Software Development Manager: What They Do, Skills, and Salary

The Short Answer

A Software Development Manager is a tech professional who leads and manages a team of Software Developers, Engineers, Architects, Testers, and UX/UI Designers. This is a senior leadership position reserved for experienced Software Developers. Software Development Managers use project management skills to ensure that software is designed in accordance with the goals of the project. They are generally responsible for dividing project objectives into tasks, assigning them to programmers based on individual skills, and tracking the project budget, timeline, and quality of outputs. They must therefore possess tech knowledge, business acumen, and strong communication skills.

Learn more about what a Software Development Manager does, skills to look for in a Software Development Manager, their average salary, and how to hire a Software Development Manager today.

What Does a Software Development Manager Do?

The primary responsibility of a software development manager is to oversee software development teams and to act as a liaison between the teams and senior management and/or clients. Their work includes the constant evaluation of the work of software developers and engineers and how it measures against the timeline and base requirements set for the software project.

Beyond designing a plan for the project and separating it into phases, tasks, and deadlines, software development managers are also responsible for building systems for quality testing and revising the project outcomes in a regular fashion. They develop short- and long-term strategies for developing scalable software products and services, ensuring projects are delivered on time and within budget while meeting quality standards and business objectives.

Regular administrative duties such as hiring and training new developers, managing existing developers, approving leaves, and even terminating employees are another important part of the job.

In a nutshell, the main tasks and duties of a Software Development Manager are:

Coordinating business goals and budgets with stakeholders and clients.

Recruiting, training, and evaluating software developer teams.

Creating and maintaining a healthy workplace environment.

Setting goals for the software development team.

Assigning roles to developers.

Providing guidance on the design and implementation of new software applications.

Validating software architecture decisions.

Communicating plans and supervising a developer team in the creation of software.

Managing timelines and budgets throughout the software development process.

Creating presentations and submitting progress reports to clients and/or senior management.

Presenting and launching new products to customers.

What Skills do Software Development Managers Need?

The role of software development project manager is highly critical in nature, several technical and soft skills are needed. They need the expertise necessary to fully understand the work being performed by the developers working under them and the ability to guide and lead that work.

Some of the essential skills that software development managers need include the following:

1. Software Development Knowledge

As stewards of software development teams, software development managers should have industry-specific expertise and knowledge of software development and the Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC). They don’t have to be the most knowledgeable person on the team. In fact, this role is usually reserved for software architects and senior software developers. However, previous knowledge in the industry ensures they’re not going in blind.

A bachelor’s degree that can provide this background of knowledge is generally required. Most Software Development Managers have experience and formal training in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Information Technology, or another related field, often transitioning from roles as senior software developers or engineers to this leadership position.

2. Communication Skills

Owing to their unique role within the company, a software development manager should be able to practice two types of communication skills: technical and non-technical communication.

Technical communication expertise is needed to manage the transfer of information between team members. After all, they’re often the only link between the software developers, engineers, architects, testers, and UX/UI designers.

As for non-technical communication skills, those are needed during conversations with company executives and other stakeholders. Software Development Managers must be able to break down complex technical topics into easily understood features and benefits without compromising accuracy. They must also be clear about their progress and specific about what resources they may need.

Additionally, during interactions with customers, Software Development Managers need to be clear about what their software does and offer specific instructions for how to use them.

3. Leadership

It’s important for software development managers to be well-versed in team leadership and management. Here are some ways that these Software Development Managers can use leadership skills in this position:

Delegation: Software development managers assign tasks to team members, which improves workplace productivity and encourages the team to develop their skills.

Performance evaluation: Software Development Managers assess the quality of their developers’ work and offer praise and constructive criticism. They also review their team’s work as a whole and create strategies to improve performance.

Goal-setting: To inspire their team members, Software Development Managers promote the organization’s goals and highlight the value of every team member’s work. They also set goals the team can realistically achieve and offer guidance as needed to accomplish those goals. For instance, if the objective is to create and sell a new mobile application by the end of the year, the manager may remind team members of the objective during meetings or through emails.

Problem-solving: It’s the manager’s responsibility to devise solutions to resolve workplace conflicts and make tough decisions. For example, if a software design initiative exceeds the budget, the software development manager can explain to upper management how the design can benefit the organization.

4. Analytical skills

When developing new products, software development managers are responsible for analyzing their team’s success. Examples of tasks that may require analytical thinking include:

Determining the purpose of the software and the people who use it.

Finding out what tools they need to design the software.

Identifying problems in the software and how to solve them.

Interpreting the results of troubleshooting and debugging.

Reviewing code.

Software Development Manager Salary

A Software Development Manager’s salary can vary widely based on multiple factors, including their level of experience, industry, and the size and location of the company. Software Development Managers are included under the category of computer and information systems managers at the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. PayScale.com tracks software development managers independently. In 2025, the estimated average annual salary for a Software Development Manager in the U.S. was $137,472.

