Lead Java Software Engineer Jobs

Discover Lead Java Software Engineer opportunities for experienced developers ready to guide teams and shape complex software systems. These roles combine hands-on Java development with technical leadership, architectural decision-making, and collaboration across product and engineering teams. Explore vetted positions with salaries of $100,000 or more on Ladders.

What Does a Lead Java Software Engineer Do?

Lead Java Software Engineers design, build, and maintain applications while helping set engineering standards and delivery direction. They may lead code reviews, mentor developers, break down technical requirements, and coordinate with stakeholders to deliver reliable software. Depending on the organization, the role can emphasize backend services, distributed systems, cloud platforms, or enterprise applications.

Skills and Qualifications

Employers typically seek substantial Java experience and a strong understanding of object-oriented design, data structures, APIs, and software development practices. Familiarity with frameworks such as Spring, databases, testing approaches, and cloud or distributed-system architecture is often valuable. Communication, prioritization, mentoring, and the ability to make sound technical decisions are also important for a lead role.

Career Opportunities and Compensation

Lead Java Software Engineers work across industries including financial services, healthcare, technology, retail, and enterprise software. Career paths may lead to roles such as Principal Engineer, Software Architect, or Engineering Manager, depending on a professional’s strengths and goals. Browse Ladders for vetted Lead Java Software Engineer jobs paying $100,000 or more and find opportunities aligned with your experience.

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$164K - $246K *

Elevate your career by architecting scalable ML infrastructure that powers model training and serving. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance workflows and drive innovation in machine lear...

New York, NYRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Retail & Consumer Goods

$150K - $200K *

Champion the evolution of DevOps practices by providing technical leadership and architectural direction across agile teams, enhancing software delivery speed and reliability while fostering a culture...

RemoteRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$107K - $204K *

Lead the design and development of enterprise web solutions to enhance supply chain operations. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to create scalable, integrated platforms that streamline process...

Cedar Rapids, IARemote

Today

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$166K - $242K *

Deliver secure, reliable backend systems that enhance user experiences across products. Own projects from design to deployment, collaborating with cross-functional teams to balance security and usabil...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$144K - $209K *

Drive product innovation by collaborating with design and engineering teams, mentoring peers, and enhancing front-end strategies to create inclusive experiences that engage and delight users...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Hospitality & Recreation

$120K - $195K *

Drive innovation by developing and maintaining Linux kernel features, collaborating with hardware teams, and contributing to the upstream community. Own projects from definition to deployment while me...

Vancouver, BCRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Telecommunications & Hardware

$120K - $140K *

Lead the development of secure, automated recovery solutions for mission-critical systems. Collaborate with engineers and partners to transform concepts into working prototypes, ensuring rapid restora...

Niceville, FLRemote

Today

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$130K - $195K *

Join a team that's dedicated to reducing food waste by leveraging your technical expertise. You'll tackle complex escalations, drive cross-functional initiatives, and build innovative solutions to enh...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$103K - $153K *

Deliver a robust frontend architecture for a mature web UI, enhancing performance and usability. Collaborate with UX designers and set coding standards while ensuring security and analytics integratio...

CanadaRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$104K - $166K *

Unlock the potential of automation by developing end-to-end solutions using Ansible, Python, and RESTful APIs. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance operational efficiency and support a s...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$120K - $145K *

Transform the future of AI systems by building robust data pipelines and APIs. Collaborate with Product to refine specifications and enhance user experience, ensuring high-quality delivery and continu...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$120K - $190K *

Elevate your career by leading a dynamic engineering team to design and build innovative software solutions. Collaborate across functions to enhance product quality and mentor junior engineers while d...

Georgia, USRemote

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Retail & Consumer Goods

$170K - $205K *

Join a dynamic team to lead AI agent deployments in healthcare. Leverage your software engineering expertise and client-facing skills to drive technical delivery, influence product development, and en...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$140K - $173K *

Transform data acquisition processes by leading the development of high-performance ingestion pipelines. Collaborate across teams to ensure data quality, reliability, and security while shaping the fu...

RemoteRemote

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$110K - $130K *

Transform your career as you design and secure automated delivery pipelines, ensuring streamlined deployment and compliance while collaborating with cross-functional teams to enhance cloud infrastruct...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 4 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$164K - $197K *

Advance innovation by designing and operating next-gen storage solutions, driving projects from ideation to customer delivery, and collaborating in a remote-first environment focused on user-centric d...

CanadaRemote

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$85K - $145K *

Develop innovative full stack applications to enhance legal operations and compliance. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver secure, scalable solutions using modern technologies and cloud...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$120K - $170K *

Lead the development of scalable systems, balancing individual contributions with technical guidance. Collaborate across teams to tackle complex engineering challenges in security and AI, while evolvi...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$116K - $175K *

Transform your career by leading quality assurance for a large-scale cloud migration. Drive strategic test planning, automation, and team mentorship while ensuring high-quality standards and stakehold...

Virginia, USRemote

Today

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$120K - $145K *

Transform the claims process by owning backend services in Python and TypeScript. Design event-driven systems that enhance reliability and efficiency, ensuring seamless integration of AI agents while...

Chicago, ILRemote

Today

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$140K - $165K *

Join a dynamic team as you lead the design and development of complex software systems. Drive technical direction, mentor peers, and ensure high-quality, scalable solutions that align with business go...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$110K - $130K *

Lead the enhancement of security measures for cloud-based healthcare solutions, focusing on vulnerability management, incident response, and compliance. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensu...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$102K - $136K *

Empower your career by designing and delivering scalable software solutions in a dynamic environment. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance healthcare supply chain products using modern t...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$145K - $150K *

Lead the charge in developing web-based dissemination tools for external users, collaborating with developers to enhance data visualization and streamline CI/CD processes using modern frameworks and b...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$86K - $115K *

Elevate the quality of healthcare technology by owning test strategies for platform components, enhancing automation, and ensuring stability across releases. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Healthcare

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

  • What does a Lead Java Software Engineer do?question toggle

    A Lead Java Software Engineer develops Java-based systems and provides technical direction for a team or project. Responsibilities can include system design, coding, code reviews, mentoring, and coordinating delivery with product and engineering partners.

  • What qualifications are common for Lead Java Software Engineer jobs?question toggle

    Employers commonly look for extensive Java development experience, knowledge of software architecture and APIs, and familiarity with tools and frameworks such as Spring. Leadership, communication, mentoring, and collaborative problem-solving skills are also important.

  • How much do Lead Java Software Engineers earn?question toggle

    Compensation varies by employer, location, industry, and experience. Ladders focuses on vetted professional roles paying $100,000 or more, so candidates can explore opportunities in that salary range.

  • What career paths can follow a Lead Java Software Engineer role?question toggle

    Potential next steps include Principal Engineer, Software Architect, Engineering Manager, or other senior technical leadership roles. The best path depends on whether you want to deepen technical expertise or focus more on people and organizational leadership.