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Software Leadership Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Sandvik

Senior Embedded Software Engineer

Camarillo, CA · On-site

$119K - $160K/yr

Team Leadership: Act as the team lead for a small, cross-functional team of software engineers. Collaborate with other disciplines, including system and electrical engineers, to ensure seamless ...

BAE Systems

Eng Sr Prin II - SW

Totowa, NJ · On-site

$153K - $260K/yr

In addition to software leadership responsibilities, you will be responsible for partnering with other leads to help ensure that program objectives are met, and that software engineering has ...

Ag

Manager, Flight Controls & Software

Bingen, WA · On-site

Flight Controls & Software Leadership: 35% * Lead and grow a multidisciplinary team covering flight controls, embedded software, and system integration. * Translate aircraft flight dynamics ...

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$48K

$111.8K

$166K

How much do software leadership jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 4, 2026, the average yearly pay for software leadership in the United States is $111,845.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $90,000.00 and $130,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is software leadership?

Software leadership refers to the practice of guiding and managing teams involved in the development, deployment, and maintenance of software projects. Software leaders, such as engineering managers or technical leads, are responsible for aligning team efforts with business goals, fostering collaboration, and supporting the professional growth of their team members. They also ensure that software projects are delivered on time, meet quality standards, and leverage best practices in technology. Strong software leadership is crucial for building high-performing teams and successful software products.

What is the highest paid job in software?

The highest paid roles in software leadership are typically Chief Technology Officers (CTOs) and Vice Presidents of Engineering, with salaries often exceeding $200,000 annually and including bonuses and stock options. These positions require extensive experience, strategic skills, and often a background in software development or engineering management.

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

AspectSoftware LeadershipSoftware Engineering Manager
Primary FocusStrategic vision, team guidance, and organizational goalsProject delivery, team management, and technical oversight
Required CredentialsExtensive technical experience, leadership skills, often advanced degreesTechnical background, management experience, often certifications like PMP or Scrum
Work EnvironmentExecutive meetings, strategic planning, cross-team collaborationTeam supervision, project planning, code reviews
Industry UsageUsed in organizations emphasizing strategic tech directionCommon in tech companies managing development teams

Software Leadership focuses on setting strategic direction and guiding multiple teams, while Software Engineering Managers handle day-to-day project management and team oversight. Both roles require technical expertise, but Software Leadership emphasizes vision and organizational impact, whereas Engineering Managers focus on project execution and team performance.

What engineer makes $500,000 a year?

Senior software engineers, especially those in high-demand fields like machine learning or cloud infrastructure, can earn $500,000 or more annually, often through a combination of base salary, bonuses, and stock options. Such compensation typically requires extensive experience, advanced skills, and work at large tech companies or startups with significant funding.

What are some common challenges faced by professionals in software leadership roles, and how can they effectively address them?

Software leaders often encounter challenges such as balancing technical decision-making with people management, aligning team goals with organizational objectives, and managing distributed or cross-functional teams. To address these challenges, successful leaders focus on clear communication, foster a collaborative culture, and invest in ongoing professional development for both themselves and their teams. Regular feedback sessions, prioritizing mentorship, and staying up-to-date with industry best practices can help leaders navigate these complexities effectively.

Can I make 200k a year as a software engineer?

Software engineers can earn $200,000 or more annually, especially in senior roles, specialized fields like machine learning or security, or in high-cost living areas. Achieving this salary typically requires extensive experience, advanced skills, and often leadership responsibilities or working for large tech companies.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in Software Leadership, and why are they important?

To thrive in Software Leadership, you need a strong background in software development, project management, and team leadership, often supported by a degree in computer science or related fields. Familiarity with agile methodologies, version control systems (like Git), and project management tools (such as Jira or Trello) is typically required. Outstanding communication, strategic thinking, and the ability to mentor and motivate teams are key soft skills for this role. These skills and qualities are crucial for delivering high-quality software, fostering innovation, and ensuring team productivity within fast-paced tech environments.

What is L1, L2, L3, and L4 developer?

In software leadership and development, L1, L2, L3, and L4 typically refer to different levels of developer seniority and expertise, with L1 being entry-level and L4 representing senior or lead roles. These levels often indicate increasing responsibility, technical skill, and experience, and are used by organizations to structure career progression and compensation. Progression through these levels may require mastering specific skills, tools, and sometimes certifications, depending on the company's standards.
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Software Leadership jobs near you

Sr. Program Manager - Flight Software Portfolio Management

Lanteris Space Systems

Palo Alto, CA • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Retirement, PTO

Posted 22 days ago

Job description

Please review the job details below.
Intuitive Machines is seeking a Sr. Program Manager, Flight Software Portfolio Management, to join our Flight Software leadership team in Palo Alto, or Houston, TX. This position can also be performed remotely within the US.
Position Summary:
This is a new role within the Flight Software Organization reporting to the Sr. Director of FSW and GNC. The Flight Software Program Manager will drive financial and operational excellence across the FSW portfolio by creating consistent standards for cost tracking, work breakdown structures, and cost estimation. These standards will improve our competitiveness in proposals, enable predictable program execution, and support smart decisions about resource investments and capacity planning.
As a strategic advisor to FSW leadership, this role provides financial analysis, cost and schedule performance tracking, and actionable insights that optimize the portfolio and guide decisions on resource strategy and organizational growth.
Key Responsibilities:
Financial Management & Cost Accounting
  • Drive consistent cost-estimation tools, techniques, and practices across all existing FSW/GNC projects and proposal efforts.
  • Monitor and analyze project cost performance, identifying variances and trends to drive actionable insights to the FSW leaders to maintain cost baselines.
  • Coordinate with Finance to drive proper cost allocation, tracking, and reporting across the FSW portfolio.
  • Interface with proposal activities to estimate and justify FSW/GNC BOEs.

