Associate Director Software Engineering

Biotech Partners; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 163,210 - 245,740; Full time

Job summary

A leading biotechnology firm is seeking an Associate Director, Software Engineering in San Diego to lead software delivery within complex programs. The role emphasizes technical leadership, strategic program management, and team mentorship. Ideal candidates should possess extensive experience in software engineering and regulatory compliance in high-reliability environments. The position offers a full-time employment opportunity with a competitive salary range.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of relevant experience for Bachelor's or 8+ years for Master's.
• Strong background in software engineering leadership.
• Experience in regulated, safety-critical applications.

Responsibilities

• Lead software engineering projects and programs.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory standards.
• Mentor software engineers and support hiring.

Skills

Leadership in software engineering

Modern programming languages (Python, C++, C#, SQL)

Version control systems (Git)

Design patterns

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Master’s degree

PhD

Tools

Jira

Job description

Associate Director, Software Engineering

A global, technology-driven organization operating at the intersection of engineering, automation, and regulated industries is seeking an Associate Director, Software Engineering to lead and scale software delivery across complex, customer‑facing engineering programs.

This highly collaborative leadership role is for a technically grounded software leader who can balance hands‑on engineering judgment, program execution, and people leadership in a fast‑paced, multidisciplinary environment.

Key Responsibilities

Software Engineering Leadership

• Provide technical and organizational leadership across multiple software engineering projects and programs.
• Guide teams on software development best practices, architecture, design patterns, code quality, testing, and deployment.
• Oversee execution across different development methodologies (Agile, Scrum, Waterfall), selecting the right approach for each program.
• Ensure disciplined software lifecycle management, including release planning, branching strategies, documentation, and verification activities.
• Drive compliance with applicable regulatory and quality standards (experience in regulated environments strongly preferred).

Program & Delivery Management

• Partner closely with engineering leadership, program managers, business stakeholders, and customers to define and deliver program objectives.
• Ensure project scope, schedules, resources, risks, and priorities are clearly defined, documented, and communicated.
• Lead technical reviews, architecture discussions, and design assessments, providing objective and constructive feedback.
• Identify technical and program risks early and develop mitigation and contingency plans.
• Monitor execution against schedule, budget, and quality expectations, proactively addressing deviations.
• Support customer communication and engagement, including regular status updates and change management discussions.
• Drive structured execution through design reviews, phase gates, testing cycles, and change control processes.
• Ensure smooth transfer of software solutions from development into manufacturing or production environments.
• Directly manage and mentor software engineers and technical contributors.
• Support hiring, onboarding, performance management, and professional development planning.
• Participate in resource planning and allocation to meet shifting business and program demands.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, quality, and continuous improvement.

Operational Excellence

• Contribute to the development and refinement of internal engineering processes, tools, and standards.
• Support administrative responsibilities including reporting, approvals, budgeting, and vendor or tooling decisions.
• Champion design robustness, reliability, and long‑term maintainability across delivered solutions.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree with 10+ years of relevant experience, or
• Master’s degree with 8+ years, or
• PhD with 5+ years, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Strong background in software engineering leadership within complex, multidisciplinary product or system environments.
• Experience working with modern programming languages and development tools (e.g., Python, C++, C#, SQL).
• Proficiency with version control systems (e.g., Git‑based workflows) and project/task management tools (e.g., Jira or similar).
• Demonstrated ability to lead teams delivering software for regulated, safety‑critical, or high‑reliability applications (preferred).

Seniority level

Mid‑Senior level

Employment type

Full‑time

Job function

Management and Engineering

Industries

Medical Equipment Manufacturing, Hospitals and Health Care, and Biotechnology Research

San Diego, CA | $163,210.00 – $245,740.00