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.
$80K - $95K *
Engineer innovative solutions by transforming customer requests into actionable engineering designs. Collaborate across teams to ensure feasibility and production readiness, while enhancing existing p...
3 weeks ago
$150K - $175K *
Elevate your career by joining a dynamic team of senior Software Engineers focused on designing, developing, and implementing innovative software systems to solve complex engineering challenges...
Today
$80K - $95K *
Lead the charge in managing multi-disciplined projects, focusing on civil and environmental engineering. Collaborate with teams to ensure project feasibility, compliance, and successful execution whil...
Today
Principal Engineering Lead - Content & Data Pipeline
$140K - $200K *
Join a dynamic team to lead the Content & Data Pipeline, overseeing architecture, team management, and stakeholder alignment while enhancing content delivery and quality across scholarly publications...
3 weeks ago
Associate Principal Engineer - Senior Project Manager
$150K - $175K *
Lead the charge in project management excellence, overseeing planning, execution, and delivery while fostering client relationships and ensuring compliance with industry standards in public sector pro...
1 week ago
Lead Engineer Controls Hardware
$100K - $110K *
Contribute to the design and integration of advanced control cabinet systems for Power Plant applications, ensuring optimal performance and compliance with industry standards while collaborating with...
Reposted 1 week ago
$88K - $105K *
Shape the future of engineering projects by leading design and evaluation phases, ensuring compliance and quality while fostering client relationships and team collaboration throughout the project lif...
2 weeks ago
$150K - $170K *
Transform the content platform by leading hands-on engineering initiatives. Design and implement shared services, ensuring security and stability while mentoring engineers and driving technical excell...
Yesterday
Staff Engineer, Team Lead - Core Infrastructure
$172K - $229K *
Drive platform-level testing and support for Core Infrastructure, leading a team to identify and resolve issues before they impact the fleet. Set technical direction and ensure seamless integration wi...
Today
Staff Engineer, Team Lead - Core Infrastructure
$172K - $229K *
Drive the development of a high-performing team focused on platform-level testing and support, ensuring software reliability and operational excellence across core infrastructure systems. Lead initiat...
Today
Staff Engineer, Team Lead - Core Infrastructure
$172K - $229K *
Build and lead a team to enhance platform testing and support for core infrastructure. Drive technical direction, manage incident response, and ensure software quality across systems, while collaborat...
Today
$110K - $130K *
Elevate your career by leading engineering initiatives that transform customer needs into innovative, manufacturable designs. Drive product development and ensure quality through expert collaboration...
4 days ago
Staff Engineer, Team Lead - Core Infrastructure
$172K - $229K *
Lead the charge in building and guiding a team to enhance platform testing and support for core infrastructure, ensuring software reliability and performance across various environments while collabor...
Today
Project Engineer - Industrial Automation
$140K *
Unlock your potential in a dynamic role focused on electrical design, PLC and HMI development, and project management. Collaborate with teams to deliver innovative automation solutions while ensuring...
3 weeks ago
Project Engineer - Industrial Automation
$140K *
Design innovative control systems and automation solutions, managing project scope, budget, and vendor relations. Collaborate with teams to ensure successful commissioning and provide ongoing technica...
3 weeks ago
Project Engineer - Industrial Automation
$140K *
Drive project success by managing electrical design, PLC/HMI development, and vendor coordination. Collaborate with teams to ensure quality and functionality while overseeing automation system commiss...
3 weeks ago
Electrical Engineer - Water/Wastewater
$100K - $166K *
Explore a rewarding leadership role mentoring engineers in electrical design for municipal water and wastewater projects. Drive technical success while fostering collaboration in a dynamic team dedica...
Reposted 2 weeks ago
Principal Embedded Software Engineer
$110K - $130K *
Elevate your career by designing and developing innovative software solutions. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance product performance and mentor junior engineers while driving best pra...
2 weeks ago
Principal Embedded Software Engineer
$110K - $130K *
Lead the charge in developing innovative embedded software solutions while mentoring junior engineers and collaborating with cross-functional teams to enhance product performance and customer satisfac...
2 weeks ago
Principal Embedded Software Engineer
$130K - $155K *
Elevate software development by designing and enhancing embedded systems, collaborating with cross-functional teams, and mentoring junior engineers to drive innovation in optical networking solutions...
2 weeks ago
Principal Embedded Software Engineer
$110K - $130K *
Join our team to design and develop cutting-edge embedded software for optical networking products. Collaborate with engineers, coach junior staff, and enhance product performance while ensuring docum...
2 weeks ago
Principal Embedded Software Engineer
$130K - $155K *
Unlock potential by designing and developing embedded software solutions, enhancing product performance, and mentoring junior engineers while collaborating with cross-functional teams to drive innovat...
2 weeks ago
Principal Embedded Software Engineer
$110K - $130K *
Grow your career with a dynamic team focused on developing innovative embedded software solutions for optical networking, enhancing product performance, and mentoring junior engineers while engaging w...
2 weeks ago
Lead Technical Developer- Internal Development and Innovation
$95K - $115K *
Champion innovation and quality in technical product design, ensuring timely execution of requests while collaborating with cross-functional teams to enhance manufacturing operations and drive excelle...
Reposted yesterday
Director of Engineering Integrated Platform | Platform Engineering, SRE & DevOps
$235K - $250K *
Transform engineering leadership by building resilient platforms and teams. Drive strategic initiatives in SRE, DevOps, and AI adoption while ensuring operational excellence and incident management ac...
3 weeks 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.