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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$83K - $139K *

Discover innovative solutions by designing, developing, and maintaining software for Army systems. Collaborate with teams to enhance functionality and quality across platforms, ensuring user needs are...

2 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$212K - $265K *

Join us to lead a high-performing software development team, driving innovation in AI and cloud operations. Collaborate with executives to scale services and enhance product architecture, ensuring imp...

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$101K - $203K *

Engineer innovative software solutions in a dynamic, agile environment, collaborating with cross-functional teams to enhance user experiences and drive impactful applications using modern technologies...

Illinois, USRemote

Reposted 1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Pharmaceuticals & Biotech

$184K - $250K *

Transform enterprise AI systems by leading technical delivery, architecting scalable solutions, and mentoring teams. Drive operational excellence and accelerate customer adoption of AI technologies th...

1 week ago

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

$88K - $105K *

Drive electrical Design Verification Testing for complex aerospace modules, ensuring performance and reliability from development to production. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance test...

Yesterday

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$110K - $130K *

Unlock potential by leading a dynamic team of developers to deliver high-quality software solutions. Collaborate with product managers and designers to drive innovation and ensure seamless user experi...

Toronto, ONIn-Person

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$110K - $130K *

Lead and inspire a team of developers to deliver high-quality software solutions. Collaborate with product managers and designers to ensure reliability while fostering a culture of growth and innovati...

Montreal, QCIn-Person

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$114K - $164K *

Lead the charge in building high-performing software engineering teams, driving Agile methodologies, and delivering innovative solutions. Collaborate across functions to enhance product development an...

London, ONIn-Person

Today

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Consumer Technology

$108K - $130K *

Champion innovative software solutions by leading a dynamic engineering team. Collaborate with cross-functional partners to enhance product delivery and drive continuous improvement in a creative, Agi...

Today

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Consumer Technology

$100K - $125K *

Unlock your potential as you design and enhance cutting-edge cloud solutions for diverse web and mobile platforms. Collaborate across teams to translate product vision into robust software while drivi...

Illinois, USRemote

Reposted 3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Healthcare

$184K - $250K *

Lead the charge in developing innovative solutions for GPU and HPC capacity on EC2. Manage a dynamic team, drive technical direction, and enhance customer experience through strategic roadmap executio...

2 weeks ago

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

$142K - $184K *

Champion the development and operational deployment of vehicle firmware, leveraging IoT data to enhance fleet safety and efficiency through collaborative efforts with cross-functional teams...

CanadaRemote

Reposted 2 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$154K - $260K *

Innovate and drive technical strategy for AI-powered products at scale. Empower teams to build transformative software solutions, oversee complex projects, and deliver exceptional results that reshape...

RemoteRemote

Reposted 4 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$91K - $146K *

Unlock potential by driving innovation in software development for mission-critical database solutions. Collaborate in an agile environment to create high-quality software that meets the needs of glob...

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

$80K - $95K *

Champion innovation by testing and maintaining UAS platforms, ensuring quality and reliability through rigorous software and hardware evaluations while collaborating with engineering teams to optimize...

Yesterday

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$110K - $130K *

Drive innovation by designing and developing scalable enterprise applications. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver high-performance solutions while ensuring best practices in software e...

Toronto, ONIn-Person

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$95K - $115K *

Develop and scale enterprise data catalog solutions, enhancing data governance and discovery. Collaborate with teams to drive architectural decisions and mentor junior engineers, ensuring robust, secu...

Toronto, ONIn-Person

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$90K - $110K *

Join a dynamic team as a Java Developer, focusing on digital banking solutions. Collaborate with architects and peers to enhance code quality, tackle technical challenges, and drive innovation in a fa...

Toronto, ONIn-Person

3 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$90K - $110K *

Engineer innovative ETL solutions and enhance finance processes. Join a dynamic team to support and optimize applications, ensuring effective data management and reporting across the organization...

Toronto, ONIn-Person

3 weeks ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$90K - $110K *

Discover innovative solutions in capital markets by joining a dynamic team. Collaborate with business teams to develop and implement cutting-edge applications that enhance user experiences and drive b...

Toronto, ONIn-Person

Reposted 4 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$132K - $175K *

Empower innovation in subsea robotics by developing automated test procedures. Collaborate with engineers and technicians to enhance testing capabilities, ensuring quality and scalability in productio...

1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Aerospace & Defense

$186K - $220K *

Elevate your career by supporting cutting-edge SaaS solutions in a dynamic environment. Collaborate with clients, enhance containerized applications, and drive innovation within a Kubernetes cluster t...

2 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$186K - $220K *

Drive the enhancement of containerized applications within a Kubernetes environment, collaborating with customers to deliver innovative software solutions and ensure seamless operation of mission-crit...

2 days ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$156K - $235K *

Lead the charge in architecting enterprise-scale AI platforms that elevate quality engineering through intelligent automation and internal tools, defining strategy and driving cross-functional collabo...

Reposted 3 days ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Media

$154K - $200K *

Lead and inspire a software development team to design, implement, and support critical applications and systems, ensuring operational excellence and driving innovation in manufacturing technologies a...

3 weeks ago

  •   8 - 10 years exp.  •   Manufacturing & Automotive

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.