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Engineering Lead Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Prologue

Engineering Lead

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$120K - $159K/yr

Lead and mentor a growing team of software engineers while remaining an active individual contributor. * Drive technical architecture decisions across API integrations, platform services, and AI ...

TiltEdge Solutions LLC

PLC Engineering Lead

Sunnyvale, CA · On-site

$95K - $105K/yr

PLC Engineering Lead Work Location: Sunnyvale, CA 94085 Payrate: $ 95K - 105K/annum Duration: Full-time The PLC Engineering Lead demonstrates the capability of communicating, developing, executing ...

NextDeavor Inc.

Value Engineering Lead

San Jose, CA · Remote

$57.74 - $72.14/hr

Value Engineering Lead Full-time Remote You'll be joining Adobe on a contract opportunity, employed through NextDeavor Benefits You'll Love NextDeavor offers health, vision and dental benefits for ...

AECOM

Mechanical Engineering Lead

Oakland, CA · On-site

$126K - $153K/yr

The Mechanical Engineering Lead should be capable of leading and developing teams to complete building engineering projects. Excellent written and verbal communication skills with internal and ...

AECOM

Mechanical Engineering Lead

Oakland, CA · On-site

$126K - $153K/yr

The Mechanical Engineering Lead should be capable of leading and developing teams to complete building engineering projects. Excellent written and verbal communication skills with internal and ...

AECOM

Mechanical Engineering Lead

Oakland, CA

$126K - $153K/yr

The Mechanical Engineering Lead should be capable of leading and developing teams to complete building engineering projects. Excellent written and verbal communication skills with internal and ...

AECOM

Mechanical Engineering Lead

San Francisco, CA

$130K - $157K/yr

The Mechanical Engineering Lead should be capable of leading and developing teams to complete building engineering projects. Excellent written and verbal communication skills with internal and ...

AECOM

Mechanical Engineering Lead

Oakland, CA

$126K - $153K/yr

The Mechanical Engineering Lead should be capable of leading and developing teams to complete building engineering projects. Excellent written and verbal communication skills with internal and ...

AECOM

Mechanical Engineering Lead

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$130K - $157K/yr

The Mechanical Engineering Lead should be capable of leading and developing teams to complete building engineering projects. Excellent written and verbal communication skills with internal and ...

Namespace

Engineering Lead, US

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$120K - $159K/yr

As the Product Engineering Lead, you will establish the US presence, build a high-performing team, and lead technical decisions to develop user-facing applications that improve workflow efficiency.

Compal USA

Software Engineering Lead

Goleta, CA · On-site

The Software Engineering Lead will be responsible for all aspects of software engineering, including software development, integration and test, problem-solving, and team collaboration. Major ...

OSI Engineering

Reliability Engineering Lead

Palo Alto, CA · On-site

$300K - $400K/yr

Reliability Engineering Lead Company Overview Company is developing a next-generation AI wearable that combines ultra-high-density neural sensing with a Brain Foundation Model to decode neural ...

Compal

Software Engineering Lead

Goleta, CA · On-site

The Software Engineering Lead will be responsible for all aspects of software engineering, including software development, integration and test, problem-solving, and team collaboration. Major ...

Compal

Software Engineering Lead

Goleta, CA · Hybrid

The Software Engineering Lead will be responsible for all aspects of software engineering, including software development, integration and test, problem-solving, and team collaboration. Major ...

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Showing results 1-20

All JobsEngineering Lead JobsEngineering Lead Jobs in California

Engineering Lead information

See California salary details

$41.9K

$122.2K

$178.1K

How much do engineering lead jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 31, 2026, the average yearly pay for engineering lead in California is $122,163.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $101,200.00 and $133,200.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What engineers make $500,000 a year?

Senior engineering roles such as Software Engineering Leads, Principal Engineers, and Engineering Directors can earn $500,000 or more annually, especially in high-cost-of-living areas or large tech companies. These positions typically require extensive experience, advanced technical skills, and often include bonuses, stock options, or profit sharing as part of compensation packages.

What does an engineering lead do?

An engineering lead oversees technical teams, manages project development, and ensures engineering goals are met. They coordinate between stakeholders, review technical designs, and often have expertise in coding, systems architecture, or engineering processes. Strong leadership, communication, and technical skills are essential for this role.

What careers can engineering lead to?

An engineering lead can advance to roles such as engineering manager, director of engineering, or chief technology officer, overseeing teams and strategic projects. They often develop skills in project management, leadership, and technical expertise, which are valuable for senior management positions across various industries.

