What Does a Software Development Manager Do?
A software development manager oversees the planning, execution, and delivery of software products and systems. This leadership role balances technical expertise with strategic project management, guiding development teams to deliver high-quality code that aligns with business objectives. While not typically hands-on with coding, the manager works closely with engineers, architects, and product stakeholders to ensure technical feasibility and adherence to timelines.
Software development managers set standards for code quality, sprint planning, and team communication. They serve as the bridge between technical execution and product vision, resolving obstacles and fostering a high-performing development culture. Whether managing a team of five or fifty, they’re accountable for delivering scalable, maintainable, and secure software solutions.
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Software Development Manager Core Responsibilities
- Manage and mentor software developers, fostering professional growth and technical excellence
- Lead sprint planning, backlog grooming, and delivery timelines in Agile or hybrid environments
- Collaborate with product managers, UX designers, and QA teams to align features with requirements
- Monitor code quality, system architecture, and technical debt across multiple projects
- Establish and enforce engineering best practices, documentation standards, and coding guidelines
- Track team performance metrics and use data to improve efficiency and quality
- Identify and resolve resource bottlenecks, skill gaps, and development blockers
- Stay up to date on emerging technologies and recommend adoption when appropriate
- Communicate effectively with executive stakeholders on project status, risks, and technical trade-offs
Required Skills and Qualifications
Hard skills
- Proficiency in at least one programming language (e.g., Java, C#, Python, JavaScript)
- Strong understanding of software architecture, SDLC, and CI/CD pipelines
- Experience with Agile/Scrum frameworks and sprint planning tools (e.g., Jira, Azure DevOps)
- Familiarity with cloud infrastructure (AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud)
- Competence in debugging, performance optimization, and version control systems (Git)
Soft skills
- Proven leadership and mentoring abilities across diverse technical teams
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills for cross-functional collaboration
- Strategic thinking and problem-solving in fast-paced environments
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and shift between tactical and strategic thinking
- Conflict resolution and team motivation under tight deadlines
Education
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field
- Master’s degree is advantageous for large enterprise or multi-team environments
Certifications
- Scrum Master or PMP certification (preferred)
- Cloud certifications such as AWS Certified Developer or Azure DevOps Engineer are beneficial
Software Development Manager Preferred Qualifications
- Experience managing remote or distributed development teams
- Prior background as a senior software engineer or technical architect
- Familiarity with security standards such as OWASP or SOC 2 compliance
- Background in DevOps or platform engineering practices
- Experience delivering SaaS applications or enterprise-grade software
National Average Salary
Software development manager salaries vary by experience, industry, organization size, and geography. Click below to explore salaries by local market.
The average national salary for a Software Development Manager is:
$148,559
Sample Software Development Manager Job Descriptions
It’s important to include the right content in your job description when hiring a software development manager. The following examples can serve as templates for attracting the best available talent for your team.
Example 1: Front-End Software Development Manager
We’re looking for a Front-End Software Development Manager to lead a team of UI engineers responsible for delivering high-quality, responsive, and accessible web applications. In this role, you’ll guide technical direction, champion front-end best practices, and partner with design and product teams to bring intuitive digital experiences to life.
You’ll be responsible for managing engineers, defining development standards, and ensuring the smooth execution of front-end projects from concept through deployment. Your leadership will help shape the visual and functional layers that power seamless user interactions.
Responsibilities
- Lead, coach, and develop a team of front-end engineers across multiple projects
- Own the front-end architecture and guide adoption of modern frameworks and tools
- Collaborate with UX/UI designers and product managers to translate ideas into polished interfaces
- Define and enforce coding standards, performance benchmarks, and accessibility compliance
- Review code, manage pull requests, and drive a high bar for quality and maintainability
- Oversee delivery timelines, resource planning, and sprint execution
- Stay current with emerging front-end technologies and recommend relevant adoption
Requirements
Hard skills
- Advanced experience with HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and frameworks like React or Angular
- Familiarity with testing frameworks (e.g., Jest, Cypress) and CI/CD pipelines
- Strong understanding of responsive design, web performance optimization, and browser compatibility
- Experience integrating APIs and collaborating with backend teams
- Knowledge of accessibility standards (WCAG) and tooling
Soft skills
- Proven ability to lead and mentor engineers at varying levels of experience
- Excellent communication and cross-functional collaboration skills
- Comfortable working in fast-paced, Agile environments
- Strategic mindset with strong problem-solving abilities
Education
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Web Development, or a related field
Certifications
- Scrum Master certification preferred
Example 2: Back-End Software Development Manager
We’re hiring a Back-End Software Development Manager to lead a team of engineers focused on building secure, scalable, and high-performance server-side systems. This role plays a critical part in shaping our platform architecture, designing API integrations, and driving data-driven decision-making.
