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Startup Software Engineer Manager Jobs in Seattle, WA

As a Group Software Engineer Manager you will be responsible for defining the strategy and directing the modernization and securing of our validation services. You should be passionate about quality ...

As an AI infrastructure startup, we are developing innovative systems to enable large-scale AI ... Participate in all parts of software engineering, ranging from design and implementation of ...

As an AI infrastructure startup, we are developing innovative systems to enable large-scale AI ... Participate in all parts of software engineering, ranging from design and implementation of ...

Software Engineer Manager II, Slicer

Kirkland, WA · On-site

$110K - $151K/yr

Software Engineering Managers have not only the technical expertise to take on and provide technical leadership to major projects, but also manage a team of Engineers. You not only optimize your own ...

Caddi is a seed-stage startup reimagining automation for professionals by transforming simple ... You'll work at the intersection of engineering, AI, and real-world software tooling-helping us ...

Caddi is a seed-stage startup reimagining automation for professionals by transforming simple ... You'll work at the intersection of engineering, AI, and real-world software tooling--helping us ...

Caddi is a seed-stage startup reimagining automation for professionals by transforming simple ... You'll work at the intersection of engineering, AI, and real-world software tooling-helping us ...

Collaborate closely with product managers, designers, and other engineers to scope, plan, and ... Prior experience working in a startup or fast-paced product environment.

Software Engineer, Cloud OS

Seattle, WA · Remote

$68.25 - $88.75/hr

... management, compute infrastructure, networking, and more) * Love building platform and ... Previous experience working in an engineering setting: a startup (or startup-like environment ...

Principal Software Engineer

Redmond, WA · On-site

$151K - $202K/yr

The Principal Software Engineer will lead efforts to improve performance outcomes for Microsoft ... startup. • Lead architectural evolution to ensure browser performance remains durable as Edge ...

Software Engineer, Product

Seattle, WA · Remote

$140K - $160K/yr

If you're passionate about solving massive-scale engineering challenges and eager to be part of a fast-paced remote startup culture, we encourage you to apply to join our team today! As a Software ...

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Startup Software Engineer Manager information

See Seattle, WA salary details

$113.2K

$192.8K

$228.2K

How much do startup software engineer manager jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 4, 2026, the average yearly pay for startup software engineer manager in Seattle, WA is $192,761.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $196,900.00 and $196,900.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a startup software engineer manager do?

A Startup Software Engineer Manager is responsible for leading a team of software engineers in a fast-paced startup environment. They oversee the development, testing, and deployment of software products while ensuring alignment with the company’s goals and timelines. In addition to technical leadership, they are involved in hiring, mentoring, and fostering a collaborative culture. Their role often includes hands-on coding, making architectural decisions, and communicating with stakeholders to prioritize and deliver features efficiently. The dynamic nature of startups requires them to be adaptable and proactive in solving both technical and organizational challenges.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a startup software engineer manager?

To thrive as a Startup Software Engineer Manager, you need strong technical expertise in software development, leadership experience, and a proven track record of shipping products, typically supported by a relevant degree or equivalent experience. Familiarity with agile project management tools like Jira, version control systems such as Git, and cloud platforms like AWS or Azure is essential. Exceptional communication, adaptability, and problem-solving abilities help you motivate teams and navigate rapid changes. These skills enable effective team leadership, timely product delivery, and the ability to scale engineering efforts in a fast-paced startup environment.

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

AspectStartup Software Engineer ManagerStartup Software Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's or higher in CS or related field; leadership experienceBachelor's or higher in CS or related field; coding skills
Work EnvironmentTeam leadership, project management, cross-functional collaborationHands-on coding, feature development, technical problem-solving
Employer & Industry UsageTech startups, fast-paced environments, leadership rolesStartups, product-focused companies, development teams
Search & Comparison IntentUnderstanding managerial roles in startupsTechnical coding roles in startups

The Startup Software Engineer Manager oversees engineering teams, manages projects, and aligns technical goals with business objectives. In contrast, the Startup Software Engineer focuses on coding, developing features, and technical problem-solving. Both roles require strong technical skills, but the manager also emphasizes leadership and project management.

