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Lead Developer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Lead Developer

Rockville, MD

$60.25 - $78.75/hr

As a Lead Developer, you will provide technical leadership for teams supporting Grants.gov application operations, maintenance, enhancements, forms development, chatbot capabilities, system-to-system ...

Lead Developer

Phoenix, AZ · On-site

$58.50 - $76.75/hr

The Lead Developer mentors developers, manages a small development team, and provides advanced technical analysis and recommendations. The Lead Developer analyzes and evaluates information systems ...

Lead Developer

Alpharetta, GA · On-site +1

$57.50 - $75.50/hr

As a Lead Developer, you'll work with the team to architect, develop, deploy, and maintain high-quality, responsive, performant, compliant, and secure modern web experiences. Responsibilities

Lead Developer

Rockville, MD · On-site

$60.25 - $78.75/hr

As a Lead Developer, you will provide technical leadership for teams supporting Grants.gov application operations, maintenance, enhancements, forms development, chatbot capabilities, system-to-system ...

Lead Developer

Alpharetta, GA

$57.50 - $75.50/hr

As a Lead Developer, you'll work with the team to architect, develop, deploy, and maintain high-quality, responsive, performant, compliant, and secure modern web experiences. Responsibilities

AI Lead Developer

Exton, PA

$57 - $74.50/hr

AI Lead Developer - Agentic AI & GenAI Solutions Location: Exton, PA Onsite Employment Type: Full-Time We are seeking a hands-on AI Lead Developer to architect, build, and deploy enterprise-scale ...

Lead Developer

Mclean, VA

$59.75 - $78/hr

Lead Developer Location : Mclean VA Duration : 12 months+ MANDATORY: Agile tem - Use Scalled Agile Framwork (SAFE) Candidates must have a technical background. Hands on experience "how and why" use ...

Lead Developer

Vienna, VA · On-site

$165K - $175K/yr

Ability to lead design meetings, understand complex architectures and integrations. Support Jr. developers. Ensure code quality through code reviews. Troubleshoot Production issues and provide ...

Lead Developer

Mclean, VA

$59.75 - $78/hr

As a Lead Developer, you will provide technical leadership for teams supporting Grants.gov application operations, maintenance, enhancements, forms development, chatbot capabilities, system-to-system ...

LEAD DEVELOPER

Sacramento, CA · On-site

$8.6K - $11K/mo

LEAD DEVELOPER Classification: INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SPECIALIST II $8,625.00 - $11,557.00 A New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of ...

Lead Developer

Vienna, VA · Remote

$165K - $175K/yr

Ability to lead design meetings, understand complex architectures and integrations. Support Jr. developers. Ensure code quality through code reviews. Troubleshoot Production issues and provide ...

Lead Developer

Mclean, VA · Hybrid

$59.75 - $78.25/hr

Data Engineering & Architecture Consulting Travel Required: Up to 10% Clearance Required: Ability to Obtain Public Trust What You Will Do Guidehouse is seeking a Lead Developer to provide hands-on ...

Lead Developer

Saint Louis, MO

$57.25 - $75/hr

Aggio (aggio.io) is looking for a Full Stack Lead developer and Technical Architect to help build a suite of scalable web applications to provide a unique experience to our users. This is a hands-on ...

AI Lead Developer

Exton, PA · On-site

$57 - $74.50/hr

AI Lead Developer - Agentic AI & GenAI Solutions Location: Exton, PA Onsite Employment Type: Full-Time We are seeking a hands-on AI Lead Developer to architect, build, and deploy enterprise-scale ...

IT Lead Developer

Brandon, SD · On-site

$59.25 - $77.75/hr

Join PIPESTONE as an IT Lead Developer! Sioux Falls / Brandon, SD area PIPESTONE is looking for a Lead Developer to drive innovation, lead a talented development team, and build scalable technology ...

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Lead Developer information

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$10

$64

$88

How much do lead developer jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 24, 2026, the average hourly pay for lead developer in the United States is $64.33, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $56.73 and $74.28 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is L1, L2, L3, and L4 developer?

In the context of a Lead Developer role, L1, L2, L3, and L4 typically refer to different levels of software engineering or developer seniority within an organization, with L1 being entry-level and L4 representing senior or lead positions. These levels often indicate experience, responsibility, and skill set, and are used to structure career progression, compensation, and expectations in tech teams.

