Charles Schwab

Lead Software Engineer

Charles Schwab$135K — $160K *
Finance & Insurance
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related technical field or equivalent practical experience.
  • 8+ years of progressive software engineering experience with technical leadership roles.
  • Proven experience managing teams on large-scale distributed systems.
  • Strong hands-on experience with Java, Spring Boot, and RESTful APIs.
  • Expertise in using AI-native development practices and tools during software development.
  • Deep knowledge of Apache Kafka and principles of distributed systems.
  • Solid experience with SQL and NoSQL databases, focusing on performance optimization.

Responsibilities

  • Drive the evolution of client verification and fraud prevention platforms.
  • Influence architectural decisions to enhance scalability and resiliency.
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams to solve complex problems.
  • Lead teams in adopting and applying AI-enabled engineering practices.
  • Foster a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and operational excellence.
  • Translate business requirements into effective technical solutions and delivery plans.
  • Establish engineering standards through reviews and automation.

Benefits

  • Eligible for bonus or incentive opportunities.
Full Job Description
Your Opportunity
As a Senior Software Engineering Leader, you will help drive the evolution of critical client verification and fraud prevention platforms that protect clients and support business growth. This role combines technical leadership with hands-on engineering, allowing you to influence architecture, scalability, resiliency, and engineering excellence across high-visibility initiatives. You will collaborate closely with product, business, architecture, security, and technology partners to solve complex problems, deliver meaningful outcomes, and accelerate innovation through modern software development and AI-enabled engineering practices. Success in this role requires strong technical leadership, adaptability, collaboration, and a passion for developing talent while fostering a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and operational excellence. What you have
Required Qualifications
  • Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related technical field, or equivalent practical experience.
  • 8+ years of progressive software engineering experience, including technical leadership of complex enterprise initiatives.
  • Proven experience leading software engineering teams delivering large-scale, highly available distributed systems.
  • Strong hands-on experience with Java, Spring Boot, RESTful APIs, microservices, and event-driven architectures.
  • Ability to lead teams in adopting AI-native development practices throughout the entire product development cycle. Demonstrated experience applying AI tools (such as Github Copilot) and agentic workflows to modern software engineering practices, with the ability to guide teams in using AI responsibly to improve delivery speed, quality, reliability, and productivity and efficiency from inception to delivery.
  • Deep expertise with Apache Kafka and distributed systems concepts including scalability, resiliency, fault tolerance, consistency, asynchronous processing, and performance optimization.
  • Experience with SQL and NoSQL databases, data modeling, query optimization, transaction management, and performance tuning.
  • Experience with GitHub, GitHub Actions, automated testing, CI/CD pipelines, and software delivery automation.
  • Experience deploying and supporting applications in Pivotal Cloud Foundry (PCF) environments.
  • Demonstrated ability to translate business requirements into scalable technical solutions and delivery plans.
  • Experience driving architecture decisions while balancing security, maintainability, performance, scalability, and enterprise standards.
  • Strong understanding of software design patterns, API lifecycle management, integration patterns, and object-oriented design.
  • Experience establishing engineering standards through code reviews, design reviews, automation, and quality controls.
  • Proven experience troubleshooting complex production issues and leading root-cause analysis and incident response efforts.
  • Strong communication, collaboration, mentoring, and stakeholder management skills.
Preferred Qualifications
  • Master’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related technical field.
  • Experience building secure, high-volume platforms within financial services, fraud prevention, identity verification, or other highly regulated industries.
  • Experience with AI agent frameworks such as LangChain, AutoGen, or CrewAI.
  • Experience with AI evaluation frameworks, benchmarking, and model validation.
  • Experience modernizing legacy applications through automation and AI-driven approaches.
  • Experience designing cloud-native applications using Kubernetes, containers, or public cloud technologies.
In addition to the salary range, this role is eligible for bonus or incentive opportunities.

About Charles Schwab

Charles Schwab is a financial services company that provides a full range of securities, brokerage, banking, money management, financial advisory, investor, and retirement plan services. It operates in four main divisions; investing, wealth management, banking, and trading. Charles Schwab provides a full-service brokerage platform that serves individual investors who invest on their own or through a workplace-sponsored retirement or equity plan, as well as banking through Schwab Bank. The firm was founded in 1973 and is headquartered in San Francisco, California.

Charles Schwab Careers

Join the vibrant team at Charles Schwab, a leader in global finance, where your career is propelled by innovation, leadership, and a commitment to diversity and professional growth. At Charles Schwab, we offer more than just job opportunities; we provide a platform for you to make a significant impact on the industry and our clients' lives.

Work You’ll Do

At Charles Schwab, we are dedicated to helping our clients manage their financial futures. Being part of our team means you'll work alongside some of the most skilled professionals in the financial services industry. Our culture thrives on teamwork, integrity, and relentless dedication to our clients. Whether you're looking for a position in financial consulting, technology, or administrative support, Charles Schwab offers a dynamic work environment where your skills will be honed and your achievements recognized.

Innovate and Lead

Embrace the opportunity to lead through innovation. Charles Schwab’s commitment to technology and innovation is fundamental to our service delivery. By joining our team, you will be at the forefront of developing new solutions that redefine the future of finance. Your leadership can guide significant projects that impact our company and the industry.

Grow Your Career

Charles Schwab believes in fostering the growth of its employees. Whether through professional development programs, diversity training, or leadership workshops, we ensure that our team members receive the support and training they need to advance their careers. With a variety of career paths available, your job at Schwab can evolve with your interests and expertise.

Internship and Employment Opportunities

Start your professional journey with Charles Schwab through our internship programs or full-time employment opportunities. We seek individuals who are passionate, curious, and ready to drive change. A career at Schwab is not just about having a job; it's about building a lasting relationship with a company that values your potential.

Benefits and Culture

Charles Schwab is renowned for its employee-friendly culture. We offer a comprehensive benefits package that supports the health, financial stability, and work-life balance of our team members. From competitive salaries and bonuses to health insurance and retirement plans, Schwab ensures that your career is as rewarding as it is enriching.

Networking and Professional Development

Expand your professional network and enhance your skills through our various networking events, mentorship programs, and training sessions. At Charles Schwab, we believe in leveraging collective expertise to foster learning and innovation. Engage with leaders, gain insights from experienced professionals, and build relationships that will aid your career trajectory.

Join Our Team

Explore the numerous career paths available at Charles Schwab and discover how your talents can be utilized to their fullest potential. Search open positions that match your skills and interests. We are continuously hiring across various disciplines and look forward to adding innovative, driven individuals to our team.

Stay Connected

Keep up to date with the latest from Charles Schwab Careers by subscribing to our job alert emails. Tailor your subscription to receive updates that align with your career preferences and be the first to know about new openings, company news, and professional tips.

Explore Charles Schwab Jobs

Ready to take the next step in your career? Visit our careers page to review current job openings, submit your resume, and prepare for your interview. At Charles Schwab, your future is waiting. [SEARCH CHARLES SCHWAB JOBS] Join Charles Schwab today and be part of a team that values diversity, innovation, and leadership—where your career can thrive in the exciting world of finance.
Learn more about Charles Schwab
Size
34,200 employees
Market Cap
$151.6 billion
Industry
Net Income
$3.2 billion
Founded
1973
5 Year Trend
+20%
Revenue
$12.1 billion
NASDAQ

Similar Jobs

More Jobs at Charles Schwab

More Finance & Insurance Jobs

Find similar Lead Software Engineer jobs: