Free Software Dev Shop Org Chart Template
A software development agency runs project pods: each client engagement is staffed with a Tech Lead, 2 to 4 Engineers, a Designer, and a Project Manager. Pods report to a Director of Engineering. A separate BD function sells new work and a small Operations function handles finance and talent.
Typical structure · 10 to 50 staff
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Roles in a typical software dev shop
Headcount ranges are typical for a single-location operator. Multi-location and franchise structures scale these up.
| Role | Reports to | Headcount |
|---|---|---|
| CEO / Founder | Dev Shop | 1 |
| Director of Engineering | CEO / Founder | 1 |
| Design Director | CEO / Founder | 1 |
| Head of BD | CEO / Founder | 1 |
| Head of Operations | CEO / Founder | 1 |
| Tech Leads | Director of Engineering | 2-5 |
| Engineers | Tech Leads | 5-20 |
| Designers | Design Director | 2-6 |
| Project Managers | Head of Operations | 2-5 |
Where to add AI agents in a software dev shop
The seats most likely to lift output if an AI agent runs the work alongside the human.
Operations
Utilization tracker
Pulls billable hours per engineer per pod, surfaces capacity misalignment.
BD
Proposal drafter
Generates first-draft proposals from the discovery call notes plus past similar projects.
Frequently asked questions
How is a software dev shop structured?
Most dev shops use pod-based staffing: each client engagement gets a Tech Lead, 2 to 4 Engineers, a Designer, and a Project Manager. Pods report to a Director of Engineering. BD and Operations sit as separate functions under the CEO.
Where does design report in a dev shop?
Design should report to its own Design Director, not to Engineering. Design under Engineering tends to compress design work to fit dev sprints, which produces engineer-shaped UX.
When does a dev shop need a head of BD?
Once the founder is closing more than 70 percent of new work and that work passes about 1.5 million in annual revenue, a dedicated BD lead almost always pays back. Below that, the founder should still be primary BD.
Related templates
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