What is the difference between Lead Developer vs Software Engineer?

AspectLead Developer
ResponsibilitiesOversees development teams, designs architecture, manages project timelines
Required SkillsStrong coding skills, leadership, project management, communication
Work EnvironmentCollaborative teams, Agile/Scrum settings, technical leadership roles
Common CertificationsNone mandatory, but certifications like PMP or Scrum Master are beneficial

While both Lead Developers and Software Engineers possess strong technical skills, Lead Developers focus on team leadership, project oversight, and architecture design, whereas Software Engineers primarily concentrate on coding and implementing features. Lead Developers often have more experience and take on managerial responsibilities, making them suitable for guiding development projects and teams.

How much do lead developers get paid?

Lead developers typically earn between $100,000 and $160,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and industry. Seniority, technical skills, and certifications can influence salary levels, and they often oversee development teams and projects.

How does a Lead Developer typically balance hands-on coding with team leadership responsibilities?

Lead Developers often split their time between writing code and guiding their team. While they remain technically involved—reviewing code, setting standards, and tackling complex tasks—they also focus on mentoring, conducting code reviews, and coordinating work across team members. Balancing these duties requires strong organization skills and the ability to delegate effectively, ensuring both project progress and team growth. Most Lead Developers find that their leadership and communication responsibilities increase as projects scale or as the team grows.

What engineer makes $500,000 a year?

Senior software engineers, especially those in high-demand fields like machine learning, cloud computing, or fintech, can earn $500,000 or more annually, often through a combination of base salary, bonuses, and stock options. Achieving this level typically requires extensive experience, advanced skills, and working at large tech companies or startups with significant funding.

What are Lead Developers?

Lead Developers are experienced software engineers who oversee the technical aspects of a development team. They are responsible for designing solutions, setting coding standards, mentoring junior developers, and coordinating project tasks. Lead Developers bridge the gap between technical and non-technical stakeholders, ensuring that projects are delivered efficiently and to high quality standards. They often make key architectural decisions and help guide the team's professional growth.

What Is a Lead Developer?

A lead developer has the same responsibilities as a developer, but must also direct others and ensure they adhere to determined software quality standards. You work with business analysts to produce relevant software products and participate in design decisions, tool selection, and improvements to the overall development process. You mentor your team, provide them with better strategies to build computer programs and advise them on emerging techniques and processes.

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

To thrive as a Lead Developer, you need advanced proficiency in software development, system architecture, and project management, often backed by a degree in computer science or related field. Expertise with programming languages, version control systems like Git, and frameworks such as React or Node.js, as well as experience with Agile methodologies, are typically required. Strong leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills set outstanding Lead Developers apart by enabling effective team guidance and collaboration. These abilities ensure high-quality software delivery, foster team growth, and drive project success in dynamic tech environments.

What is the job of a lead developer?

A lead developer is responsible for overseeing the technical aspects of software projects, guiding development teams, and ensuring code quality and project deadlines are met. They often coordinate with project managers, review code, and make architectural decisions, requiring strong programming skills and leadership abilities.
What cities are hiring for Lead Developer jobs? Cities with the most Lead Developer job openings:
Who are the top companies hiring for Lead Developer jobs? The top employers for Lead Developer jobs are:
What states have the most Lead Developer jobs? States with the most job openings for Lead Developer jobs include:
Infographic showing various Lead Developer job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 83% Full Time, 3% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 13% Contract. Highlights an 80% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 15% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $133,813 per year, or $64.3 per hour.
Lead Developer

$81K - $141K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

This job post has expired today. Applications are no longer accepted.


