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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$106K - $140K *

Discover your potential as a Mid-level Structural Engineer, leading fall protection design projects. Collaborate with clients and teams to create innovative structural solutions while enhancing your t...

Miamisburg, OHRemote

5 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Business Services

$120K - $145K *

Innovate with us as a Senior Software Engineer, driving core feature development and automation across the stack. Collaborate with diverse teams to enhance scalability and performance in a dynamic, mi...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$130K - $155K *

Join a dynamic team to architect and deliver a cloud-native maintenance planning tool, driving modernization efforts and collaborating with diverse stakeholders to ensure seamless project execution an...

United StatesRemote

6 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$155K - $241K *

Join us to shape the future of platform engineering by driving strategic initiatives, influencing organizational architecture, and enhancing developer experience across a multi-cloud environment. Your...

United StatesRemote

Reposted today

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$126K - $188K *

Join a team that's redefining security data engineering by integrating and operationalizing data across multiple platforms. Lead initiatives that enhance risk management and drive measurable outcomes...

Minnesota, USRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$105K - $120K *

Join a team that's driving successful ERP and CRM software implementations. Lead projects, coordinate teams, and ensure timely delivery while achieving sales and profit targets. Collaborate with stake...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Media

$140K - $160K *

Join a dynamic team to execute complex physical electrical designs for medium- and high-voltage substations and utility-scale projects, ensuring quality and compliance from concept through constructio...

United StatesRemote

Reposted yesterday

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Technical Services

$188K - $235K *

Develop AI-powered systems from concept to production, collaborating with clients to identify needs, prototype solutions, and ensure quality. Engage closely with users to iterate and enhance product f...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$116K - $210K *

Manage a dynamic team to design and oversee high voltage transmission projects, ensuring compliance with standards. Collaborate across project teams while mentoring staff, managing client relations, a...

Chicago, ILRemote

Reposted 2 days ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Technical Services

$144K - $241K *

Lead the charge in architecting and enhancing AI systems that empower global journalism. Drive technical direction, ensure system scalability, and mentor engineers while shaping the future of content...

RemoteRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Media

$150K - $180K *

Shape the future of AI evaluation by leading rigorous methodologies, collaborating with engineers, and mentoring teams to ensure accurate assessments that drive product innovation and market standards...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$158K - $248K *

Unlock potential by architecting scalable file management solutions, integrating distributed systems, and ensuring secure access for enterprise customers. Collaborate across teams to enhance data acce...

United StatesRemote

Reposted yesterday

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$150K - $180K *

Develop and manage scalable AI infrastructure solutions, ensuring secure access to foundation models. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance platform capabilities and drive AI adoption whi...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$130K - $160K *

Transform your career by owning US income tax provision and compliance for a fast-growing multinational. Collaborate with external providers and auditors while managing ASC 740, compliance calendars...

United StatesRemote

4 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$89K - $148K *

Lead the design and development of scalable full-stack applications, mentoring junior engineers while integrating AI features. Collaborate with stakeholders to align engineering solutions with busines...

Flower Mound, TXRemote

Reposted 1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$79K - $143K *

Join a team that's redefining release engineering by optimizing CI/CD pipelines, integrating AI solutions, and ensuring high-quality software delivery through innovative automation and collaboration w...

Ottawa, ONRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$171K - $285K *

Transform your career by leading a high-performing engineering team to deliver innovative digital solutions. Collaborate across departments to drive technology strategy and modernize capabilities, ens...

United StatesRemote

5 days ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$110K - $130K *

Pioneer the administration and development of core business systems, focusing on ServiceNow. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to create scalable solutions that enhance operations, service, and...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$180K - $220K *

Help us optimize healthcare data processes by designing and managing robust data pipelines. You'll integrate legacy systems into a unified platform, ensuring data quality and operational efficiency in...

United StatesRemote

Yesterday

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$90K - $189K *

Contribute to critical government missions as a Release Train Engineer, facilitating Agile Release Train events, coaching teams, and driving continuous improvement to deliver value using cutting-edge...

United StatesRemote

6 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$118K - $216K *

Innovate and drive growth by designing and executing high-velocity monetization experiments. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to transform hypotheses into impactful Android features, leveraging...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$135K - $160K *

Elevate security practices by building and managing a comprehensive security program. Collaborate with engineers to identify vulnerabilities, implement automated checks, and ensure robust protection a...

RemoteRemote

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$110K - $130K *

Lead cross-functional project execution in Medication Contracting, translating strategic priorities into actionable plans. Drive improvements, manage risks, and enhance collaboration across teams to e...

United StatesRemote

6 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$157K - $283K *

Transform transit operations by leading complex Automatic Train Supervision initiatives. Drive collaboration across technical and operational teams, ensuring system performance and reliability for maj...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   15+ years exp.  •   Real Estate & Construction

$139K - $188K *

Transform your career by leading a high-performing engineering team focused on Identity Governance and Administration. Drive strategic initiatives, enhance security, and foster innovation while collab...

Wisconsin, USRemote

2 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

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.