What is the difference between Engineering Lead vs Software Engineer?

AspectEngineering LeadSoftware Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's or higher in Engineering/Computer Science, leadership experienceBachelor's or higher in Computer Science or related field
Work EnvironmentLeads teams, manages projects, collaborates with stakeholdersDevelops software, writes code, tests applications
Employer & Industry UsageUsed in tech companies, startups, and large enterprisesCommon across all tech sectors and industries

The main difference is that an Engineering Lead oversees technical teams and project management, while a Software Engineer focuses on coding and software development. The Engineering Lead has leadership responsibilities, whereas the Software Engineer primarily contributes technical expertise.

What engineers make $200,000 a year?

Senior software engineers, engineering leads, and specialized roles such as data engineers or cloud engineers often earn $200,000 or more annually, especially with extensive experience, advanced skills, and in high-demand industries. Compensation can vary based on location, company size, and technical expertise, with many earning additional bonuses or stock options.

What are Engineering Leads?

Engineering Leads are experienced engineers who oversee technical teams within a company. They are responsible for guiding the team’s development processes, ensuring high-quality code, and aligning technical solutions with business goals. In addition to their technical expertise, Engineering Leads mentor team members, facilitate communication between stakeholders, and help prioritize project tasks. Their role often bridges the gap between engineering and management, making them crucial for successful project delivery.

How does an Engineering Lead typically balance hands-on technical work with team leadership responsibilities?

As an Engineering Lead, you'll often split your time between contributing to technical projects and overseeing your team's progress. While you'll still participate in code reviews, architectural decisions, and sometimes active development, a significant portion of your role involves mentoring team members, facilitating communication, and ensuring project milestones are met. Balancing these responsibilities requires strong time management skills and the ability to delegate effectively, so the team can thrive while you maintain technical oversight. This hybrid focus provides opportunities for both technical growth and leadership development.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Engineering Lead, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Engineering Lead, you need a solid background in software development, project management, and a relevant technical degree or equivalent experience. Familiarity with version control systems like Git, agile project management tools (e.g., Jira), and cloud platforms is often required, along with certifications such as PMP or AWS Certified Solutions Architect. Strong leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills help you guide teams and foster collaboration. These abilities are crucial for ensuring project success, technical excellence, and a productive, motivated engineering team.
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What job categories do people searching Engineering Lead jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Engineering Lead jobs in California are:
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Engineering Lead jobs near you
Infographic showing various Engineering Lead job openings in California as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 91% Full Time, 6% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 88% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $122,163 per year, or $58.7 per hour.

Engineering Lead

Celerity Consulting Group, Inc.

