1

Software Engineering Manager Jobs in Washington, DC

Director, Software Engineering

Arlington, VA · Hybrid

$291K/yr

Title and Summary Director, Software Engineering Director, Software Engineering Mastercard ... The leader will manage a global organization of approximately 25 engineers and engineering leaders ...

... software application development." Role Summary Our mission is to build a different kind of ... As an Engineering Manager, you will lead our talented engineering team and work closely with ...

... software application development." Role Summary Our mission is to build a different kind of ... As an Engineering Manager, you will lead our talented engineering team and work closely with ...

... software application development." Role Summary Our mission is to build a different kind of ... As an Engineering Manager, you will lead our talented engineering team and work closely with ...

Showing results 41-60

Software Engineering Manager information

See Washington, DC salary details

$112.7K

$191.8K

$227K

How much do software engineering manager jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 7, 2026, the average yearly pay for software engineering manager in Washington, DC is $191,770.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $195,900.00 and $195,900.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are some common challenges faced by software engineering managers when leading diverse development teams?

Software Engineering Managers often encounter challenges such as balancing technical leadership with people management, aligning team members with different backgrounds and skill sets, and ensuring effective communication across remote or cross-functional teams. Navigating these challenges involves fostering an inclusive environment, setting clear expectations, and adapting management styles to individual team members’ needs. Successful managers also prioritize regular check-ins and feedback to keep projects on track and support professional growth within the team.

What does a software engineering manager do?

A software engineering manager oversees a team of people who are working on the development of new computer software or the enhancement of existing computer programs. Because this is a management job, your duties may include coordinating and planning with other departments within the company and with company executives. In addition to management skills, you need a firm understanding of the technical aspects of software engineering. Another aspect of this career involves understanding the market and competitor’s products so that your software can compete and meet market demands.

What is the difference between Software Engineering Manager vs Software Developer?

AspectSoftware Engineering ManagerSoftware Developer
CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in CS or related field, often with leadership experienceBachelor's or higher in CS or related field
Work EnvironmentLeads teams, manages projects, collaborates with stakeholdersFocuses on coding, debugging, and implementing features
Employer & Industry UsageUsed across tech companies, startups, and large enterprisesCommon in all software development settings
Search & Comparison IntentUnderstanding managerial roles, leadership responsibilitiesFocus on technical skills, coding tasks

The main difference between a Software Engineering Manager and a Software Developer lies in their roles and responsibilities. Managers oversee teams, coordinate projects, and handle strategic planning, while developers focus on coding and technical implementation. Both roles are essential in the software development lifecycle, but they serve different functions within an organization.

What does a software engineering manager do?

A Software Engineering Manager oversees a team of software engineers, guiding the development of software projects from planning to implementation. They are responsible for managing the team's workflow, ensuring high-quality code, and meeting project deadlines. In addition to technical leadership, they also handle hiring, mentoring, and performance reviews. Their role bridges the gap between technical execution and business objectives, ensuring that software solutions align with strategic goals.

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

To thrive as a Software Engineering Manager, you need a solid background in software development, team leadership, and project management, often backed by a degree in computer science or a related field. Familiarity with development tools, agile methodologies, version control systems, and, in some cases, certifications like PMP or Scrum Master are valuable. Exceptional communication, problem-solving, and mentoring skills distinguish top performers in this role. These competencies are crucial for successfully guiding technical teams, delivering projects efficiently, and fostering a collaborative and innovative engineering culture.
What are the most commonly searched types of Software Engineering jobs in Washington, DC? The most popular types of Software Engineering jobs in Washington, DC are:
What are popular job titles related to Software Engineering Manager jobs in Washington, DC? For Software Engineering Manager jobs in Washington, DC, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Software Engineering Manager jobs in Washington, DC look for? The top searched job categories for Software Engineering Manager jobs in Washington, DC are:
Infographic showing various Software Engineering Manager job openings in Washington, DC as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 82% Full Time, 16% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 84% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 13% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $191,770 per year, or $92.2 per hour.

Senior Manager, Software Engineering

HITT Contracting, Inc.

