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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$135K - $160K *

Lead and innovate in sensor technology by developing global engineering teams, driving product development, and shaping the technology roadmap to meet market needs and enhance customer solutions...

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$90K - $140K *

Contribute to cutting-edge welding initiatives within a dynamic team, overseeing technical aspects of projects, managing procedure qualifications, and driving innovation in nuclear manufacturing proce...

Cambridge, ONIn-Person

Yesterday

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

$175K - $224K *

Champion a high-performing engineering team, driving growth and delivery while ensuring technical excellence and fostering a culture of collaboration and accountability. Lead performance management an...

5 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Legal & Accounting

$110K - $130K *

Pioneer in Geotechnical Engineering, leading projects and mentoring teams. Drive business development, ensure quality control, and foster client relationships while managing a diverse portfolio of pub...

1 week ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Technical Services

$200K - $240K *

Lead the charge in designing and implementing innovative products and systems with a lean, AI-native engineering team. Collaborate cross-functionally and engage directly with customers to enhance prod...

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Staffing

$146K - $195K *

Champion the growth of our Integrations team by leading the delivery of third-party integrations and platform capabilities, fostering a collaborative culture, and driving continuous improvement for im...

CanadaRemote

6 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Business Services

$115K - $120K *

Lead the charge in innovative transmission line design, collaborating with a dynamic team to tackle complex projects in the energy sector. Your expertise will drive impactful solutions while mentoring...

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Energy & Utilities

$130K - $150K *

Shape the future of spacecraft power systems by leading the design and development of high-voltage electronics for innovative orbital projects. Collaborate with a dynamic team to prototype, test, and...

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$135K - $215K *

Champion the future of environmental health and safety by leading operations engineers, developing innovative tools, and enhancing data analytics to drive safety performance across the organization. J...

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$110K - $130K *

Elevate safety standards by leading operations engineers to enhance environmental health and safety systems. Drive data analytics, develop tools, and collaborate across teams to ensure effective proje...

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$135K - $220K *

Unlock potential by leading a dynamic team to enhance environmental health and safety systems. Drive data analytics, project management, and innovative solutions across multiple sites to ensure operat...

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$118K - $148K *

Drive the success of mechanical design projects by leading teams, ensuring high-quality deliverables, and fostering collaboration across disciplines to achieve project goals and enhance operational ef...

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Technical Services

$100K - $120K *

Elevate your career as a key technical leader, driving innovative mechanical engineering solutions that meet project objectives while inspiring collaboration and mitigating risks across multi-discipli...

Reposted yesterday

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$110K - $130K *

Champion operational excellence by leading a team of engineers to enhance environmental health and safety systems, driving data analytics, and fostering collaboration across departments to ensure effe...

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$110K - $130K *

Lead the charge in designing and commercializing advanced variable speed drive products, ensuring optimal performance and reliability across HVAC applications. Collaborate with cross-functional teams...

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$120K - $145K *

Unlock potential by leading power systems engineering for transmission protection. Drive compliance, enhance reliability, and guide teams in innovative solutions to shape the future of energy with adv...

Austin, TXRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Energy & Utilities

$120K - $145K *

Shape the future of energy infrastructure by leading electric transmission projects. Balance technical expertise with team development while collaborating across disciplines to deliver impactful solut...

1 week ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$215K - $295K *

Lead the reliability and performance of core infrastructure services, collaborating across teams to enhance platform resilience and speed. Drive technical direction and incident response while mentori...

6 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$95K - $115K *

Lead product development by guiding a team through design, prototyping, and testing. Drive innovation in fluid systems while managing projects from concept to launch, ensuring quality and alignment ac...

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Staffing

$108K - $130K *

Join a team that's committed to excellence in software engineering, driving development and sustainment efforts within the Inference Processing group. Collaborate with top talent to enhance solutions...

Reposted yesterday

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Business Services

$110K - $130K *

Tackle complex software engineering challenges by supporting VISTA Development and Sustainment efforts within the Inference Processing team, ensuring innovative solutions are delivered efficiently and...

Reposted yesterday

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Business Services

$95K - $115K *

Drive mission-critical web service development for an ICAM solution, focusing on designing, integrating, and maintaining enterprise-level services that support secure access control and attribute mana...

4 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Business Services

$150K - $230K *

Transform the software development lifecycle by automating CI/CD pipelines and optimizing cloud environments. Collaborate with teams to enhance developer tooling, ensuring security and efficiency in a...

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$108K - $130K *

Lead the charge in electrical design for power generation and distribution systems, ensuring compliance with industry standards. Collaborate with multi-discipline teams to deliver integrated solutions...

4 weeks ago

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

$150K - $175K *

Lead the design and integration of high-current BLDC motor systems, ensuring optimal performance and safety in lithium-ion battery applications. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver inno...

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

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.