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Software Development Manager Salary Jobs in Virginia

MANTECH seeks a motivated, career and customer-oriented Software Development Project Manager to ... There are differentiating factors that can impact a final salary/hourly rate, including, but not ...

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Software Development Manager Salary information

What is the average salary for a software development manager?

The average salary for a Software Development Manager in the United States typically ranges from $130,000 to $175,000 per year, depending on factors like location, industry, and years of experience. In major tech hubs such as San Francisco or Seattle, salaries can be higher, often exceeding $200,000 with bonuses and stock options. Benefits, company size, and the scope of responsibilities can also influence compensation packages for this role.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a software development manager, and why are they important?

A Software Development Manager needs a strong background in software engineering, project management, and team leadership, often supported by a degree in computer science or a related field. Familiarity with agile methodologies, version control systems (such as Git), and project management tools like Jira is typically required, along with certifications such as PMP or Scrum Master being advantageous. Excellent communication, problem-solving, and mentorship abilities help in managing teams and aligning technical work with business goals. These skills ensure effective project delivery, high-performing teams, and successful alignment of software solutions with organizational objectives.

What are some common challenges faced by software development managers, and how can candidates prepare to address them?

Software Development Managers often face challenges like balancing project deadlines with code quality, navigating team dynamics, and managing stakeholder expectations. Additionally, they must ensure effective communication between developers, product managers, and upper management. Candidates can prepare by developing strong leadership, time management, and conflict resolution skills, as well as staying current with best practices in agile methodologies and software architecture. Successful managers foster a collaborative environment and continuously seek feedback to improve team performance.

What is the difference between Software Development Manager Salary vs Software Engineer Salary?

FactorSoftware Development ManagerSoftware Engineer
Average Salary$120,000 - $160,000$80,000 - $120,000
Required CredentialsBachelor's/Master's in CS or related, leadership experienceBachelor's in CS or related, coding skills
Work EnvironmentTeam leadership, project managementCoding, development tasks
Industry UsageManagement roles in tech companiesDevelopment roles in tech companies

Software Development Managers typically earn higher salaries than Software Engineers due to their leadership responsibilities, experience, and strategic roles. While Software Engineers focus on coding and technical tasks, Development Managers oversee teams and projects, which is reflected in compensation differences.

What does a software development manager do?

A software development manager oversees software engineering teams, manages project timelines, allocates resources, and ensures the delivery of high-quality software products. They coordinate between technical staff and stakeholders, often using project management tools and Agile methodologies to meet business objectives.

What job categories do people searching Software Development Manager Salary jobs in Virginia look for?

The top searched job categories for Software Development Manager Salary jobs in Virginia are:

What cities in Virginia are hiring for Software Development Manager Salary jobs?

Cities in Virginia with the most Software Development Manager Salary job openings:

Infographic showing various Software Development Manager Salary job openings in Virginia as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 82% Full Time, 15% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 91% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution.

Software Development Manager

Na Ali'i Consulting & Sales, LLC.

Arlington, VA โ€ข On-site

$142K - $187K/yr

Full-time

Posted yesterday

New


Job description

Nakupuna Companies is seeking a Software Development Manager to provide management, standardization, and technical delivery leadership supporting the Integrated Personnel and Pay System โ€“ Army (IPPS-A) Army Military Payroll (AMP) program. The Software Development Manager is responsible for planning, directing, coordinating, and monitoring development execution across all Agile teams. The role owns the day-to-day management of development activities at the user story and task level, including deliverables, resource capacity, development standards, process compliance, staffing, and team performance. Working closely with the Lead Architect, Solution Architects, and Portfolio Operations technical SMEs, the Development Manager ensures that what is developed is consistent with approved technical designs while maintaining clear ownership of development execution. The Development Manager serves as a key representative for development to internal program leadership and external stakeholders, including PMO, FMD, and other system integrators, and is expected to mentor and develop the Development community of practice.


The following reflects managementโ€™s definition of essential functions for this job but does not restrict the tasks that may be assigned. Management may assign additional duties and responsibilities to this job at any time due to reasonable accommodation or other reasons.

