Explore Lead Engineer Jobs

Lead Engineers guide technical teams, shape engineering decisions, and help turn complex requirements into reliable products and systems. Browse vetted Lead Engineer opportunities on Ladders, including roles paying $100,000 or more across software, hardware, infrastructure, and other engineering disciplines.

What Does a Lead Engineer Do?

A Lead Engineer combines deep technical expertise with team leadership. Responsibilities may include designing system architectures, reviewing code or technical work, setting engineering standards, mentoring team members, coordinating delivery, and partnering with product, design, and business stakeholders. The exact scope varies by company and specialty.

Qualifications for Lead Engineer Roles

Employers commonly seek substantial experience in a relevant engineering discipline, a record of delivering complex projects, and strong problem-solving and communication skills. Many roles require expertise in specific programming languages, platforms, tools, or engineering methods. People leadership may be part of the job, though some Lead Engineers lead through technical direction rather than direct management.

Lead Engineer Salary and Career Outlook

Compensation depends on industry, location, specialization, company size, and the role’s scope. Lead Engineer positions can offer competitive salaries, bonuses, and benefits, with many opportunities on Ladders paying $100,000 or more. Experienced professionals may progress into Staff or Principal Engineer, Engineering Manager, Director of Engineering, or other technical leadership roles.

Find Lead Engineer Jobs on Ladders

Search Lead Engineer openings to find roles aligned with your skills, experience, and career goals. Review job requirements and responsibilities, then tailor your résumé to highlight technical impact, project leadership, and measurable outcomes. Ladders focuses on vetted professional jobs paying at least $100,000.

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$124K - $238K *

Join a team that's driving innovation through systems engineering as you design, integrate, and validate software systems, ensuring alignment with overarching objectives while collaborating closely wi...

Palo Alto, CARemote

Reposted 2 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$150K - $180K *

Drive the evolution of our design system by building foundational infrastructure that empowers designers, engineers, and AI agents to create cohesive, high-quality experiences while leading a growing...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$87K - $157K *

Lead the charge in designing and reviewing structural components for substation and transmission projects, ensuring quality control and mentoring junior engineers while engaging with clients and suppo...

United StatesRemote

5 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Technical Services

$180K - $195K *

Drive the development of the Hypori app for Windows while enhancing iOS and Android functionalities. Collaborate in an agile environment, focusing on secure software practices, troubleshooting, and de...

Austin, TXRemote

Reposted yesterday

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$120K - $170K *

Manage technical design leadership for industrial projects, coordinating PLC/DCS, HMI, and motion control systems. Collaborate with teams to deliver high-quality project outcomes while supporting clie...

Cincinnati, OHRemote

4 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Technical Services

$59K - $106K *

Drive high-voltage transmission line design projects, ensuring compliance with industry standards. Collaborate with multi-disciplinary teams to execute technical tasks, prepare documentation, and enha...

RemoteRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Technical Services

$110K - $130K *

Join a dynamic team to enhance a leading practice management platform. Collaborate with engineers and designers to build innovative solutions, leveraging modern technologies in a fast-paced, agile env...

Utah, USRemote

5 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$130K - $160K *

Champion the migration to a modern Databricks lakehouse, designing robust data pipelines and ensuring data quality. Collaborate with teams to enhance analytics capabilities and set technical standards...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$120K - $160K *

Empower our Managed Services tooling ecosystem by designing integrations and automations. You'll lead the configuration of Jira Service Management, optimize alerting, and ensure seamless connectivity...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$210K - $294K *

Shape the future of home insurance by leading engineering efforts that integrate AI into policy administration and underwriting, enhancing agent and consumer experiences while ensuring compliance in a...

RemoteRemote

6 days ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$95K - $115K *

Empower your software engineering skills by driving the development of essential features within a collaborative, agile team environment while maintaining the integrity of a diverse codebase...

Massachusetts, USRemote

Reposted yesterday

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Education, Government & Non-Profit

$95K - $105K *

Contribute to the development and support of advanced missile systems as a systems engineer. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance the capabilities of critical defense technologies while...

