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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$121K - $142K *

Elevate automation in software engineering by building AI-driven tools and systems. Collaborate with a focused team to enhance reliability and speed in package and image management, shaping the future...

RemoteRemote

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$120K - $145K *

Contribute to the development of a robust Kubernetes control plane, enhancing multi-cloud infrastructure and driving scalable architecture for enterprise-grade cloud services...

RemoteRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$120K - $145K *

Drive quality assurance for modern healthcare applications, ensuring reliability and maintainability through automated testing, API validation, and collaboration in an Agile environment. Contribute to...

Georgia, USRemote

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$142K - $234K *

Transform the OCI registry landscape by designing and developing innovative features for quay.io. Collaborate with teams to enhance service experiences while leveraging cutting-edge AI tools for scala...

Raleigh, NCRemote

Yesterday

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$95K - $130K *

Empower your career by leading quality assurance efforts for critical healthcare systems. Collaborate with teams to enhance user experiences for Veterans, ensuring high-quality service delivery throug...

United StatesRemote

2 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$110K - $130K *

Innovate and drive AI agent development for clinical trial platforms, integrating LLMs through the .NET stack. Engage in hands-on engineering to deliver end-to-end AI features, enhancing patient-centr...

RemoteRemote

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$120K - $145K *

Unlock potential by taking ownership of complex software challenges. Drive real-time traffic optimization through innovative AI solutions, collaborating across teams to deliver scalable and reliable s...

CanadaRemote

1 month ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$148K - $201K *

Empower the development of our open source software solutions while collaborating with engineers and community contributors. Leverage your cloud native expertise to enhance mission outcomes through in...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$110K - $130K *

Elevate your career by joining a dynamic team focused on validating and optimizing Azure developer desktops. You'll design automated tests, ensure security compliance, and enhance performance metrics...

RemoteRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$110K - $130K *

Elevate your career as a Senior Test Automation Engineer, leading testing initiatives, collaborating with cross-functional teams, and ensuring software quality through innovative automation strategies...

Washington, DCRemote

2 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$125K - $225K *

Create innovative data solutions by designing scalable pipelines and AI tools. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance data quality and security, driving impactful analytics and machine lea...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

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

$180K - $235K *

Lead the charge in developing robust backend applications, driving complex projects from design to launch. Collaborate across teams, mentor junior engineers, and tackle architectural challenges to enh...

RemoteRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$90K - $125K *

Innovate and design scalable, cloud-native APIs while enhancing legacy systems. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver high-quality software solutions, leveraging AI tools and modern techn...

Mesa, AZRemote

3 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Transportation

$125K - $155K *

Grow your career with a dynamic team focused on designing and implementing scalable systems. Collaborate on complex projects, mentor peers, and drive technical excellence while contributing to impactf...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$135K - $160K *

Lead the charge in building AI-powered engineering systems that enhance developer workflows, ensuring reliability and ease of adoption for engineers. Collaborate with teams to create innovative soluti...

United StatesRemote

3 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$133K - $183K *

Drive developer productivity by enhancing test automation frameworks and CI pipelines. Collaborate with teams to ensure quality software delivery, optimize testing processes, and implement innovative...

CanadaRemote

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$120K - $145K *

Transform the e-commerce landscape by leading backend architecture and integrations on Adobe Commerce. Drive performance optimization, mentor developers, and ensure operational reliability while colla...

Oregon, USRemote

Yesterday

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Telecommunications & Hardware

$162K - $290K *

Elevate your career by shaping the technical direction of our Developer Experience team. Collaborate on cutting-edge AI coding tools and scalable infrastructures that enhance productivity across the e...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 4 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$110K - $130K *

Unlock potential by driving innovative AI solutions through hands-on engineering and client collaboration. Transform complex business challenges into reliable, production-ready software while enhancin...

CanadaRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$160K - $200K *

Drive innovation by designing and developing scalable backend services, collaborating closely with engineering teams to enhance platform performance and reliability while mentoring junior developers a...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Transportation

$130K - $217K *

Lead the charge in designing innovative, scalable software solutions that transform complex processes into actionable insights, partnering with diverse teams to deliver high-performance applications f...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$80K - $120K *

Collaborate with cross-functional teams to design and develop user-centric web applications, integrating AI-driven insights for high-stakes decision-making workflows while ensuring performance and sec...

Virginia, USRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$120K - $160K *

Join our dynamic team to design and develop cutting-edge AI platforms, enhancing decision-making workflows through innovative web applications and robust backend services. Collaborate across the full...

Virginia, USRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$120K - $145K *

Join a dynamic team to design and develop a next-gen AI platform, focusing on intelligent agent frameworks and modern web applications. Collaborate across the full stack to enhance decision-making wor...

Virginia, USRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$110K - $130K *

Elevate our software engineering capabilities by designing and building modern, cloud-native data pipelines. Collaborate with diverse teams to ensure seamless project delivery and advocate for best pr...

United StatesRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

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.