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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$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

$148K - $263K *

Join a team that's dedicated to developing innovative ServiceNow solutions, enhancing system performance, and ensuring compliance with federal security frameworks while collaborating with stakeholders...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$175K - $205K *

Transform the future of client technology by leading architectural strategies and integrations in life insurance and annuity environments, ensuring alignment with enterprise goals and delivering scala...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$159K - $215K *

Take ownership of Windows endpoint reliability and lifecycle management. Enhance provisioning, patching, and automation while collaborating with cross-functional teams to drive improvements and mentor...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Consumer Technology

$125K - $170K *

Lead the charge in enhancing Windows endpoint reliability and automation. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to implement best practices, mentor peers, and drive improvements in application deliv...

CanadaRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Consumer Technology

$149K - $256K *

Lead the technical strategy for complex global opportunities, collaborating with sales teams to develop tailored solutions. Drive technical discovery, architecture design, and customer engagement to e...

California, USRemote

1 week ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$120K - $145K *

Join a team that's building and scaling a data and analytics platform to enhance clinical AI performance. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to create actionable insights and drive improvements i...

United StatesRemote

Yesterday

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$157K - $300K *

Drive the evolution of scalable data platforms, enhancing reliability and performance across distributed systems. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver robust solutions that support Unity...

RemoteRemote

3 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$172K - $225K *

Lead the charge in developing innovative fullstack solutions, guiding technical direction, and enhancing team capabilities. Collaborate across functions to deliver robust, scalable products while ment...

CanadaRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$170K - $190K *

Develop and scale backend systems for a data infrastructure platform, focusing on PostgreSQL, Kafka event pipelines, and GraphQL APIs. Collaborate across teams to enhance data usability and support cl...

Boston, MARemote

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$135K - $160K *

Drive the development and deployment of a cutting-edge control plane for identity and credential management, ensuring reliability and security in customer-hosted environments while collaborating with...

RemoteRemote

3 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$216K - $240K *

Shape the future of grocery technology by leading the modernization of an on-demand ordering platform. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to create scalable, maintainable solutions, enhancing sys...

United StatesRemote

Reposted today

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Consumer Technology

$178K - $289K *

Transform enterprise digital experiences by validating technical solutions and collaborating with sales teams. Leverage your expertise to engage C-level executives and drive product enhancements throu...

California, USRemote

Reposted yesterday

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$120K - $145K *

Join a pioneering team where you'll innovate software solutions for framing and structural analysis. Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, set technical direction, and contribute to softwar...

RemoteRemote

Reposted 4 weeks ago

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

$120K - $145K *

Drive system reliability and scalability as a Senior Site Reliability Engineer, focusing on automation and collaboration with software teams to enhance performance and maintain service objectives acro...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$108K - $184K *

Unlock your potential as you lead an Automated Test Team, enhancing cloud applications and AI capabilities. Drive quality through strategic testing, CI/CD integration, and collaboration with developer...

Reston, VARemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Business Services

$132K - $198K *

Elevate quality assurance practices by leading test strategy and execution for customer implementations. Collaborate with teams to enhance product quality, mitigate risks, and establish scalable testi...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 3 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Consumer Technology

$120K - $145K *

Join a team that's shaping customer experiences through innovative frontend solutions. Take ownership of technical execution, collaborate across disciplines, and elevate engineering standards while en...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$169K - $338K *

Transform the future of technology by leading the design and development of scalable, AI-powered systems. Drive innovation, mentor teams, and ensure operational excellence while collaborating across d...

Sunnyvale, CARemote

2 days ago

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

$156K - $312K *

Empower innovation by leading the design and development of scalable, cloud-native AI systems. Drive technical strategy, mentor engineers, and ensure operational excellence while collaborating across...

Bellevue, WARemote

2 days ago

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

$169K - $338K *

Lead the design and development of scalable, cloud-native AI systems, ensuring architectural integrity and operational excellence while mentoring engineers and driving innovation across teams to meet...

Sunnyvale, CARemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 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.