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.
$135K - $160K *
Lead a dynamic engineering team to innovate and deliver backend solutions, enhancing our technology's reach. Engage hands-on in coding and architecture while mentoring others, ensuring high-quality so...
Reposted 5 days ago
Senior Software Engineering - Autonomy Build & Integration
$115K - $164K *
Elevate your software engineering career as you lead projects, enhance CI/CD workflows, and mentor team members, ensuring high quality and reliability in our autonomous driving technology initiatives...
Reposted 3 weeks ago
$130K - $219K *
Engage with customers to identify key challenges and drive product innovation. Collaborate across hardware, software, and AI teams to deliver impactful solutions that enhance physical operations and g...
1 week ago
Senior Frontend Engineer, Portfolio
$186K - $218K *
Shape the future of financial clarity by delivering core Portfolio experiences. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to transform complex data into user-friendly interfaces, ensuring performance an...
2 weeks ago
Project Manager, Delivery Lead
$95K - $115K *
Elevate project delivery by leading cross-functional teams in Interactive Response Technology, ensuring client satisfaction and timely execution while managing risks and fostering continuous improveme...
4 weeks ago
Senior Director Infrastructure Engineering
$175K - $210K *
Transform infrastructure engineering by leading a global team to develop and implement design standards for AI factories, ensuring consistency and efficiency across projects while driving innovation a...
2 weeks ago
Avionics/ Staff Command and Data Handling Engineer
$117K - $195K *
Join a team that's developing cutting-edge avionics architectures for diverse missions. Leverage your expertise in command and data handling to optimize system performance and ensure seamless integrat...
4 weeks ago
$130K - $160K *
Elevate cloud security and reliability by leading DevOps practices across teams. You'll optimize AWS and GCP environments, enhance CI/CD pipelines, and ensure cost-effective engineering tools, driving...
1 week ago
$130K - $150K *
Empower our cybersecurity initiatives by providing strategic leadership and ensuring compliance with DoD standards. Drive enterprise-level security architecture and risk management across multiple Tas...
Yesterday
$100K - $120K *
Transform the client experience by building data platforms, AI apps, and workflows. Collaborate closely on real-world projects, making key decisions and enhancing your engineering skills in a dynamic...
Reposted yesterday
Engineering Product Manager, Cloud Control Studio
$194K - $285K *
Lead the end-to-end application lifecycle by shaping product strategy and improving customer workflows, ensuring reliable and secure software deployment across diverse environments while collaborating...
Reposted 6 days ago
Staff Software Engineer in Test, Compiler & Systems Validation
$135K - $160K *
Oversee quality engineering initiatives by enhancing validation practices, establishing scalable strategies, and improving release evidence in collaboration with cross-functional teams to ensure robus...
4 weeks ago
$120K - $145K *
Lead the charge in delivering complex renewable energy projects, ensuring safety, quality, and budget adherence. Collaborate with diverse stakeholders to drive project success from development through...
6 days ago
Principal Ai Engineer (Remote in CT)
$150K - $180K *
Innovate enterprise-grade AI systems by defining and executing technical strategies for machine learning operations and intelligent platforms, ensuring scalable and secure AI services across cloud arc...
Reposted 2 days ago
$120K - $145K *
Build innovative backend solutions that enhance customer satisfaction and drive product success. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to translate customer needs into scalable features while ensuri...
1 week ago
Principal Engineer - AV Simulation and Evaluation
$272K - $431K *
Drive your career with a Principal Software Engineer role focused on architecting core platform systems for Physical AI, enhancing Autonomous Driving and Robotics through innovative data architecture...
2 days ago
$120K - $145K *
Accelerate your career by designing and optimizing secure, scalable cloud infrastructure. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance operational efficiency and ensure high availability for glo...
3 weeks ago
Senior Systems Engineer (R&D Innovation)
$107K - $161K *
Innovate in R&D as a Senior Systems Engineer, bridging early-stage tech and production. Drive feasibility studies, prototype emerging features, and collaborate with partners to advance next-gen archit...
5 days ago
Senior Transmission Line Engineer 1 - Grid
$84K - $129K *
Drive the design and development of high-voltage transmission lines, overseeing project teams and ensuring compliance with engineering standards while collaborating with clients and vendors to deliver...
1 week ago
Senior Software Engineer, Backend (Capacity Modeling)
$153K - $213K *
Lead a dynamic team to innovate capacity modeling solutions, ensuring optimal resource allocation during peak traffic events. Collaborate across functions to enhance system performance and drive quali...
Reposted yesterday
Autonomy Engineering Manager - Behavior Prediction and Intent
$190K - $250K *
Drive the strategic direction of intent and prediction systems, leading a specialized engineering team to integrate machine learning with robotics. Collaborate cross-functionally to ensure safety, tec...
1 week ago
Senior Manager, Quality Engineering
$140K - $190K *
Join our team to lead quality engineering transformations across multiple platform portfolios, championing automation and innovation while developing exceptional engineering talent to elevate quality...
Reposted yesterday
Senior Software Engineer – Identity Resolution
$130K - $155K *
Elevate your career by designing and developing high-scale Identity Resolution systems. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to create reliable, secure, and high-performance solutions that link and...
Yesterday
Aftermarket Sr. Mechanical Engineer
$100K - $120K *
Elevate your engineering career by leading innovative conveyor and sortation projects. Drive technical solutions from concept to execution, collaborating with cross-functional teams to enhance operati...
3 weeks ago
$120K - $145K *
Pioneer the future of technical content as you drive strategy and execution for Render's content factory, ensuring accuracy and relevance for AI agents and developers. Collaborate closely with teams t...
Yesterday
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.