What are some common challenges faced by startup software engineer managers in building and scaling their teams?

Startup Software Engineer Managers often face the challenge of recruiting top talent with limited brand recognition and resources, while also fostering a collaborative, high-performing culture amidst rapid change. Balancing hands-on technical work with managerial duties, such as mentoring and setting processes, is a common hurdle. Additionally, they must navigate shifting priorities, tight deadlines, and evolving product requirements, all while ensuring team alignment and motivation. Effective communication and adaptability are key to overcoming these challenges in a fast-paced startup environment.
What cities near Seattle, WA are hiring for Startup Software Engineer Manager jobs? Cities near Seattle, WA with the most Startup Software Engineer Manager job openings:
Infographic showing various Startup Software Engineer Manager job openings in Seattle, WA as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $192,761 per year, or $92.7 per hour.

Software Engineer Manager II, Slicer

Google

Kirkland, WA • On-site

Other

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

This job post has expired today. Applications are no longer accepted.


Google rating

8.9

Company rating: 8.9 out of 10

Based on 102 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

40th of 241 rated software companies


Job description

Software Engineer Manager II

Advanced experience owning outcomes and decision making, solving ambiguous problems and influencing stakeholders; deep expertise in domain. In accordance with Washington state law, we are highlighting our comprehensive benefits package, which is available to all eligible US based employees. Benefits for this role include: Health, dental, vision, life, disability insurance Retirement Benefits: 401(k) with company match Paid Time Off: 20 days of vacation per year, accruing at a rate of 6.15 hours per pay period for the first five years of employment Sick Time: 40 hours/year (increased to 69 hours/year for Seattle) including 5 discretionary sick days per instance Maternity Leave (Short-Term Disability + Baby Bonding): 28-30 weeks Baby Bonding Leave: 18 weeks Holidays: 13 paid days per year Minimum qualifications: Bachelor's degree, or equivalent practical experience. 8 years of experience in software development. 3 years of experience with developing large-scale infrastructure, distributed systems or networks, or experience with compute technologies, storage or hardware architecture. 3 years of experience in a technical leadership role. 2 years of experience in a people management or team leadership role. Preferred qualifications: Master's degree or PhD in Computer Science or related technical field. 3 years of experience working in a complex, matrixed organization. Experience with Caching, Spanner, Distributed Processing, System Design, and Reliability.

Like Google's own ambitions, the work of a Software Engineer goes beyond just Search. Software Engineering Managers have not only the technical expertise to take on and provide technical leadership to major projects, but also manage a team of Engineers. You not only optimize your own code but make sure Engineers are able to optimize theirs. As a Software Engineering Manager you manage your project goals, contribute to product strategy and help develop your team. Teams work all across the company, in areas such as information retrieval, artificial intelligence, natural language processing, distributed computing, large-scale system design, networking, security, data compression, user interface design; the list goes on and is growing every day. Operating with scale and speed, our exceptional software engineers are just getting started -- and as a manager, you guide the way. With technical and leadership expertise, you manage engineers across multiple teams and locations, a large product budget and oversee the deployment of large-scale projects across multiple sites internationally.

Individual pay is determined by factors including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. US: $207000 - $301000 (USD) + 20% bonus target + equity + benefits

Responsibilities Identify, scope, and solve broad and ambiguous challenges that impact sharding and load-balancing at Google. Turn these challenges into strategic opportunities and actionable plans. Work closely with team members to deliver improvements to Slicer as a product and Slicer's infrastructure (from scoping to full production landing). Drive the existing long-term technical goal, strategy, and roadmap for Slicer. Collaborate with technical leads in Slicer and the wider Caching organization to evolve the technical goal as necessary. Work with customer teams across multiple product areas to understand requirements for sliced services and applications. Hire, coach, and mentor engineers to design and implement highly available, scalable, and reliable services.


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