  • Plan, direct, and coordinate development activities across all Agile teams supporting the AMP program.
  • Define development objectives, priorities, standards, and expectations in alignment with program delivery goals.
  • Monitor development deliverables, work-in-progress, and resource capacity at the user story and task level in Azure DevOps (ADO), identifying risks, bottlenecks, and staffing constraints early.
  • Ensure development work is appropriately planned, assigned, and executed to support sprint, feature, release, and program milestones.
  • Evaluate, improve, document, and enforce development processes, standards, and standard operating procedures across the Development community of practice.
  • Ensure development standards are consistently met and that teams comply with applicable program policies, technical standards, regulations, and required processes.
  • Coordinate with the Lead Architect, Solution Architects, and Portfolio Operations to ensure developed solutions conform to approved technical designs and architectural direction; escalate design or implementation concerns when necessary.
  • Recommend technical implementation approaches and development practices in collaboration with architecture and technical leads.
  • Facilitate cross-team communication and coordination between developers to resolve dependencies, share technical knowledge, and promote consistent development practices.
  • Conduct frequent development team and community-of-practice meetings to review priorities, delivery status, risks, standards, lessons learned, and upcoming work.
  • Establish and coordinate mentoring for developers based on experience, technical subject matter, and individual or team needs; directly mentor team members as appropriate.
  • Identify development resource and training needs and coordinate appropriate training, knowledge transfer, and skill development opportunities.
  • Manage hiring and staffing for the Development community of practice across Agile teams, including participating in interviews and making staffing recommendations.
  • Act as the primary point of contact for Agile teams and program leadership regarding development staffing, resource needs, and capacity concerns.
  • Manage direct reports, including establishing performance goals, conducting frequent performance discussions and formal reviews, ensuring appropriate tasking, mentoring and coaching, supporting recruiting and staffing initiatives, and other management duties.
  • Maintain the organizational structure and health of the Development community of practice and support Development CoP managers/leads with development input and guidance.
  • Develop and maintain Development-related program deliverables and CDRLs, as applicable.
  • Present development status, recommendations, risks, capacity assessments, and delivery updates to internal program leadership and external stakeholders, including PMO, FMD, and other system integrators.
  • Serve as the primary program and Government point of contact for Development matters and attend leadership, technical, planning, and customer meetings as required.

Education and Experience: Bachelorโ€™s degree with 8 or more years of experience within the federal government, DoD, Army, IC, and/or private sector preferred. A minimum of 3-5 years of experience managing software development teams is preferred. Experience managing development delivery across multiple Agile teams is strongly preferred.

Skills/Qualifications: Strong software development management, delivery planning, team leadership, and stakeholder communication skills required. Experience using Azure DevOps (ADO) or a comparable Agile lifecycle management tool to monitor development work, deliverables, and capacity is preferred. PeopleSoft technical experience preferred but not required. Leading SAFe Certification or other Agile certification preferred.

Clearance Requirements: This position requires a current Secret clearance. Must be a U.S. Citizen.

Work Location: This is a full-time position located in the D.C., Maryland, Virginia region. The Software Development Manager is expected to work on-site a minimum of two days per week, with additional on-site presence as program or customer needs require.

Physical Requirements: The ideal candidate must at a minimum be able to meet the following physical requirements of the job with or without a reasonable accommodation:

  • Ability to perform repetitive motions with the hands, wrists, and fingers.
  • Ability to engage in and follow audible communications in emergency situations.
  • Ability to sit for prolonged periods at a desk and working on a computer.

The Nakupuna Companies use a market-based compensation strategy to ensure that our employees are compensated within applicable market ranges commensurate with multiple factors, including but not limited to the individualโ€™s particular combination of education, knowledge, skills, competencies, and experience, as well as contract-specific affordability, organizational requirements, and position location. The projected compensation for this position is $170,000.00 to $230,000.00 (annualized USD). The salary range displayed represents the typical range for this position and is just one component of Nakupuna Companies total compensation package for employees.