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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$185K - $200K *

Champion robust backend architecture and distributed systems, guiding technical direction and establishing best practices. Collaborate across teams to build resilient, scalable applications and optimi...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Consumer Technology

$120K - $145K *

Elevate employee and contractor payouts by managing end-to-end execution. Collaborate with engineering and partners to enhance payment methods while ensuring quality and reliability in a high-trust en...

New York City, NYRemote

3 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$110K - $130K *

Elevate your career by designing and developing scalable cloud-native applications. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance Workforce Management and Customer Experience solutions using mode...

New York, NYRemote

2 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$122K - $158K *

Empower product development by collaborating with designers and engineers to create intuitive banking solutions. Foster a culture of innovation and ownership within a dynamic, startup-like environment...

RemoteRemote

Reposted 4 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$135K - $180K *

Drive innovative electrical design solutions for high-density compute environments. Collaborate across teams to ensure compliance with industry standards while mentoring junior engineers. Make a signi...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$120K - $145K *

Innovate scalable insurance solutions leveraging InsureMO's API-first architecture. Drive digital transformation by integrating AI capabilities across enterprise platforms, ensuring compliance and opt...

Jersey City, NJRemote

Today

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$110K - $130K *

Empower innovation by designing and developing scalable cloud-native applications. Collaborate across teams to enhance Workforce Management and Customer Experience solutions using modern technologies...

Toronto, ONRemote

2 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$110K - $130K *

Shape the future of cloud-native applications by designing and developing scalable solutions that enhance Workforce Management and Customer Experience. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliv...

United StatesRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$150K - $175K *

Shape the cloud infrastructure landscape by ensuring security, scalability, and efficiency. Collaborate with engineers to build resilient systems and drive best practices, enabling smooth deployment a...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$163K - $204K *

Lead the charge in building and owning critical financial systems, ensuring reliable money movement and asset flow. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver production-ready solutions while...

RemoteRemote

4 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Business Services

$135K - $160K *

Lead the charge in optimizing cloud infrastructure and CI/CD processes, ensuring scalable, secure, and resilient systems. Collaborate with engineering teams to enhance deployment efficiency and drive...

Orlando, FLRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$80K - $128K *

Champion user interface development and API integration for a federal environmental platform, ensuring accessibility compliance and enhancing data access for regulatory consultations. Collaborate with...

United StatesRemote

2 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$85K - $117K *

Champion software quality by analyzing healthcare data, developing test cases, and executing both manual and automated tests. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure compliance with clinical...

Connecticut, USRemote

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$95K - $115K *

Champion customer success by leveraging your expertise in Solutions Consulting to drive impactful engagements, support sales strategies, and deliver tailored solutions that align with client needs and...

United StatesRemote

Yesterday

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$90K - $105K *

Unlock potential by managing complex RF communication projects, ensuring successful design and implementation for public safety systems. Collaborate with diverse teams and clients while demonstrating...

RemoteRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Telecommunications & Hardware

$143K - $286K *

Champion innovative platform engineering initiatives, delivering scalable, cloud-native solutions while driving the full software development lifecycle. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enha...

Sunnyvale, CARemote

4 weeks ago

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

$75K - $96K *

Optimize AI triage and automation processes while engineering secure data pipelines. Collaborate with teams to enhance security alert resolution and streamline workflows, ensuring effective integratio...

United StatesRemote

2 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$75K - $96K *

Unlock your potential as a key player in our overnight security operations, enhancing AI-driven incident response and automation. Your expertise will shape how we detect and respond to threats, ensuri...

United StatesRemote

3 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$160K - $180K *

Unlock potential by providing hands-on technical leadership across the full stack. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to design scalable solutions, enhance product experiences, and drive impactfu...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$110K - $130K *

Join a team that's shaping database strategies and standards. In this role, you'll enhance database performance, ensure data integrity, and collaborate with engineering teams to optimize our database...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

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

$211K - $253K *

Join a team that's dedicated to enhancing user experience through innovative frontend solutions. As a leader, drive performance, development, and cross-team collaboration to deliver impactful customer...

CanadaRemote

Reposted 1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$160K - $200K *

Unlock potential by leading technical direction in autonomy systems. Drive ownership of advanced perception, prediction, and planning components with cross-stack influence, facilitating innovation and...

RemoteRemote

Reposted 4 weeks ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Transportation

$130K - $160K *

Empower AI innovation by designing and building robust tooling for deploying AI agents in production. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance infrastructure reliability and developer experi...

United StatesRemote

Yesterday

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$182K - $212K *

Lead quality assurance efforts in rolling stock engineering, overseeing vehicle procurement and rebuilds. Collaborate with teams to ensure high standards and timely delivery while supervising inspecti...

United StatesRemote

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Transportation

$127K - $133K *

Engineer scalable cloud platforms by automating processes and enhancing reliability. Collaborate with teams to streamline deployments and ensure secure, resilient infrastructure that meets evolving bu...

United StatesRemote

Reposted 3 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Telecommunications & Hardware

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.