What Is a Software Development Manager and How to Become One

By ZipRecruiter Marketplace Research Team

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.

To pursue a career as a software development manager, earn a bachelor’s degree in computer science or computer engineering. You need a solid understanding of programming languages, frameworks, and methodologies along with excellent technical and problem-solving skills. Once you have the necessary qualifications, work as a software developer or in a similar job for a few years. You will gain practical experience and industry insights during the early part of your career that will prepare you to take on the more senior-level role of software development manager.

Job Summary

Our company is looking for a Software Development Manager to oversee our development team. Our ideal candidate has a bachelor's degree in software engineering or computer science, as well as several years of experience in the field. We prefer candidates who have spent some of this time in a leadership position. In this role, you will hire new development staff, oversee each aspect of the development process, and act as the liaison between your team and upper management. You should be skilled in different programming languages, including HTML, SQL, Java, and Javascript. You should also be familiar with both database and application development.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Supervise and delegate duties to the development team
• Hire and train new developers
• Establish development standards for the team
• Deliver reports and proposals to upper management
• Create a budget and timeline for the development project

Requirements and Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in software engineering or computer science
• Professional software development experience
• Management experience
• Strong communication, leadership, and problem-solving skills
• Experience with the .NET Framework