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Lead Software Development Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

As a full‑stack engineer with a strong affinity for front‑end development, you'll shape user ... Lead research into external technologies (front‑end and full‑stack) and propose adoption ...

SDET

Bellevue, WA · On-site

$56.50 - $72.75/hr

Lead SDET Mandatory skills: API Testing, SDET, Selenium * Collaborating with the development and QA teams to understand project requirements and test objectives. * Writing and maintaining automated ...

As a fullstack engineer with a strong affinity for frontend development, you'll shape user ... Lead research into external technologies (frontend and fullstack) and propose adoption strategies.

Apolis is seeking a Lead Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET) to architect and scale their robotics software testing organization. The role involves defining test strategies, building robust ...

New

Lead SDET Engineer Location: O'Fallon MO Need strong Testng, Selenium, Java Coding experience Must have: * Bachelors or Masters in CS or related degrees. * Minimum of 6+ years with Master or 8+ years ...

Lead the adoption of AI-augmented development environments (e.g., Kiro, Cursor, Copilot) to ... Quality-Driven Engineering: Expertise in test automation and maintainable patterns, utilizing AI to ...

Junior SDET

Lafayette, LA · On-site

$64K - $83K/yr

The Junior SDET will support test automation development, execution, and maintenance activities under the guidance of the Lead SDET. The role will focus on building and executing automated test ...

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Lead Software Development Engineer information

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$83K

$145.9K

$198K

How much do lead software development engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 26, 2026, the average yearly pay for lead software development engineer in the United States is $145,890.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $121,000.00 and $168,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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

To thrive as a Lead Software Development Engineer, you need advanced knowledge of software engineering principles, programming languages, and hands-on experience with designing scalable systems, typically supported by a computer science degree or equivalent experience. Familiarity with technical tools such as version control systems (e.g., Git), cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure), and agile project management frameworks is essential. Strong leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills help you effectively guide teams and manage project priorities. These skills ensure successful project delivery, high-quality software solutions, and cohesive teamwork in dynamic tech environments.

How does a Lead Software Development Engineer typically balance hands-on coding with team leadership responsibilities?

As a Lead Software Development Engineer, you can expect to split your time between coding and overseeing the technical direction of your team. While you’ll still participate in designing and developing key features, a significant part of your role involves mentoring team members, conducting code reviews, and ensuring adherence to best practices. You’ll also collaborate closely with product managers and stakeholders to align technical solutions with business goals. Balancing these responsibilities requires strong organizational skills and the ability to delegate tasks effectively, ensuring both high-quality code and team growth.

What is a Lead Software Development Engineer?

A Lead Software Development Engineer is a senior-level professional responsible for guiding a team of software developers in designing, developing, and maintaining software applications. They provide technical leadership, oversee project progress, and ensure that best practices and high coding standards are followed. In addition to hands-on coding, they often collaborate with other departments, mentor junior engineers, and help define the technical vision for projects. Their role is crucial in delivering high-quality software solutions on time and within scope.
More about Lead Software Development Engineer jobs
Infographic showing various Lead Software Development Engineer job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 2% As Needed, 88% Full Time, and 10% Part Time. Highlights an 93% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $145,890 per year, or $70.1 per hour.

Lead Software Development Engineer

iSpot

Bellevue, WA • On-site

$148K - $191K/yr

Full-time

Posted 18 days ago


Job description

Immigration / Work Authorization Notice: Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States. iSpot is not able to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa for this position at this time.

iSpot competes for the best talent. Our compensation packages consist of salary and equity in one of Seattle's hottest start-ups, as well as other standard benefits. Most importantly, we provide a really interesting working experience, and the chance to contribute to the success of something great.

What You'll Be Part Of:

You'll join a high‑impact engineering organization building scalable, shareable technologies that power multiple product teams. As a full‑stack engineer with a strong affinity for front‑end development, you'll shape user experiences, define UI architecture, and build reusable components that accelerate development across the company. Your work will influence product direction, elevate engineering productivity, and help define the next generation of platform and UI capabilities.