You’ll manage day-to-day operations of the development team while also contributing to high-level technical direction. Your leadership will ensure system reliability, technical consistency, and timely delivery of core application features.
Responsibilities
- Lead and grow a high-performing backend engineering team
- Define system architecture, coding standards, and technical best practices
- Manage backend development cycles including planning, execution, and code review
- Oversee database design and optimize performance for complex queries
- Guide API design and integration strategy across services
- Collaborate with DevOps and SRE teams to ensure robust CI/CD processes
- Monitor system health, security, and scalability across cloud-hosted environments
Requirements
Hard skills
- Deep experience with backend languages (e.g., Java, Node.js, Python, .NET)
- Strong command of database technologies (SQL, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, etc.)
- Familiarity with RESTful APIs, microservices, and containerized environments
- Knowledge of infrastructure tools such as Docker, Kubernetes, and Terraform
- Experience with CI/CD pipelines and monitoring tools
Soft skills
- Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional development teams
- Strong communication and decision-making skills
- Ability to balance short-term delivery with long-term scalability
- Skilled at mentoring and technical coaching
Education
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field
Certifications
- AWS Certified Solutions Architect or equivalent preferred
- Scrum Master or PMP certification a plus
Example 3: Full-Stack Software Development Manager
We’re seeking a Full-Stack Software Development Manager to lead a team of engineers responsible for building end-to-end digital solutions. From front-end UI components to backend services and data layers, you’ll manage projects that span the full technology stack.
This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who understands the full lifecycle of software development and can guide engineers through everything from design to deployment. You’ll ensure architecture quality, maintain delivery velocity, and support individual developer growth.
Responsibilities
- Lead a team of full-stack engineers across front-end and backend development
- Provide architectural guidance across the tech stack to ensure cohesion and scalability
- Partner with product, design, and QA teams to plan, execute, and ship features
- Conduct code reviews and support continuous improvement efforts
- Manage sprint planning, performance reviews, and resourcing decisions
- Implement and refine CI/CD workflows and automated testing strategies
- Track team metrics and remove blockers to ensure high-quality, on-time delivery
Requirements
Hard skills
- Proficiency in both front-end (React, Angular, or Vue) and backend (Node.js, Java, Python) development
- Understanding of relational and NoSQL databases
- Experience with REST APIs, cloud hosting, and containerized environments
- Familiarity with modern testing, deployment, and monitoring tools
- Strong grasp of software architecture principles and agile development
Soft skills
- Effective leadership and people management abilities
- Strong communicator with both technical and non-technical stakeholders
- High attention to detail and quality
- Ability to balance hands-on involvement with strategic oversight
Education
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field
Certifications
- Scrum Master or cloud-related certifications (e.g., AWS, Azure) preferred
Example 4: Cloud Software Development Manager
We’re seeking a Cloud Software Development Manager to lead engineering teams in developing cloud-native applications and infrastructure. This role is ideal for a technically skilled leader with a deep understanding of distributed systems, DevOps culture, and cloud platforms like AWS or Azure.
You’ll oversee the development of scalable and secure software systems, drive infrastructure automation, and lead efforts around cost optimization, compliance, and high availability. Your work will ensure our cloud architecture supports future growth.
Responsibilities
- Lead and manage software engineers building cloud-native services
- Design and maintain scalable architecture across cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or GCP)
- Implement CI/CD pipelines and Infrastructure-as-Code (IaC) practices
- Collaborate with security teams to enforce best practices for data privacy and protection
- Oversee container orchestration, service monitoring, and incident response planning
- Provide technical mentorship and ensure continuous skill development within the team
- Monitor cloud resource usage and optimize for performance and cost-efficiency
Requirements
Hard skills
- Expert-level experience with cloud platforms such as AWS, Azure, or GCP
- Proficiency with IaC tools like Terraform or CloudFormation
- Solid understanding of Kubernetes, Docker, and serverless architecture
- Knowledge of networking, load balancing, and multi-region deployments
- Experience integrating CI/CD pipelines and managing cloud-native DevOps workflows
Soft skills
- Strong leadership with a focus on enablement and team velocity
- Ability to communicate cloud strategy to non-technical stakeholders
- Problem-solving mindset with a passion for automation
- Capable of managing cross-functional priorities in a fast-paced environment
Education
Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Cloud Engineering, or a related discipline
Certifications
- AWS Certified Solutions Architect or Azure Solutions Architect Expert (required)
- Scrum Master or Agile certification preferred