Falls Church, VA • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement

Posted 17 days ago


Job description

Every day, our team members do amazing things in pursuit of our shared purpose to build trust with our clients, partners, subcontractors, and teammates. No matter your background, education, or career path, if you share our vision to create extraordinary experiences, you belong at HITT.
Senior Manager, Software Engineering
Job Description:
HITT is seeking a Principal Software Engineer to serve as a founding technical leader of its new agentic engineering practice. This is a hands-on role for a builder at the top of their craft: an engineer who works fluently with the latest AI development tools and coding agents, has strong, tested opinions about how AI changes the software development lifecycle, and wants to define those patterns from a blank page rather than inherit them.
Reporting to the Head of Software Engineering, the Principal Software Engineer sets the technical direction for how software gets built at HITT - architecting the practice's first AI-native applications, establishing the platform and paved-road tooling every team will use, and writing production code every day alongside AI coding agents. The software this role ships must earn its place on real jobsites: fast, reliable, and usable in high-velocity, decentralized field environments.
Beyond building, this role multiplies others. The Principal Software Engineer will help recruit engineers into a lean, agile, AI-augmented team and will train HITT's existing developers in AI-enabled methods - through pairing, code review, workshops, and reference implementations - raising the technical bar for the entire practice.
Responsibilities
Agentic Development & Technical Leadership
  • Architect and build HITT's first AI-native applications and agentic workflows end to end, writing production code daily alongside AI coding agents

  • Define the technical patterns for agentic development at HITT, including agent orchestration, prompt and context engineering, tool and API integrations, retrieval-augmented generation, and human-in-the-loop review

  • Establish evaluation, testing, and observability practices that make AI-assisted software trustworthy, secure, and maintainable

  • Prototype rapidly to prove value, then harden the winners into reliable products adopted across jobsites and offices

Platform, Tooling & Standards
  • Stand up the engineering platform from scratch: repositories, CI/CD pipelines, environments, model access, guardrails, and the AI development toolchain used by every team

  • Create paved-road templates, reference implementations, and internal libraries that make the right way the easy way

  • Set and continuously raise the bar for code quality, security, and performance across the practice, in alignment with HITT's zero trust cybersecurity strategy

  • Evaluate emerging AI development tools, models, and frameworks, recommending adoption with clear-eyed assessments of capability and risk

Mentorship & Enablement
  • Train and coach HITT's existing developers in AI-enabled development methods through pairing, code review, workshops, and internal documentation

  • Help recruit engineers to the organization, interview for craft, judgment, and fluency with modern AI-assisted workflows

  • Model a culture of experimentation - fail fast and pivot - while managing risk responsibly

Delivery & Collaboration
  • Work in lean, agile teams built on small batches, fast feedback, and continuous delivery

  • Partner directly with project teams, field staff, and corporate functions to understand problems firsthand and deliver software that works where execution happens in real time

  • Communicate architecture decisions and tradeoffs clearly to both engineers and executives, providing transparency on progress, quality, and value delivered

Qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience; advanced degree a plus

  • 10+ years of professional software engineering experience, including experience operating at a staff or principal level and setting technical direction beyond a single team

  • Expert, hands-on fluency with AI-assisted and agentic development, including coding agents (e.g., Claude Code, GitHub Copilot, Cursor), LLM APIs, agent frameworks, tool and API integrations, retrieval-augmented generation, and evaluation

  • Track record of shipping production software with modern stacks: cloud-native services, APIs, web and mobile applications, CI/CD, and infrastructure as code

  • Demonstrated ability to mentor and upskill other engineers, and to introduce new tools and practices into an existing organization

  • Strong architectural judgment, with the range to move between rapid prototyping and hardened production systems

  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to make complex technical topics clear to non-technical partners

  • Experience building software for field-based or operational users, or in construction, engineering, or manufacturing environments, is a plus

In accordance with Virginia Senate Bill 215 (SB 215), the base salary range for this position is:
$120,000.00 - $175,000.00
Compensation in other cities and states may vary. HITT Contracting offers a competitive total benefits and compensation package including performance-based bonuses, premium health care coverage including vision and dental, employer-matched 401(k), wellness reimbursement program, paid holidays and time-off, and other voluntary benefits and leave types. The determination of salary is based on the candidate's individual professional experience, qualifications, education, skills, and training.
HITT Contracting is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to hiring and developing the most qualified individuals based on job-related experience, skills, and merit. All employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic. We value a respectful, inclusive workplace where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. HITT Contracting maintains a drug-free workplace, consistent with applicable local, state, and federal laws.