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 Engineering Manager - Core Engineering, Trusted Data Platform
$209K - $273K *
Join a dynamic team as a Senior Engineering Manager to lead TDP SQL, enhancing data reliability and performance while mentoring engineers. Drive strategic initiatives, ensure operational excellence, a...
Reposted 3 weeks ago
Senior Engineering Manager - Core Engineering, Trusted Data Platform
$209K - $273K *
Advance your career by leading a high-performing engineering team, driving strategic execution and operational excellence while ensuring a reliable data platform aligns with enterprise goals and custo...
Reposted 3 weeks ago
Lead Software Engineer (Remote)
$126K - $157K *
Drive your career forward by leading complex software projects, collaborating with diverse teams, and leveraging cutting-edge technologies to deliver high-quality solutions that meet client needs and...
1 week ago
Senior Software Engineer - Chicago based
$110K - $130K *
Join a team that's tackling complex technical challenges in a dynamic, agile environment. Collaborate with cross-functional experts to deliver high-quality software solutions while mentoring peers and...
4 weeks ago
Senior Engineer, Product Development Engineering
$89K - $131K *
Join a team that's pioneering advanced semiconductor technologies by designing innovative gas filtration products. Collaborate across functions to drive prototypes from concept to production, ensuring...
1 week ago
$161K - $189K *
Shape the future of energy by leading a dynamic engineering team focused on transmission system modeling and interconnection support. Drive complex projects, enhance grid reliability, and foster colla...
4 days ago
Sr. Engineer, Project Engineering
$100K - $130K *
Lead the charge in designing and implementing secure, scalable network infrastructures. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance performance, reliability, and security while driving project...
3 weeks ago
Sr. Engineer, Project Engineering
$100K - $130K *
Partner with us to design and implement secure, scalable network solutions. Leverage your expertise in networking technologies to enhance performance and reliability while collaborating with cross-fun...
3 weeks ago
$110K - $130K *
Empower engineering excellence as you coordinate high-level operations, manage tasking systems, and facilitate communication across teams. Play a pivotal role in supporting executive engineering activ...
2 weeks ago
$150K - $180K *
Lead the charge in engineering excellence by managing product-focused teams, ensuring quality delivery, and fostering leadership development while driving technical direction in a dynamic SaaS environ...
1 week ago
$130K - $170K *
Unlock potential by leading infrastructure engineering initiatives, guiding architecture decisions, and ensuring robust delivery across Active Directory, VMware, and Citrix environments while fosterin...
1 week ago
Principal Integration Engineer
$120K - $145K *
Lead the system-level integration strategy in complex environments, solving cross-disciplinary challenges with high autonomy, while impacting mission-critical outcomes through technical expertise and...
Reposted 1 week ago
Lead / Principal Embedded Software Engineer - Optical Networking
$110K - $130K *
Join a team that's shaping the future of optical networking by leading the development of advanced embedded software solutions. Leverage your expertise in C/C++ and optical systems to drive innovation...
2 weeks ago
Engineering Productivity Lead, Switch Infrastructure
$207K - $300K *
Optimize and lead engineering productivity initiatives, enhancing CI/CD pipelines and testing infrastructure for high-performance switch software in a cutting-edge AI environment. Drive technical stra...
2 weeks ago
$133K - $161K *
Drive innovation in aerospace by leading component selection and qualification efforts. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance product development and ensure compliance with industry stand...
3 weeks ago
$95K - $115K *
Join a team that's dedicated to delivering innovative electrical engineering solutions. Lead multi-disciplinary projects, oversee production teams, and ensure quality documentation while collaborating...
1 week ago
$95K - $115K *
Empower your career by leading the design and production of critical electrical projects. Collaborate with multi-disciplinary teams, ensuring quality and adherence to budgets while driving innovation...
1 week ago
$95K - $115K *
Empower innovation by leading the production of construction documents and overseeing multi-disciplinary teams on mission-critical projects, ensuring quality and adherence to budgets and schedules...
1 week ago
$95K - $115K *
Join a dynamic team to lead electrical design projects, ensuring quality and coordination across disciplines while managing budgets and schedules. Your expertise will drive innovative solutions in mis...
1 week ago
$95K - $115K *
Join a team that's shaping the future of electrical engineering by leading multi-disciplinary projects, overseeing production teams, and ensuring high-quality design documentation within established b...
1 week ago
$95K - $115K *
Join us to lead the production of construction documents and oversee multi-disciplinary teams on mission-critical projects, ensuring quality and adherence to budgets and schedules while fostering coll...
1 week ago
$95K - $115K *
Join a team that's shaping the future of electrical engineering by leading multi-disciplinary projects, overseeing production teams, and ensuring high-quality design documentation within established b...
1 week ago
$110K - $130K *
Lead and grow utility engineering services, managing teams and projects to deliver critical transportation infrastructure. Collaborate with clients and stakeholders to resolve conflicts and ensure pro...
3 weeks ago
$160K - $230K *
Join a team that's redefining product engineering by owning high-impact areas from concept to launch. Collaborate closely with leadership to enhance user experiences and drive innovation in a fast-pac...
Yesterday
Project Engineer - Design and Development
$80K - $95K *
Lead the charge in delivering innovative engineering solutions by managing project specifications, fostering client relationships, and ensuring operational excellence across HVAC and building automati...
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.