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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Senior Software Engineer, AI Automation
$130K - $195K *
Join a dynamic AI Automation team to design and deliver production-grade AI agents and workflows, enhancing operational efficiency across the organization while solving complex business challenges wit...
1 week ago
Senior Backend Engineer, External
$199K - $235K *
Innovate backend solutions by designing, building, and maintaining scalable services for external pentesting. Collaborate across teams to enhance user experience and ensure system performance, reliabi...
2 weeks ago
Research Engineer - RL Infrastructure
$150K - $350K *
Drive the development of cutting-edge AI infrastructure to enhance large-scale reinforcement learning and distributed training systems, optimizing performance and efficiency across various layers and...
2 weeks ago
$185K - $225K *
Join a team that's at the forefront of innovative project management, collaborating with scientists and engineers to drive complex client engagements. Your expertise will ensure successful delivery an...
3 weeks ago
$100K - $120K *
Transform the recruitment landscape by owning full-cycle hiring for GTM and R&D teams. Engage with stakeholders, shape strategies, and drive hiring velocity while ensuring a positive candidate experie...
2 weeks ago
$110K - $130K *
Lead the development of accurate proposals and cost estimates for water and wastewater projects. Collaborate with engineering, sales, and finance teams to ensure timely delivery and customer satisfact...
Yesterday
$135K - $160K *
Transform product security by leading strategy, conducting threat modeling, and collaborating across teams to ensure secure design and compliance. Drive innovation in security practices while mentorin...
3 weeks ago
$120K - $145K *
Lead the charge in transforming engineering processes for Jama, ensuring alignment with customer requirements and technical excellence. Drive integration, training, and support while managing a divers...
1 week ago
Senior Software Engineer II - LLM Observability
$250K - $280K *
Empower the development of AI observability capabilities, architecting data models and infrastructure while collaborating with cross-functional teams to enhance user workflows and insights into AI sys...
2 weeks ago
Senior Engineering Manager, GTM Systems (SalesTech)
$201K - $263K *
Lead a globally distributed engineering team to architect and scale enterprise-level Go-To-Market systems, ensuring seamless integration across Salesforce and other platforms while fostering a culture...
1 week ago
Senior Staff Software Engineer - Identity & Trust
$238K - $341K *
Pioneer secure identity solutions by architecting a robust Identity & Trust platform. Lead multi-year strategies, drive high-impact initiatives, and mentor engineers to enhance customer onboarding and...
6 days ago
Senior Engineering– ERCOT Modeling Team
$110K - $130K *
Transform the future of energy by leading a team of engineers in power system modeling and NERC studies. Drive project success, enhance team capabilities, and support business development while ensuri...
1 week ago
Senior Infrastructure Engineer
$120K - $145K *
Lead the charge in designing and evolving scalable cloud infrastructure, driving architectural strategy, and enhancing operational culture while collaborating with cross-functional teams to meet ambit...
1 week ago
Staff Software Engineer, Consumer 360
$154K - $227K *
Join a dynamic team as a technical leader, driving scalable software solutions and mentoring engineers. Collaborate across teams to enhance engineering practices and deliver innovative AI-driven appli...
1 week ago
$95K - $135K *
Transform the future of financial products by building end-to-end experiences. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver impactful solutions that enhance user interactions and drive business...
1 week ago
Research Engineer - Data and Evaluation
$150K - $350K *
Transform the landscape of reinforcement learning by designing evaluations and environments that enhance model training and performance. Collaborate with researchers to identify and address model fail...
2 weeks ago
$82K - $105K *
Transform complex network infrastructures by designing, deploying, and managing solutions for diverse clients. Leverage your expertise to troubleshoot issues, enhance security, and ensure high availab...
3 days ago
Lead Platform Engineer/Architect - HPC, Kubernetes
$150K - $180K *
Join a high-growth infrastructure team to operate and scale Kubernetes platforms across multiple cloud providers, ensuring efficient GPU resource allocation and robust monitoring systems to support ma...
4 weeks ago
Lead Platform Engineer/Architect - HPC, Kubernetes
$150K - $180K *
Accelerate progress at a high-growth infrastructure team managing Kubernetes platforms across multiple clouds. You'll enhance GPU resource efficiency and ensure system reliability while collaborating...
4 weeks ago
Lead Platform Engineer/Architect - HPC, Kubernetes
$150K - $180K *
Empower your career by joining a dynamic infrastructure team managing Kubernetes platforms across multiple clouds. You'll develop systems that safeguard GPU resources, ensuring optimal performance and...
4 weeks ago
Engineering Manager - Design & Configuration
$121K - $218K *
Lead and develop a multidisciplinary engineering team, ensuring effective design, configuration, and lifecycle management of complex infrastructure products while balancing technical risks and program...
2 days ago
Senior Forward Deployed Engineer (Full-Stack)
$250K - $400K *
Shape the future of AI by partnering with customers to design and deliver innovative data solutions. Collaborate with a senior team to tackle complex challenges and transform vague requests into actio...
6 days ago
$117K - $168K *
Join us to deliver exceptional technical support for HPS systems globally. Collaborate with a dynamic team to resolve customer inquiries, enhance satisfaction, and maintain expertise in process contro...
6 days ago
Project Engineer - Site Design
$85K - $100K *
Lead the charge in diverse civil engineering projects, applying advanced principles to design and oversee site development. Collaborate with teams, manage project scopes, and ensure successful executi...
1 month ago
Staff Software Engineer, Applied AI
$160K - $200K *
Join a team that's redefining operational efficiency by architecting robust internal tools and applying AI to real-world challenges. You'll lead technical direction, drive impactful decisions, and enh...
1 week ago
What is a Lead Engineer?
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?
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?
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?
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?
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?
Browse Lead Engineer listings on Ladders, review each role’s compensation and requirements, and highlight relevant technical achievements and leadership experience in your application.