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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$120K - $150K *

Lead the charge in advancing AI safety research by defining impactful agendas, mentoring teams, and driving real-world change through innovative projects and collaborations with governments and AI lab...

Berkeley, CARemote

4 weeks ago

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

$240K - $260K *

Join a team that's redefining restaurant ordering systems. As a Staff Engineer, you'll architect resilient, event-sourced platforms, ensuring reliability and performance across thousands of devices wh...

RemoteRemote

Today

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Consumer Technology

$82K - $172K *

Innovate your career as you design and maintain mission-critical software for defense financial systems. Lead a growing team, integrate AI capabilities, and ensure compliance in both classified and un...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$104K - $153K *

Champion innovative AI-driven self-service solutions, enhancing employee experiences through ServiceNow. Collaborate with teams to streamline processes, ensuring high-quality engineering from design t...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$125K - $150K *

Manage complex cybersecurity verification programs across large-scale data center projects. Lead coordination among diverse teams, ensuring operational readiness and technical integration throughout c...

United StatesRemote

5 days ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$161K - $230K *

Join a team that's shaping the future of energy by providing expert consulting on gas pipelines and FERC regulations. Lead client engagements, manage deliverables, and drive business development while...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Energy & Utilities

$130K - $165K *

Elevate project management excellence by overseeing operations, developing strategic plans, and collaborating with stakeholders to enhance network security and incident response for the VA's enterpris...

United StatesRemote

2 days ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$95K - $115K *

Drive successful public-sector construction projects by managing scope, schedule, and budget while fostering strong client relationships and ensuring quality delivery from inception to closeout...

RemoteRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Real Estate & Construction

$75K - $109K *

Advance the future of Building Information Modeling by leading BIM strategies, ensuring model quality, and mentoring teams. Drive innovation through technology initiatives and enhance project delivery...

RemoteRemote

1 week ago

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

$198K - $233K *

Lead the charge in developing a robust content management system to enhance cross-functional workflows and publishing capabilities, fostering a high-performing engineering team dedicated to scalabilit...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Consumer Technology

$170K - $210K *

Lead the design management of owner-furnished electrical equipment for a hyperscale data center, ensuring integration, compliance, and quality standards while guiding teams and managing client communi...

United StatesRemote

2 days ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Real Estate & Construction

$130K - $170K *

Accelerate progress at the forefront of real-time media ingestion, designing and operating distributed services that enhance communication data processing for analytics and security. Lead projects and...

United StatesRemote

4 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$110K - $130K *

Lead the IT workstream in executing complex business separations and transformations, managing cross-functional teams, and coordinating critical activities to ensure successful outcomes in a dynamic e...

Dallas, TXRemote

Reposted 5 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Business Services

$220K - $275K *

Partner with us to drive AI transformation in customer experience. As a Principal Solutions Engineer, you'll guide clients through the design and implementation of innovative AI solutions, ensuring al...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$150K - $280K *

Drive system architecture definition and refine requirements in a collaborative, agile environment. Engage with cross-functional teams to ensure alignment with customer needs and technical solutions...

RemoteRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$90K - $110K *

Join a team that's redefining financial advisory through innovative AI solutions. As a Project Manager, you'll lead complex implementations, enhance client engagement, and collaborate on cutting-edge...

Toronto, ONRemote

1 month ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$240K - $330K *

Transform security operations by leading a dynamic Product Security team. Drive risk-based strategies, empower engineering teams, and enhance security posture through automation and collaboration. Sha...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$160K - $175K *

Join a team that's redefining data solutions through innovative full-stack engineering. Collaborate on cutting-edge projects involving AI, big data, and efficient APIs, while fostering career growth i...

Chicago, ILRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Business Services

$95K - $115K *

Join a dynamic team to elevate software quality through innovative testing strategies, ensuring robust performance and scalability. Collaborate cross-functionally to drive testing initiatives and enha...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$120K - $145K *

Join a team that's dedicated to solving complex software challenges. As a Sr. Software Engineer, you'll design, build, and maintain robust applications while collaborating across teams to enhance our...

RemoteRemote

Reposted yesterday

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$103K - $160K *

Drive product development by leading a senior engineering pod to deliver high-quality software for city permitting and community operations, leveraging AI tools and coding agents to enhance efficiency...

CanadaRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$95K - $115K *

Engineer innovative power system solutions by conducting EMT studies and developing models. Collaborate with leadership to enhance team expertise and deliver quality advisory support to clients in the...

Austin, TXRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Energy & Utilities

$130K - $160K *

Drive the evolution of Stripe's authentication stack as a Backend Engineer, enhancing security and scalability while collaborating with teams to deliver innovative IAM solutions supporting enterprise...

RemoteRemote

Reposted 4 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$108K - $145K *

Unlock potential by managing the tender process across multiple contracts, ensuring compliance and efficiency. Collaborate with project teams to provide expert contract administration and negotiation...

Plainfield, NJRemote

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Real Estate & Construction

$130K - $140K *

Elevate your career by joining a dynamic team to design and implement innovative cloud solutions in a multi-cloud environment, ensuring scalability, security, and alignment with business objectives wh...

RemoteRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

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.