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Software Development Manager Jobs in Washington, DC

... and manage the day-to-day work for Sales AI, Marketing AI and Adobe platforms (20%); Collaborate and align with partner development teams and their leadership throughout the software life cycle to ...

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Software Development Manager information

See Washington, DC salary details

$84.7K

$151.4K

$190.2K

How much do software development manager jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 30, 2026, the average yearly pay for software development manager in Washington, DC is $151,430.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $131,600.00 and $173,700.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

How does a Software Development Manager typically balance technical leadership with people management responsibilities?

As a Software Development Manager, you’ll find that balancing hands-on technical leadership with people management is a central part of the role. You’ll spend part of your time guiding architectural decisions and overseeing code quality, while also focusing on coaching, mentoring, and supporting your team’s professional growth. Effective delegation, setting clear priorities, and maintaining open communication with both developers and stakeholders are key to managing these dual responsibilities. Many managers also work closely with product managers, QA, and other departments to ensure alignment across projects.

What Does a Software Development Manager Do?

As a software development manager, your primary responsibilities are to oversee software development teams and to act as a liaison between your teams and senior management. You hire and train new staff, manage and evaluate existing developers, provide guidance on the design and implementation of new software applications, and ensure that projects stay on schedule and within budget. You collaborate with upper-level management and your developers to make sure that new and existing software applications meet business objectives.

What does a Software Development Manager do?

A Software Development Manager oversees teams of software engineers to ensure successful planning, development, and delivery of software projects. They coordinate project timelines, allocate resources, and facilitate communication between team members and stakeholders. Additionally, they mentor developers, set technical standards, and help align software initiatives with business objectives. Their role balances technical expertise with leadership and project management responsibilities.

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

To thrive as a Software Development Manager, you need a solid background in software engineering, leadership experience, and usually a degree in computer science or a related field. Familiarity with project management tools (like Jira or Trello), version control systems (such as Git), and sometimes certifications like PMP or Scrum Master are highly beneficial. Exceptional communication, problem-solving abilities, and the capacity to motivate and mentor teams are critical soft skills. These competencies ensure successful project delivery, foster team development, and align technical efforts with business goals.

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

AspectSoftware Development ManagerSoftware Engineer
ResponsibilitiesOversees development teams, manages projects, sets strategic goalsDesigns, codes, tests software applications
Required SkillsLeadership, project management, technical expertiseProgramming, problem-solving, technical skills
CredentialsBachelor's or higher in CS or related field, often with experience in managementBachelor's or higher in CS or related field
Work EnvironmentTeam management, collaboration with stakeholdersIndividual or team coding tasks, development environments

The main difference between a Software Development Manager and a Software Engineer lies in their focus and responsibilities. Managers oversee teams and projects, while engineers focus on designing and coding software. Both roles require technical skills, but managers also need leadership and project management abilities.

What are the most commonly searched types of Software Development jobs in Washington, DC? The most popular types of Software Development jobs in Washington, DC are:
What are popular job titles related to Software Development Manager jobs in Washington, DC? For Software Development Manager jobs in Washington, DC, the most frequently searched job titles are:
Software Development Manager, EC2 Core Consoles

Software Development Manager, EC2 Core Consoles

Amazon

Arlington, VA • On-site

$142K - $187K/yr

Full-time

Posted 18 days ago


Amazon rating

7.4

Company rating: 7.4 out of 10

Based on 6,911 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

6th of 39 rated national retailers


Job description

The Amazon EC2 team is seeking a very strong technical leader to manage and grow an engineering team that focuses on building the web applications that enable customers to launch and manage Amazon Elastic Cloud Compute (EC2) instances and other AWS resources. This requires a thorough knowledge of what it takes to develop scalable, extensible technology, as well as how to structure and develop engineering organizations.
Amazon Web Services (AWS) provides Amazon's customers with access to in-the-cloud infrastructure services based on Amazon's own back-end technology platform, which developers can use to enable virtually any type of business. Amazon EC2 is the web service that is pioneering cloud computing by providing resizable compute capacity in the cloud

It gives any developer complete control of their computing resources and lets them run on Amazon's proven computing environment. We are continuing to build the team in order to expand on our feature set and manage our rapidly increasing scale. We are expanding our capacity management initiatives to support high growth at large scales and create novel markets to support the computing needs of our customers.
The ideal candidate is passionate about the large opportunity that Amazon EC2 presents and is eager for a significant intellectual, technical and operational challenge

This person has thrived and succeeded in delivering high quality solutions in a fast-growth environment where priorities shift fast. The position demands excellent technical skills and knowledge coupled with strong leadership, planning, and management abilities.
Key job responsibilities
Translation of complex functional and technical requirements into detailed project plans and schedules; manage the day-to-day activities of the engineering team by defining, implementing and maintaining a coherent, progressive development strategy for our product line.
Responsible for the team's over-all systems development life cycle.
Delivery of quality applications on-time and on-budget.
Management and execution against project plans and delivery commitments.
Management of departmental resources, staffing, and enhancing and maintaining a best-of- class engineering team.
Leads the evolution of the software engineering practices within the organization (metrics, development methodology, innovation).
Works closely with architects to develop the best technical design and approach for products.
Maintains current technical knowledge to support rapidly changing technology.
Continues to build an effective development organization by driving the recruiting and hiring of
senior level engineers, developing and managing the group, and conducting performance
reviews of team members.
Creates and executes appropriate quality plans, project plans, test strategies and processes for
development activities in concert with business and project management efforts.
Drives and manage the bug triage process, represent development team in project meetings to ensure efficient testing and bug fixing process, and is an effective advocate for the development organization.


What Amazon employees say

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Benefits

Hours and flexibility

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About Amazon

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Amazon.com, Inc., commonly known as Amazon, is an American multinational technology company. It was founded by Jeff Bezos in 1994 and initially started as an online marketplace for books. Since then, Amazon has expanded its operations and become one of the largest e-commerce companies in the world. Amazon's primary business is its online retail platform, where customers can purchase a vast array of products, including electronics, clothing, books, home goods, and much more. The company offers a convenient and user-friendly shopping experience, with features such as fast shipping, customer reviews, and personalized recommendations. In addition to its e-commerce platform, Amazon has diversified its business into various other areas. One of its notable ventures is Amazon Web Services (AWS), a comprehensive cloud computing platform that provides services such as storage, compute power, and database management to individuals and businesses. AWS has become a leader in the cloud computing industry, powering many websites and applications worldwide. Amazon has also developed its own consumer electronics, including the popular Amazon Kindle e-reader, Fire tablets, Fire TV streaming devices, and the Alexa-powered Echo smart speakers. The Alexa voice assistant, integrated into these devices, allows users to interact with their devices using voice commands, perform tasks, and access information. Furthermore, Amazon has expanded into media and entertainment. It operates Prime Video, a streaming service that offers a wide range of movies, TV shows, and original content. Amazon Music provides a platform for streaming and purchasing digital music, while Audible offers audiobooks and other audio content. The company's commitment to customer satisfaction and convenience is demonstrated by its membership program, Amazon Prime. Prime members receive various benefits, including free two-day shipping, access to streaming services, exclusive deals, and more.

Industry

It services, book publishers, retail, real estate and computer and electronic product manufacturing

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Seattle, WA, US