That said, top Software Development Managers can earn upwards of $200,000 annually. This is especially true in highly competitive tech markets, such as the San Francisco Bay Area, where Software Development Managers can expect to earn higher salaries due to the high demand for their skills.

How to Hire a Software Development Project Manager

There are a number of important initial considerations when hiring a software development manager:

Recruiting: Do you have the knowledge, tools, and resources to attract and screen candidates?

Complexity: Do you need a senior professional, or will mid or junior-level skills and experience suffice?

Duration: Are you hiring for a project or an ongoing need?

Urgency: How soon does the opening need to be filled? What happens while it remains open?

Headcount: Do you have the budget and approval for an internal employee, or should you consider alternate options?

Answering these questions will help determine the best course of action for your current hiring need. Fortunately, great options exist for every scenario. These are our recommendations:

1. Use Next Idea Tech (or another professional staff augmentation firm)

The heavy lifting is done for you when working with a top-tier staffing company like Next Idea Tech. We source, screen, recruit, and deliver only the most qualified candidates, saving you significant time and effort throughout the hiring process while you remain focused on your core business. Understanding your needs and ensuring the right candidate for the position is the key to our success.

This is the best route to take when:

You need to fill the position quickly.

You want access to a vast talent pool of high-quality, prescreened candidates.

You are hiring an employee as a direct placement but aren’t able to recruit effectively or efficiently with your internal staff.

You aren’t familiar with current salary rates, market trends, and available skill sets.

2. Advertise your opening on a top job board

Your best option may be to advertise your opening on a proven job board. There are many widely used job sites out there that draw visits from qualified candidates. If you have someone internally who can dedicate the time and energy to sort through applications and screen individuals effectively, this can be a great choice.

We recommend using a job board when:

Your internal recruiting team has the knowledge and experience to assess candidate qualifications.

You are hiring a direct employee and have time to manage the entire recruiting effort.

You have a process for receiving, screening, and tracking all resumes and applications.

You are prepared to respond to all applicants

Examples of Job Boards: ZipRecruiter, Careerbuilder

3. Leverage your internal resources

You can utilize your own website, social media, and employees to assist in your search for top candidates.

A company website posting should be the first step in notifying prospective candidates that you are hiring. Social media can also be a powerful tool for spreading the word about your new opening. As far as exposure is concerned, this option can be as good as some job boards when you have a large enough following across various platforms, like LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and Twitter.

Current employees are every organization’s greatest asset. Encourage your internal team to promote job openings to their network by offering cash and other incentives.

We recommend these options when:

Your brand has great name recognition.

You can consistently monitor and respond to candidate activity through your website and social media accounts.

You have a process in place to quickly and broadly communicate job openings and requirements.

You have an effective employee referral program in place.

If you aren’t sure which path is best, schedule a discovery call today with our seasoned recruiting professionals. The Next Idea Tech team is on standby to help you find the best option for your unique hiring need.

Sample Software Development Manager Job Description

With this Software Development Manager job description sample, you can get a good idea of what to look for when hiring a 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 iOS Development.

Sample Software Development Manager Interview Questions

Describe your experience leading and managing software development teams.
Define your experience executing software development strategies.
Where have you led teams, and how many direct reports did you have?
What is your experience with Agile and Waterfall methodologies? Which do you prefer, and why?
Have you overseen software development projects from concept to launch?
Have you previously managed budgets and schedules while ensuring quality standards are met? Provide examples if so.
What’s your approach to effectively communicating and collaborating with cross-functional teams and stakeholders during a project?
Which tools and technologies have you used for software development?
If your software development team has any disagreements, how should you resolve them?
What coding languages are you proficient in?
As a software development manager, what would you say your most important skills are?
Describe your experience in software testing and quality assurance, including developing and implementing test plans.
How do you keep up with new technologies and best practices in software development?
What is your process for prioritizing and managing, managing multiple software development projects simultaneously?
How would you communicate a quality, timeline, or budget concern during a project?

Hire a Software Development Manager With Next Idea Tech

When it comes to software development, hiring the right Software Development Manager ensures that the project is completed on time and within the set budget. At Next Idea Tech, we’ll always help you make the right hiring decision.

Next Idea Tech is a marketplace for technical talent. We connect pre-vetted software engineers and developers in Latin America with tech companies in the US, helping you scale your software teams quickly, reliably, and cost-effectively.

We chose Latin America because of the vast number of unexplored talents and because it operates within the same time zone as the US. Our Next Idea Tech team will handle the negotiations and onboarding process for your new hires. All you need to do is contact us by filling out a simple form and leaving the rest to us.

Jeremiah