Cognizant rating

7.4

Company rating: 7.4 out of 10

Based on 85 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

42nd of 58 rated business consultants


Job description

We are seeking an experienced Lead Developer with deep expertise in Java, Spring Boot, Microservices, and GraphQL to lead the design and development of scalable enterprise applications. The ideal candidate will provide technical leadership, drive architectural decisions, mentor development teams, and deliver high-quality, cloud-native solutions. This role requires strong hands-on experience in modern application development, API design, cloud platforms, containerization, and DevOps practices.
In this role, you will:
• Lead the design, development, and delivery of enterprise-grade applications using Java, Spring Boot, Microservices, and GraphQL, ensuring scalable, secure, and high-performing solutions.
• Define and enforce technical architecture, coding standards, design patterns, and engineering best practices across development teams.
• Provide technical leadership, mentorship, and guidance to developers through code reviews, design reviews, and knowledge-sharing initiatives.
• Design and develop RESTful and GraphQL APIs, including schema design, federation, query optimization, and API security implementation.
• Architect and implement microservices-based and event-driven solutions leveraging API Gateway, Service Discovery, Distributed Configuration, messaging platforms, and Domain-Driven Design principles.
• Integrate applications with enterprise systems, third-party services, databases, caching technologies, and event-streaming platforms while ensuring reliability and maintainability.
• Lead cloud-native application deployment and modernization efforts using AWS, Docker, Kubernetes, and CI/CD tools such as Jenkins and GitHub Actions.
• Drive application observability, performance optimization, scalability, and security by implementing monitoring, logging, tracing, authentication, and authorization best practices.
Work model
We believe hybrid work is the way forward as we strive to provide flexibility wherever possible. Based on this role's business requirements, this is a hybrid position requiring 3 days a week in a client office in Miami, Florida. Regardless of your working arrangement, we are here to support a healthy work-life balance though our various wellbeing programs. The working arrangements for this role are accurate as of the date of posting. This may change based on the project you're engaged in, as well as business and client requirements. Rest assured; we will always be clear about role expectations.
Please note: A few of our roles may require in-person interviews at Cognizant offices or client locations, depending on project or client needs.
What you need to have to be considered
14+ years of software development experience, with at least 10+ years of hands-on experience building enterprise applications using Java and Spring technologies.
• Strong expertise in Java 11/17/21, Spring Boot, Spring Framework, Spring Cloud, Hibernate/JPA, and REST API development.
• Proven experience designing and developing GraphQL APIs, including schema design, Apollo GraphQL, Spring GraphQL, federation, query optimization, resolvers, and security.
• Extensive knowledge of microservices architecture, including API Gateway, Service Discovery (Eureka/Consul), Circuit Breaker patterns, Distributed Transactions, Event-Driven Architecture, and Domain-Driven Design (DDD).
• Strong experience working with relational and NoSQL databases such as PostgreSQL, Oracle, MySQL, MongoDB, and Redis.
• Hands-on expertise with messaging and streaming technologies including Apache Kafka, RabbitMQ, ActiveMQ, and other event-streaming platforms.
• Experience deploying and managing cloud-native applications on AWS (preferred), Azure, or GCP, utilizing Docker and Kubernetes/OpenShift for containerization and orchestration.
• Proficiency with modern DevOps and development tools including Git, Jenkins, GitHub Actions, SonarQube, Maven/Gradle, and JIRA, along with strong leadership, problem-solving, and stakeholder management skills.
Salary and Other Compensation:
The annual salary for this position is between $81,337 to $141,500 depending on experience and other qualifications of the successful candidate. This position is also eligible for Cognizant's discretionary annual incentive program, based on performance and subject to the terms of Cognizant's applicable plans.
Benefits: Cognizant offers the following benefits for this position, subject to applicable eligibility requirements:
  • Medical/Dental/Vision/Life Insurance
  • Paid holidays plus Paid Time Off
  • 401(k) plan and contributions
  • Long-term/Short-term Disability
  • Paid Parental Leave
  • Employee Stock Purchase Plan

Disclaimer: The salary, other compensation, and benefits information is accurate as of the date of this posting. Cognizant reserves the right to modify this information at any time, subject to applicable law.
About Cognizant:
Cognizant (Nasdaq: CTSH) is an AI Builder and technology services provider, bridging the gap between AI investment and enterprise value by building full-stack AI solutions for our clients. Our deep industry, process and engineering expertise enables us to build an organization's unique context into technology systems that amplify human potential, drive tangible outcomes and keep global enterprises ahead in a fast-changing world. See how at cognizant.ai or @cognizant.
Additional employment information
Compensation information is accurate as of the date of this posting. Cognizant reserves the right to modify this information at any time, subject to applicable law.
Applicants may be required to attend interviews in person or by video conference. In addition, candidates may be required to present their current state or government issued ID during each interview.
Cognizant is an equal opportunity employer. Your application and candidacy will not be considered based on race, color, sex, religion, creed, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
If you have a disability that requires reasonable accommodation to search for a job opening or submit an application, please email [email protected] for roles based in the Americas or [email protected] for roles based in India.

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