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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$96K - $160K *

Unlock your potential by designing and implementing test infrastructure for satellite hardware. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance product performance and reliability in a fast-paced...

2 weeks ago

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

$165K - $223K *

Join a team that's redefining cloud networking solutions to optimize performance, reliability, and scalability. Collaborate with engineers and experts to develop reliable embedded software for network...

Reposted 3 weeks ago

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

$143K - $194K *

Champion the development of innovative software solutions, driving the full lifecycle from design to delivery. Collaborate with teams to create efficient, scalable applications while mentoring junior...

Yesterday

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

$150K - $251K *

Innovate solutions by architecting and building a centralized platform, driving adoption among developers while leading a team to tackle common challenges faced by builders...

Vancouver, BCIn-Person

Today

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

$143K - $194K *

Transform the future of business intelligence by developing innovative, scalable solutions that leverage AI and enhance user experiences. Collaborate with a dynamic team to drive architectural decisio...

3 days ago

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

$180K - $185K *

Transform the ArcGIS Enterprise platform by developing scalable, reliable software solutions. Collaborate with a global team to enhance mapping and analytics capabilities, utilizing cutting-edge techn...

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$95K - $115K *

Elevate your career by leading software testing initiatives, defining test cases, and implementing automation solutions. Collaborate with teams to enhance quality engineering strategies and ensure com...

1 week ago

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$143K - $194K *

Join a dynamic team to design, develop, and implement innovative software solutions. Engage in the full development cycle, mentor junior engineers, and contribute to robust, efficient applications tha...

Yesterday

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

$120K - $145K *

Join a team that's redefining audio experiences by developing scalable systems for playback and advertising. Leverage your expertise to optimize performance and enhance customer satisfaction while tac...

2 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Media

$135K - $160K *

Join a team that's transforming cloud compute platforms by owning and evolving our platform qualification and test automation service. Collaborate with engineers to ensure software releases are safe...

Reposted 1 week ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Enterprise Technology

$80K - $95K *

Empower innovation by designing and implementing LLM-powered tools and systems, utilizing AI-assisted development for real-world applications that enhance institutional investor services globally...

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$110K - $130K *

Join a team that's shaping the future of cybersecurity by designing and scaling automated test systems for a leading secrets management platform, ensuring quality and reliability in cloud-native servi...

United StatesRemote

6 days ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$68K - $113K *

Elevate your career by developing cloud-based applications that solve real customer challenges. Collaborate with a dynamic team to own features from design to deployment, enhancing your technical skil...

2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$140K - $252K *

Unlock potential by leading test strategies for hypervisor performance and VM quality. Collaborate with teams to design automated benchmarks and validate deployment safety, ensuring high standards acr...

Ottawa, ONRemote

2 weeks ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$140K - $252K *

Contribute to the development of robust test strategies for hypervisor performance and VM quality. Collaborate with teams to ensure deployment safety and validate systems, while mentoring others in st...

Ottawa, ONIn-Person

2 weeks ago

  •   11 - 15 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$82K - $172K *

Optimize software quality by designing and developing automated tests for cloud-based RF applications. Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to ensure high performance and reliability in mission-cr...

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$82K - $172K *

Engineer automated testing solutions for innovative applications in a cloud-based RF environment. Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to ensure quality and performance of mission-critical systems...

Reposted 2 weeks ago

  •   Less than 5 years exp.  •   Information Technology

$143K - $194K *

Transform backend systems that handle over 10 billion packages annually. Drive the design and operation of Tier-1 services, ensuring high uptime and scalability while tackling complex distributed syst...

3 days ago

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

$158K - $213K *

Join a team that's dedicated to designing and developing innovative software solutions. Engage in the full development cycle, from implementation to maintenance, while mentoring junior engineers and e...

Today

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

$99K - $160K *

Join a team that's transforming software deployment by building critical services for Amazon's most secure environments. Collaborate to enhance automation, ensure reliability, and improve the builder...

1 week ago

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

$152K - $190K *

Empower customer success by architecting innovative software solutions that enhance user experiences. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive impactful projects and leverage AI technologies f...

Burnaby, BCIn-Person

Yesterday

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Finance & Insurance

$165K - $223K *

Lead the charge in designing and developing robust software solutions, participating in the full development cycle while mentoring junior engineers and ensuring high-quality documentation and system a...

Yesterday

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

$143K - $194K *

Drive the design and development of intelligent network controllers, tackling optimization and distributed-systems challenges. Collaborate with cross-disciplinary teams to enhance network performance...

2 weeks ago

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

$129K - $174K *

Drive innovative solutions as a Systems Development Engineer II, simplifying complex challenges while enhancing customer experiences across a suite of Analytics services. Collaborate with teams to inf...

1 week ago

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

$148K - $222K *

Explore the future of backend services in a dynamic team, building and operating impactful microservices for a developer platform, while enhancing developer experience with AI innovations and ensuring...

Reposted today

  •   5 - 7 years exp.  •   Consumer 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.