Strategic Planning & Organizational Capability Development
  • Create dashboards, reports, and metrics that provide visibility into FSW organizations' health.
  • Collaborate with the FSW Leaders and FSW Chief Engineering team to align technical capability growth for current and future business needs, enabling proactive workforce planning and skills investment decisions.
  • Facilitate regular and timely meetings with FSW leaders to review resource needs and project status, identify improvement opportunities, and implement process enhancements that drive efficiency.

Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) Standardization
  • Collaborate with Business Development and Proposal Team to establish and maintain standardized WBS templates and frameworks for new business proposals.
  • Create WBS dictionaries and guidelines to ensure uniform application across the organization
  • Ensure consistency in cost estimation approaches across all FSW bids and proposals

Stakeholder Collaboration & Communication
  • Serve as the central coordination POC between FSW Leaders and other SW Teams (Ground Software, Integration and Test etc.), finance, and program stakeholders.
  • Drive communication with the stakeholders to ensure that the dependencies to and from FSW are understood and met timely.

Technical Skills -
Financial & Cost Management
  • Cost Accounting: Strong understanding of project cost accounting principles, indirect/direct cost allocation, and overhead structures
  • Budgeting & Forecasting: Experience developing budgets, forecasts, and Estimate at Completion (EAC) analysis
  • Work Breakdown Structure (WBS): Expert knowledge of WBS creation, standardization, and management
  • Financial Analysis: Ability to analyze financial data, identify trends, and develop actionable insights

Program & Project Management
  • Scheduling & Planning: Proficiency with integrated master schedules, critical path analysis, risk management and milestone tracking
  • Resource Management: Experience with resource loading, capacity planning, and skills matrix development
  • Agile & Traditional PM: Understanding of both Agile/Scrum and Waterfall methodologies
  • Performance Metrics: Experience defining and tracking KPIs, dashboards, and program health indicators

Technical Tools & Software
  • MS Project, SAP, Jira, Confluence, SharePoint, Advanced Excel, Power BI, Tableau, or similar analytics tools
  • Estimation Tools: Familiarity with parametric estimating tools and cost databases, particularly SEER-SEM.

Flight Software & Aerospace Domain
  • FSW Development Lifecycle: Understanding of flight software development processes, phases, and deliverables
  • Aerospace Standards: Familiarity with industry standards (DO-178C, NASA NPR 7150, CMMI) as applicable
  • Systems Engineering: Basic knowledge of systems engineering principles and V&V processes

Communication & Leadership
  • Executive Communication: Ability to present complex financial and performance information to senior leadership
  • Cross-functional Collaboration: Proven ability to work effectively across engineering, finance, and business teams

Minimum Requirements:
  • Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
  • Bachelor's degree in Engineering or Business/Finance.
  • Minimum 8 years of experience in engineering, engineering operations, program management, project controls, cost management, or related technical disciplines.

Preferred Qualifications
  • 3 years of experience in FSW and Aerospace
  • Project Management Professional (PMP)
  • Agile/Scrum Certifications
  • Experience with CMMI-3

In support of pay transparency at Lanteris Space Systems, we disclose salary ranges on all U.S. job postings. The successful candidate's starting pay will fall within the salary range provided below and is determined based on job-related factors, including, but not limited to, the experience, qualifications, knowledge, skills, geographic work location, and market conditions. Candidates with the minimum necessary experience, qualifications, knowledge, and skillsets for the position should not expect to receive the upper end of the pay range.
• The base pay for this position within Colorado is: $134,000.00 - $223,000.00 annually.
• The base pay for this position within New Jersey is: $134,000.00 - $223,000.00 annually.
• The base pay for this position within Delaware is: $134,000.00 - $223,000.00 annually.
• The base pay for this position within the Washington, DC metropolitan area is: $147,000.00 - $245,000.00 annually.
• The base pay for this position within California is: $154,000.00 - $256,000.00 annually.
For all other states, we use geographic cost of labor as an input to develop market-driven ranges for our roles, and as such, each location where we hire may have a different range.
We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including paid time off, health and welfare insurance, and 401(k) to eligible employees. More information on our benefits will be shared with candidates as they move forward in the recruitment process.
Additionally, this position is incentive eligible with a target based on contribution, company performance, and/or individual results achieved; the specific incentive plan and target amount will be determined based on the role and breadth of contributions.
The application window is three days from the date the job is posted and will remain posted until a qualified candidate has been identified for hire. If the job is reposted regardless of reason, it will remain posted three days from the date the job is reposted and will remain reposted until a qualified candidate has been identified for hire.
The date of posting can be found on the Lanteris Space Systems Career page at the top of each job posting.
To apply, submit your application via the Lanteris Space Systems Career page.
Lanteris Space Systems values diversity in the workplace and is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.

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