Walnut Creek, CA • On-site, Remote

$170K - $190K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 3 days ago

New

Job description

Job Title: Engineering Lead
Location: Remote (Work from home eligible)
Company Overview: Celerity is a consulting firm specializing in utilities and energy sectors. We empower organizations by converting complex data into actionable intelligence to mitigate risk, optimize assets, and maximize project outcomes. Our background and expertise enable us to drive and deliver transformation and operational excellence for our clients.
Practice Overview: The Business Integration Services (BIS) practice is a high-growth technology consulting practice delivering enterprise-scale integration, digital transformation, and solution design engagements for complex, multi-stakeholder clients. The practice is in its third year of a structured build and scale phase, expanding from a founding team to a full-capability organization spanning four pillars: Project Management (PMO), Business/Technical Analysis, Solution Architecture, and Engineering.
The practice operates at the intersection of business strategy and technology execution, working closely with technology partners and vendors to deliver outcomes that are both architecturally sound and commercially meaningful. It is entering a pivotal phase of maturity, transitioning from practice-leads delivery to a structured operating model with defined build paths, methodology standards, and delivery governance.
Position Overview: The Engineering Lead is a senior technical leader who builds and runs the engineering capability of BIS practice. This is a dual-role position: the Engineering Lead is both a hands-on technical practitioner who contributes directly to client engagements and a people manager responsible for hiring, developing, and retaining Junior Developers who will grow into the practice's core delivery workforce. This person is also a people manager while owning the internal operating infrastructure that allows the practice to scale without losing delivery quality or team cohesion. This is a founding role for the Engineering pillar. The Engineering Lead will define how engineering is practiced, how the Junior Developer team is structured, how quality standards are set, and how the pillar integrates with the BA and SA functions to deliver coherent solutions. The right candidate is someone who has already led small engineering teams in consulting or professional services contexts and is energized by the opportunity to build a function from a blank page.
This role demands strong operational leadership, industry knowledge, and technical fluency to drive results in complex client environments.
What makes this role distinctive: Most Engineering Lead roles sit inside an established function. This one is a founding role - the first engineering hire the practice has made. The person who takes this role will shape not just what the team builds, but how the practice thinks about engineering as a discipline. That requires both technical depth and organizational ambition.
Key Responsibilities:
Technical Leadership & Delivery:
  • Lead the engineering delivery function across all active client engagements, ensuring technical quality, architectural alignment, and delivery commitments are met
  • Serve as the senior technical authority on the engineering pillar - accountable for code quality, technical standards, tooling choices, and engineering methodology across the team
  • Contribute hands-on to client engagements, particularly in the early months as the Junior Developer team is being onboard and ramped to delivery readiness
  • Partner with the Solution Architecture pillar to translate architectural designs into engineering execution plans - bridging the gap between what should be built and how it gets built
  • Review and approve technical deliverables produced by Junior Developers before they are presented to clients or integrated into production environments
  • Lead technical scoping sessions with clients and partners, translating business requirements into engineering estimates, sprint plans, and delivery roadmaps
  • Own the engineering section of client-facing documentation: technical specifications, integration designs, deployment guides, and post-implementation handover materials
People Leadership & Junior Developer Development:
  • Directly manage Junior Developers - own their performance reviews, career development plans, day-to-day workload, and professional growth within the practice
  • Build a structured onboarding program for all Junior Developer hires, ensuring they reach delivery readiness within 60-90 days and are integrated into the practice culture
  • Provide daily technical mentorship and coaching to Junior Developers - code reviews, pair programming sessions, architecture walkthroughs, and real-time feedback on client deliverables
  • Set clear, measurable performance expectations for Junior Developers tied to technical milestones, delivery quality, and professional conduct standards
  • Identify development gaps early and build targeted learning plans - whether through internal mentorship, external training, certification programs, or stretch assignments on active engagements
  • Create a psychologically safe team environment where Junior Developers are encouraged to ask questions, surface technical risks, and grow without fear of punitive judgment for early-career mistakes
  • Plan for team growth - as the practice expands, the Engineering Lead will define when the team needs a mid-level engineer, what the role should look like, and how to build a sustainable engineering career ladder within the practice
Engineering Practice & Standards:
  • Define and maintain the engineering methodology for the BIS practice: coding standards, version control practices, code review processes, testing frameworks, deployment protocols, and documentation standards
  • Establish the technology stack and tooling used across client engagements - making deliberate, defensible choices about languages, frameworks, integration platforms, and development environments
  • Build reusable engineering assets - accelerators, templates, boilerplate components, and integration patterns - that reduce delivery time on future engagements and demonstrate the practice's technical maturity to clients
  • Own engineering quality assurance: define what 'done' looks like for engineering deliverables, implement QA checkpoints in the delivery process, and ensure Junior Developer output meets the bar before it reaches clients
  • Stay current on emerging technologies relevant to the practice's focus areas - enterprise integration, digital transformation platforms, cloud-native architectures, API ecosystems - and bring relevant innovations into the practice's capability set
Partner & Vendor Technical Engagement
  • Represent the engineering pillar in conversations with technology partners and vendors, including technical solutioning, platform capability discussions, and proof-of-concept evaluations
  • Build and maintain technical relationships with key vendor engineering teams - ensuring the practice has access to sandbox environments, technical support, early release programs, and partner-level technical resources
  • Evaluate new technology platforms and vendor capabilities against the practice's client needs - providing leadership with clear technical recommendations on which partnerships to invest in and why
  • Lead technical demos and proof-of-concept builds for clients and partners, showcasing the engineering team's capability and the practice's ability to deliver on complex integration challenges.
Cross-Pillar Collaboration:
  • Participate in the weekly delivery coordination sync with the leads - providing engineering status updates, flagging technical risks, and aligning on resource deployment across active engagements
  • Collaborate on requirements translation - ensuring business requirements are technically feasible before commitments are made to clients
  • Contribute to the practice's go-to-market positioning - helping to articulate the engineering capability in proposals, capability statements, and client presentations
  • Support preparing engineering-related content for leadership reporting, practice reviews, and project/partner related updates
Educational Qualifications:
  • Bachelor's degree in Software Engineering, Information Technology, Information Systems, or a related field or equivalent experience.
  • Advanced degree (Masters) is preferred.
Required Skills and Experience:
  • Minimum of 10 years of software engineering experience, with at least 3 years in a lead, principal, or staff engineer role carrying technical ownership of a product, platform, or delivery engagement
  • Demonstrated experience managing or mentoring junior engineers - comfortable with performance feedback, technical coaching, and career development conversations
  • Proven delivery experience in consulting, professional services, or client-facing environment - understands the difference between building internal products and delivering to external clients with commercial accountability
  • Strong hands-on proficiency in at least two of: enterprise integration platforms (MuleSoft, Boomi, Azure Integration Services, AWS), cloud-native development (Azure, AWS, GCP), API design and management, microservices architecture, or digital transformation platforms
  • Experience leading technical scoping, estimation, and solution design in a pre-sales or project delivery context
  • Demonstrated ability to translate architectural designs into engineering execution - works fluently with architects without requiring over-specification
  • Strong communication skills - can explain technical decisions to non-technical stakeholders, write clear documentation, and represent engineering credibly in client-facing settings
  • Proven track record as a people manager - comfortable owning performance reviews, difficult conversations, retention risk, and career development for experienced individual contributors
  • Experience working with Agile and Waterfall methodologies in SaaS companies or with system integrators.
  • Demonstrated ability to build trust with experienced peers and direct reports who have strong professional identities and do not require or respond well to directive management styles
  • Comfort operating in a high-growth, structurally evolving environment where processes are being built while delivery is ongoing
  • Strong understanding of utility operations, asset management, and regulatory compliance.
  • Ability to travel domestically and(or) internationally if required.
Preferred Skills:
  • Experience building or scaling an engineering function from early-stage - has defined standards, selected tooling, or stood up a team with minimal existing infrastructure
  • Familiarity with enterprise integration patterns: event-driven architecture, ETL pipelines, middleware orchestration, API gateway design, and data synchronization across heterogeneous systems
  • Exposure to digital transformation delivery contexts: ERP implementations, CRM integrations, digital workplace tooling, or cloud migration programs
  • Experience working alongside business analysts and solution architects in integrated delivery teams - understands how to receive and refine BA outputs and align to SA constraints
  • Prior experience with technology partner ecosystems (e.g., Salesforce, Microsoft, SAP, ServiceNow, MuleSoft) - holds or has held partner-level technical credentials
  • Familiarity with DevSecOps practices, CI/CD pipeline design, and infrastructure-as-code in a consulting delivery context
Preferred Certifications:
  • AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Associate or Professional, Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert, Google Cloud Professional Cloud Architect, or similar certifications.
  • Salesforce Certified Platform Developer, ServiceNow Certified Application Developer, SAP Certified Development Associate or similar certifications.