Responsibilities:
  • Design and implement extensible, shareable full‑stack features across multiple engineering projects, with a strong emphasis on front‑end architecture and user experience.
  • Build high‑quality UI components and front‑end systems using modern frameworks (e.g., React).
  • Serve as a go‑to technical expert for front‑end patterns, performance, accessibility, and best practices.
  • Review code with prescriptive, actionable feedback; contribute to coding standards and UI/UX guidelines.
  • Drive improvements to automation systems and testing frameworks, including front‑end testing strategies.
  • Explore and evaluate AI technologies to enhance team productivity and effectiveness.
  • Create space for teammates to adopt AI tooling through pairing, demos, and documentation.
  • Lead research into external technologies (front‑end and full‑stack) and propose adoption strategies.
  • Own on‑call responsibilities, create and update runbooks/SOPs, and coach others on incident investigation.
  • Author, review, and approve requirements and technical designs for multiple projects.
  • Work cross‑functionally to align partners and stakeholders to project vision, mission, and strategy.
  • Mentor less experienced engineers in communication, design, UI engineering, and execution.
  • Communicate clearly and effectively, tailoring messaging to technical and non‑technical audiences.
Qualifications and Education Requirements:
  • Extensive experience developing full‑stack software, including shareable front‑end and platform components.
  • Deep expertise in front‑end engineering using modern frameworks such as **React**, plus strong understanding of JavaScript/TypeScript, state management, and UI performance.
  • Strong understanding of test automation systems, maintainable test patterns, and quality‑driven engineering (including front‑end testing frameworks like Jest, React Testing Library, Cypress).
  • Strong knowledge of data structures, algorithms, and performance optimization techniques.
  • Experience authoring and reviewing technical designs for complex, multi‑team projects.
  • Proven ability to independently deliver high‑impact engineering work.
Preferred Skills:

Frontend Development

  • Core Languages: HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript (ES6+).
  • Frameworks/Libraries: React
  • Design Principles: Responsive web design and mobile-first development.

Backend Development

  • Languages & Environments: Node.js (JavaScript/TypeScript), Python (Django/Flask), or Java (Spring Boot).
  • API Architecture: RESTful APIs (standard) and GraphQL (modern alternative).
  • Server Logic: Authentication (JWT/OAuth), authorization, and middleware.

Database Management

  • Relational (SQL): PostgreSQL, MySQL, or SQL Server for structured data.
  • Non-Relational (NoSQL): Redis for caching.
  • Querying: Proficiency in writing SQL queries and utilizing ORMs (like Prisma or Sequelize).
Additional Notes:

This role is ideal for engineers who love full‑stack work but feel especially energized by front‑end engineering, user experience, and building UI systems that scale across teams. Senior SDEs in this domain are expected to lead by example, elevate engineering quality, and drive innovation across both the front‑end and back‑end.

Target cash compensation range: $148,550 - $191,630 USD Annually

We are committed to providing competitive, market-informed compensation. The cash compensation above includes base salary, variable commission for employees in eligible roles, and annual bonus targets for eligible roles. In addition to cash compensation, all full time iSpotters are eligible to participate in iSpot's equity plan to receive stock options. Non-exempt roles will also be eligible for (pre-approved) overtime pay. Individual compensation packages are influenced by different factors unique to each candidate, including their skills, experience, qualifications and other job-related reasons.

For more information on total rewards package, go HERE

Hybrid & Flexible Workplace Policy

iSpot supports a hybrid and flexible workplace. Depending on location and work responsibilities, employees may be designated as full-time or part-time office-based or a fully remote employee. A hybrid work schedule indicates that you work in the office some days and work from home other days. The best hybrid workplaces allow for flexibility while also encouraging consistency.

Those local or living in surrounding areas to one of our offices (Bellevue, WA or New York, NY) will work a hybrid schedule, coming into their local office 1-3 days a week. While those in a role, not office-based and located further away from our offices, will work a fully remote schedule. If you have questions regarding exact details of our hybrid & flexible workplace policy, please let your recruiter know and they will discuss with you further.

#LI-Hybrid

If you don't feel you met every single requirement for the role, don't rule yourself out. Please apply anyway!

iSpot is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, disability, age, or other legally protected status. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or the recruiting process, please contact our HR team.

California Residents applying for positions at iSpot can access our California Consumer Privacy Act here.