Pittsfield, MARemote

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$144K - $209K *

Drive innovation by building scalable software solutions in a dynamic environment. Collaborate across teams to enhance user experiences and tackle complex challenges while leveraging cutting-edge tech...

United StatesRemote

6 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Hospitality & Recreation

$113K - $198K *

Transform your career by leading innovative fire engineering projects, mentoring teams, and driving business development. Collaborate across disciplines to deliver complex design solutions while ensur...

Lenexa, KSRemote

6 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Technical Services

$194K - $272K *

Elevate AI solutions by leading engineering efforts that transform business workflows. Collaborate with teams to identify opportunities, prototype solutions, and implement scalable AI applications tha...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Media

$150K - $180K *

Transform the geocoding platform by enhancing data quality and search systems. Leverage ML and LLMs to optimize query understanding and automate data pipelines, impacting over 1 billion API calls dail...

New York, NYRemote

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Business Services

$148K - $201K *

Empower the development of our open source software solutions while collaborating with engineers and community contributors. Leverage your cloud native expertise to enhance mission outcomes through in...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$74K - $115K *

Transform urban infrastructure by managing street and sidewalk maintenance projects. Collaborate with diverse teams to ensure compliance, oversee contracts, and deliver timely results that enhance com...

Raleigh, NCRemote

Today

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Transportation

$80K - $95K *

Support manufacturers by implementing solutions that enhance operational performance. Collaborate with teams to drive adoption and deliver measurable improvements, ensuring lasting value from the plat...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$132K - $176K *

Transform your career by leading the design and implementation of innovative DevOps practices that accelerate software delivery and operational excellence in a high-accountability environment. Drive c...

RemoteRemote

Reposted today

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Telecommunications & Hardware

$230K - $345K *

Lead the charge in database excellence to enhance reliability, performance, and sustainability of GitLab's datastores. Shape long-range strategies while collaborating across teams to drive success in...

RemoteRemote

Reposted yesterday

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$125K - $150K *

Empower growth by leading customer acquisition and expansion strategies across self-serve and sales channels. Drive performance metrics, build AI systems, and collaborate with teams to optimize revenu...

RemoteRemote

Reposted yesterday

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$160K - $200K *

Drive the development of cutting-edge AI systems by leveraging your expertise in Go and Python. Collaborate cross-functionally to optimize and refine scalable services, ensuring high performance and u...

Austin, TXRemote

Reposted 5 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$123K - $185K *

Lead the charge in optimizing process control and equipment projects across multiple manufacturing plants, driving improvements and ensuring effective implementation in the Feed Manufacturing Operatio...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Food & Beverages

$63K - $111K *

Elevate project execution by supporting engineering and construction teams in delivering complex industrial infrastructure projects through technical coordination and quality assurance activities...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Real Estate & Construction

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

  • What is a Lead Engineer?question toggle

    A Lead Engineer is an experienced technical professional who guides engineering work, helps make design and implementation decisions, and often mentors or coordinates a team. The role may or may not include direct reports.

  • What does a Lead Engineer do?question toggle

    Common duties include defining technical approaches, designing systems, reviewing engineering work, resolving complex problems, mentoring colleagues, and coordinating with other teams to deliver projects.

  • What qualifications do Lead Engineer jobs require?question toggle

    Requirements vary by specialty, but employers often look for significant relevant engineering experience, strong technical skills, a history of successful project delivery, and effective communication. Some positions also require people-management experience.

  • How much do Lead Engineers earn?question toggle

    Pay varies by location, industry, specialization, and seniority. Ladders features vetted professional jobs paying $100,000 or more, including Lead Engineer opportunities.

  • What is the difference between a Lead Engineer and an Engineering Manager?question toggle

    A Lead Engineer typically focuses on technical direction and engineering execution, while an Engineering Manager often emphasizes team operations, staffing, and performance. In some organizations, responsibilities overlap.

  • How can I find Lead Engineer jobs paying $100,000 or more?question toggle

    Browse Lead Engineer listings on Ladders, review each role’s compensation and requirements, and highlight relevant technical achievements and leadership experience in your application.