The salary range for this position is provided in good faith and is subject to variation based on geographic location, candidate experience, and market conditions. Final compensation will be determined after a comprehensive evaluation of the candidate's qualifications and alignment with the role.
In accordance with applicable pay transparency laws-including but not limited to those in California, Colorado, New York, Washington, and other jurisdictions-we disclose salary ranges to promote equity and transparency. Where required by law, compensation and benefits information will be included in job postings or made available upon request.
This job description outlines the primary responsibilities and standards of the position but is not exhaustive. Employees may be asked to perform additional duties that are reasonably related to their role and consistent with company policies and applicable labor laws.
Employee welfare and development is important to us, and we sponsor many activities outside of work to promote team building as well as sponsor formal training and certification. We are proud to offer a comprehensive health and welfare benefit package that includes:
HEALTH & WELL-BEING
  • Medical Insurance
  • Dental Insurance
  • Vision Insurance

PEACE OF MIND
  • Disability Insurance (STD/LTD)
  • Flexible Spending Account
  • Health Savings Account
  • Basic Life/AD&D
  • 401(k) plan

WORK/LIFE BALANCE
  • Paid Time Off
  • Company Holidays
  • Leave of Absence
  • Remote work and Flexible Work Schedules (for qualified positions)

ADDITIONAL PERKS
  • Employee Referral Program
  • Professional Development
  • Charitable Contribution Match

Based in Walnut Creek, CA with offices nationwide, Celerity energy engineers perform a critical, leadership role as strategic liaisons between data, assets and the teams that make projects happen in the field.
See full details and meet our leadership team on our website: https://www.consultcelerity.com/
Celerity is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employe

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