How to hire a director of software development

How to hire a director of software development, step by step

Here's a step-by-step director of software development hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a director of software development job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new director of software development
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a director of software development do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The director of software development hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A director of software development's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, directors of software development from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   Here's a comparison of director of software development salaries for various roles:

   Type of Director Of Software Development	Description	Hourly rate
   Director Of Software Development	Computer and information systems managers, often called information technology (IT) managers or IT project managers, plan, coordinate, and direct computer-related activities in an organization. They help determine the information technology goals of an organization and are responsible for implementing computer systems to meet those goals.	$52-109
   Systems Manager	A systems manager is responsible for monitoring the operations of the information technology department, evaluating staff performance, developing strategic procedures to maximize productivity, and identifying business opportunities that would generate more revenues and profitability for the company. Systems managers inspect company networks to ensure the efficiency of the technology systems, conducting regular diagnostic tests, and installing upgrades to boost optimization... Show more	$36-73
   Technical Manager	A technical manager is responsible for maintaining the company's information systems database and analyzing technology system matters to ensure its efficiency and accuracy in supporting business operations. Technical managers perform network checks regularly to assess any possible malfunctions that might compromise the company's cybersecurity... Show more	$40-77

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Java
   • Software Development
   • Cloud
   • Software Engineering
   • C++
   • Python
   • Infrastructure
   • Product Development
   • Amazon Web Services
   • AWS
   • Debugging
   • Continuous Integration
   • DevOps
   • Project Management

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage metadata system deploy to AWS.
   • Manage software communications for EDI and HTML distribution orders.
   • Manage engineering org of 3 teams , 40+ engineers including DevOps, architects and managers.
   • Manage continuous build integration through Jenkins and provide training and maintenance of git, repo and gerrit repositories.
   • Manage consultants, staff and set objectives in accordance with IEEE standards, ISO 9000 and PMI methodology.
   • Manage and mentore software development team in developing efficient coding practices using ColdFusion, MySQL JavaScript, and PHP.

   More director of software development duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your director of software development job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A director of software development can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, directors of software development' average salary in oklahoma is 41% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level directors of software development 52% less than senior-level directors of software development.
   • Certifications. A director of software development with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a director of software development's salary.

   Average director of software development salary

   $158,853yearly

   $76.37 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level director of software development salary

   $110,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 18, 2025

   Average director of software development salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$212,694	$102
   2	Washington	$187,116	$90
   3	Arizona	$162,836	$78
   4	Utah	$157,043	$76
   5	New York	$143,308	$69
   6	Massachusetts	$140,974	$68
   7	New Jersey	$138,861	$67
   8	Colorado	$135,839	$65
   9	Pennsylvania	$134,826	$65
   10	Connecticut	$132,544	$64
   11	Texas	$131,253	$63
   12	Virginia	$130,166	$63
   13	Ohio	$127,809	$61
   14	Illinois	$127,791	$61
   15	District of Columbia	$124,400	$60
   16	Delaware	$124,177	$60
   17	Georgia	$121,995	$59
   18	Minnesota	$120,984	$58
   19	North Carolina	$120,559	$58
   20	Maryland	$117,885	$57

   Average director of software development salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	eBay	$246,167	$118.35	33
   2	Apple	$242,840	$116.75	235
   3	Google	$239,746	$115.26	236
   4	Twitter	$239,282	$115.04	2
   5	Waymo	$236,781	$113.84	2
   6	NVIDIA	$234,776	$112.87	107
   7	ICE Mortgage Technology	$233,155	$112.09
   8	Walmart	$232,995	$112.02	133
   9	Macy's	$227,053	$109.16	16
   10	PayPal	$226,086	$108.70	27
   11	LinkedIn	$224,917	$108.13	39
   12	Juniper Networks	$223,940	$107.66
   13	Sony Interactive Entertainment America	$223,801	$107.60
   14	Panasonic Avionics	$223,414	$107.41	9
   15	Gap Inc.	$222,298	$106.87
   16	Fortinet	$220,794	$106.15
   17	Chewy	$220,112	$105.82	4
   18	Adobe	$218,698	$105.14	54
   19	Coursera	$218,431	$105.01
   20	Databricks	$218,346	$104.97	26

4. Writing a director of software development job description

   A director of software development job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a director of software development job description:

   Director of software development job description example

   Work type: Full Time
   School/Department: Center for Teaching and Learning Grade: Grade 14 Categories: Other, General Administration Job Type: Officer of Administration Bargaining Unit: Regular/Temporary: Regular End Date if Temporary: Hours Per Week: 35 hours Salary Range: Commensurate with experience Position Summary
   
   Columbia's Center for Teaching and Learning seeks an Associate Director for Software Development and Project Management responsible for the development and management of instructional technology projects, including overseeing project life cycles and all facets of software design and development.
   
   The Associate Director will oversee design and engineering of software projects collaboratively using common architectural principles and will practice and support robust project management techniques, ensuring such methods are emulated by staff of educational technologists, project managers, software developers, and technical specialists.
   
   Responsibilities
   Manages CTL's project development that focuses on educational software and content. Manages the staff responsible for the creation and development of software and content. Responsibilities include requirements definition, system and software design, and operation/maintenance. Develops and oversees the detailed specifications and technical documentation necessary to initiate software development and systems supporting them. Maintains a superior knowledge of analysis and programming techniques including architecture, programming languages, database methodologies, standards, methods, tools, and best practices. Works closely with colleagues, clients, and constituencies to assess needs, communicate project status, and determine effectiveness and productivity of solutions implemented. Takes a leading role in ensuring the team and the larger CTL organization meet and exceed university guidelines around security and risk management. Develops relationships and acts as a liaison to various University information technology groups towards the integration and adoption of information technology solutions. Performs other duties as assigned. Minimum Qualifications
   Bachelor's degree required. 5-7 years of related experience required. Proven excellence in software design, programming, project management and problem-solving. Demonstrated experience managing software development projects. Ability to own, influence and be accountable for the success of projects managed. Ability to influence group dynamics in a team environment. Ability to coach and motivate employees. Ability to develop and manage projects with a high degree of independence and accountability and work hands-on as a member of a cohesive team. Ability to execute in a pressured environment. Proven focus on in-depth information security practices and quality management. Experience in software design principles, user interface design, multi-tiered application development, development practices, and reusable component development. Strong knowledge of cross-browser and platform coding requirements and optimizations. Excellent verbal and written communications skills. Project management experience. Web application development experience. Development experience in Linux/Unix environment. Strong experience in learning management systems, e.g. Canvas, Sakai, edX. Strong background in relational databases. Strong experience in object oriented design, version control software, Python, Javascript, SQL, HTML, CSS, DOM. Preferred Qualifications
   Advanced degree desirable. Django, Javascript, React, NodeJS, AWS, Hugo, Postgres, MySQL, React, Linux administration. Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran
   
   Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.
   
   Applications open: Jul 29 2022Eastern Daylight Time
   Applications close:

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5. Post your job

   To find directors of software development for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any directors of software development they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level directors of software development with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your director of software development job on Zippia to find and recruit director of software development candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting directors of software development requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new director of software development

   Once you've found the director of software development candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new director of software development. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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