product and engineering solutions - will have a DevOps mindset

  • Effective Communicators: Excellent listener; proven collaborator with senior leaders, peers and staff

  • Partnership Attitude: Have the competencies to build very strong partnerships with other technology leaders that enable your team's ability to stay on the leading edge of industry solutions

  • Curious: Hands-on, "roll up your sleeves" collaborative style of working

  • Passionate: Bring energy and enthusiasm to the job and organization

  • Bold: History of taking smart, calculated risks and aggressively leading through change

  • Achievers: Consistently attain/exceed individual and team goals

You Will:

  • Lead, mentor, and grow a high-velocity team of engineers, fostering a culture of AI adoption and rapid execution

  • Embrace and incubate AI-native workflows, leveraging Claude and LLMs to fundamentally change the math on development speed

  • Operate as a "Player-Coach," remaining deeply hands-on to ship production-ready code and solve complex technical problems

  • Collaborate with product teams to transform intent into functional reality using rigorous, spec-driven design

  • Partner with stakeholders to explain AI-generated architectures, ensuring the final product matches initial intent flawlessly

  • Work within Agile cycles to design, audit, and support technical solutions, serving as the ultimate fail-safe for AI output

  • Lead efforts to bridge I=E (Intent = Execution), guaranteeing high-leverage output without technical debt or hallucinations

  • Conduct design and code reviews to ensure AI-generated code meets world-class standards for quality and integrity

Basic Qualifications:

  • Bachelor's Degree

  • At least 7 years' experience in software development

  • At least 5 years' experience in people management
    At least 3 years of experience with cloud-based data platforms (Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform)

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Master's Degree

  • 7+ years of experience in software engineering or data engineering

  • 1+ years of experience with LLM coding assistance tools such as Claude, Windsurf, Copilot or comparable tools

  • 3+ years of experience with AWS

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


New York, NY: $293,600 - $335,100 for Director, Software Engineering


Richmond, VA: $244,700 - $279,200 for Director, Software Engineering


San Francisco, CA: $293,600 - $335,100 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 non discretionary 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 theCapital One Careers website. Eligibility varies based on full or part-time status, exempt or non-exempt status, and management level.

This role is expected to accept applications for a minimum of 5 business days.No agencies please. 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.

If you have visited our website in search of information on employment opportunities or to apply for a position, and you require an accommodation, please contact Capital One Recruiting at 1-800-304-9102 or via email at RecruitingAccommodation@capitalone.com. All information you provide will be kept confidential and will be used only to the extent required to provide needed reasonable accommodations.

For technical support or questions about Capital One's recruiting process, please send an email to Careers@capitalone.com

Capital One does not provide, endorse nor guarantee and is not liable for third-party products, services, educational tools or other information available through this site.

Capital One Financial is made up of several different entities. Please note that any position posted in Canada is for Capital One Canada, any position posted in the United Kingdom is for Capital One Europe and any position posted in the Philippines is for Capital One Philippines Service Corp. (COPSSC).

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