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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$120K - $145K *

Drive innovation as a Senior Software Engineer, leading full-stack development and architecture for impactful business applications. Collaborate with teams to enhance platform capabilities while mento...

RemoteRemote

1 week ago

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

$110K - $204K *

Unlock the potential of a global content platform by owning its web delivery layer. Collaborate with engineering teams to ensure reliability, automate processes, and enhance performance for millions o...

New York, NYRemote

Today

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Media

$150K - $185K *

Champion the development of high-trust engineering teams while managing intake, capacity planning, and operational excellence. Drive delivery and foster collaboration across functions to meet evolving...

CanadaRemote

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$190K - $215K *

Transform cloud-based engineering strategies as you lead teams in creating innovative AI-powered automation solutions, ensuring quality and scalability while promoting a dynamic and collaborative cult...

Lehi, UTRemote

Reposted 1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$135K - $160K *

Take ownership of software engineering initiatives within established companies. Lead teams, modernize development processes, and enhance code quality while delivering impactful software solutions. Co...

United StatesRemote

Yesterday

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$135K - $160K *

Join a team that's transforming established businesses by leading software engineering efforts. Drive modernization, coach teams, and implement innovative solutions while delivering high-quality softw...

CanadaRemote

Yesterday

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$198K - $297K *

Join us to lead the design and evolution of a cutting-edge Real-Time Analytics Platform, driving high-throughput, low-latency data solutions. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance scalabi...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Consumer Technology

$165K - $195K *

Transform the web ecosystem by leading technical strategy and architecture across WordPress and Drupal platforms. Engage hands-on with coding while mentoring engineers and managing stakeholder expecta...

Arlington, VARemote

3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Education, Government & Non-Profit

$144K - $288K *

Drive modernization and operational stability for eligibility processing, leading a multi-team engineering organization to enhance cloud-based data services and APIs, ensuring high availability and co...

Illinois, USRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$112K - $155K *

Accelerate progress at a leading tech firm by developing scalable, cloud-native APIs. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance core offerings and lead discussions on software architecture, e...

RemoteRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Transportation

$110K - $130K *

Champion customer solutions by rapidly prototyping and deploying AI-driven applications. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance product capabilities and drive adoption, ensuring impactful...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Consumer Technology

$153K - $213K *

Lead the charge in enhancing user experiences across mobile and web platforms. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver impactful projects, ensuring timely execution and operational excellen...

CanadaRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$184K - $356K *

Lead the development of Kubernetes management plane software, driving cross-team collaboration and mentoring engineers while ensuring high-quality, production-ready solutions for AI and high-performan...

Santa Clara, CARemote

Today

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$110K - $130K *

Accelerate progress at our Technical Support team as a Senior Technical Support Engineer, tackling complex issues for enterprise health systems and radiology groups while shaping support processes and...

San Francisco, CARemote

Yesterday

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$148K - $201K *

Join us to shape the future of secure software delivery by developing AI-driven workflows and orchestrating complex systems. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to create intuitive solutions that...

United StatesRemote

2 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$125K - $150K *

Elevate project delivery by managing integrated schedules for data center builds, ensuring timely execution across teams and partners. Drive risk management and governance while building scalable proc...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Education, Government & Non-Profit

$85K - $120K *

Unlock innovation as a hands-on Software Engineer, driving Proofs-of-Concept and full software development cycles. Collaborate with senior engineers to explore emerging technologies while ensuring pro...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

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

$85K - $120K *

Optimize the software development process by contributing to product-focused projects, addressing coding, debugging, automated testing, and performance enhancement to ensure scalable and efficient sof...

United StatesRemote

1 month ago

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

$120K - $148K *

Accelerate team performance and delivery by leading software engineers, fostering development, and enhancing organizational effectiveness in a dynamic, remote environment. Drive sustainable practices...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$116K - $171K *

Elevate customer success by partnering with developers to implement solutions, troubleshoot technical issues, and enhance product features. Your insights will drive improvements across teams, ensuring...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Transportation

$125K - $150K *

Advance the future of financial engineering by building a robust platform for pricing, billing, and revenue management in an AI-driven environment. Collaborate cross-functionally to automate processes...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$140K - $175K *

Design scalable software solutions by transforming complex business needs into robust APIs and system architectures. Collaborate across teams to enhance reliability, mentor engineers, and drive techni...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$170K - $200K *

Unlock potential by designing and building innovative billing systems that simplify financial transactions and maximize reimbursements, while leveraging AI to enhance efficiency and user experience in...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$163K - $224K *

Advance innovative backend systems for a cutting-edge experimentation platform, driving impactful decisions through large-scale data solutions in a collaborative team environment, while designing and...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$132K - $264K *

Drive innovative software solutions by leading the full development lifecycle, mentoring engineers, and applying cloud-native architecture principles to enhance platform capabilities and integrate AI...

Bellevue, WARemote

1 week ago

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

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.