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Remote Lead Software Engineer Jobs in California

Head of Software

Torrance, CA ยท On-site +1

$141K - $189K/yr

You'll design and lead the buildout of the core platform that ingests global sensor data, runs ... This is a systems leadership role: you'll define the architecture, hire and mentor the engineering ...

$158K - $212K/yr

  • PTO

Costa Rica (Remote) About the role: As our Principal Software Engineer , you will serve as the ... Lead the design and delivery of scalable, high-quality customer-facing experiences across our e ...

Senior Software Engineer (Remote Sensing)

Santa Barbara, CA ยท On-site +1

$136K - $179K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

About the Job We are seeking a Senior Ground Software Engineer to join our Remote Sensing software organization and help expand our capacity to design, build, and maintain the critical systems that ...

Mid Level Software Engineer

Irvine, CA ยท Remote

$100K - $115K/yr

Mid Level Software Engineer Full-time Remote Exclusive confidential search -- details shared with qualified applicants. Become a Key Player as a Mid Level Software Engineer You will contribute to ...

Software Engineer

San Francisco, CA ยท On-site +1

  • Medical

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Employee divides their time between in-office and remote work. Access to an office location is ... software engineering experience building production services or applications using OO languages ...

Staff Software Engineer

San Jose, CA ยท On-site +1

$133K - $222K/yr

This role will lead the design and development of Windows-based software applications supporting ... Remote Procedure Calls (gRPC). Preferred: * Experience developing WPF applications using MVVM ...

Software Engineer

Los Angeles, CA ยท Remote

$105K - $130K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

We are seeking a talented Software Engineer to join our engineering team and help design, build ... REMOTE Benefits 401(k) Parental leave Health insurance Paid time off Employee discount Vision ...

Remote ## Position Overview We are dedicated to crafting, scaling, and maintaining high-performance ... times, lead architectural decision-making for both new and existing features. - Work ...

Remote ## Position Overview We are dedicated to crafting, scaling, and maintaining high-performance ... times, lead architectural decision-making for both new and existing features. - Work ...

Software Engineer III

San Diego, CA ยท On-site +1

$125K - $175K/yr

Hybrid or remote work is not authorized Job Title * Software Engineer III Salary * $125,000 - $175,000 Shift * N/A Travel * Yes, may involve several Contiguous United States (CONUS)/Outside ...

Remote : OK Job Role: As a software developer, you'll be the brain behind crafting, developing, testing, going live and maintaining the system. You are passionate in understanding the business ...

The Role As a Lead Software Engineer, you will help define and build the next generation of Doxel ... Remote first culture (for most roles) * Comprehensive Health Insurance (Medical, Dental, Vision)

Showing results 41-60

Remote Lead Software Engineer information

See California salary details

$81.9K

$144K

$195.4K

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

As of Aug 19, 2026, the average yearly pay for remote lead software engineer in California is $143,980.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $119,400.00 and $166,300.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a remote lead software engineer?

A Remote Lead Software Engineer is responsible for leading a team of developers while designing, developing, and maintaining software solutions from a remote location. They provide technical guidance, manage project timelines, and ensure code quality through best practices and code reviews. Additionally, they collaborate with cross-functional teams to define requirements, troubleshoot issues, and optimize performance. This role requires strong leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills to manage remote teams effectively.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a remote lead software engineer?

To thrive as a Remote Lead Software Engineer, you need advanced proficiency in software architecture, programming languages, and team leadership, typically supported by a bachelor's or master's degree in computer science or a related field. Hands-on experience with tools such as Git, CI/CD pipelines, cloud platforms (like AWS or Azure), and agile project management software, as well as certifications like AWS Certified Solutions Architect, are often required. Exceptional communication, mentorship, and problem-solving abilities are important soft skills for managing a distributed team. These skills are crucial to effectively lead technical projects, drive team success, and deliver high-quality software solutions in a remote environment.

What are the typical challenges faced by a remote lead software engineer, and how can they be addressed?

Remote Lead Software Engineers often navigate challenges such as coordinating distributed teams across different time zones, ensuring clear and consistent communication, and maintaining high productivity without in-person supervision. To address these, successful leads leverage robust collaboration tools, establish regular check-ins or stand-ups, and set clear expectations and documentation standards. Emphasizing transparency, proactively identifying and resolving blockers, and fostering a culture of trust and accountability are also key strategies. With the right practices, remote leads can build strong, cohesive teams and deliver complex projects efficiently.

What are popular job titles related to Remote Lead Software Engineer jobs in California?

For Remote Lead Software Engineer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Remote Lead Software Engineer jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Remote Lead Software Engineer jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Remote Lead Software Engineer jobs?

Cities in California with the most Remote Lead Software Engineer job openings:

Infographic showing various Remote Lead Software Engineer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 91% Full Time, 7% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 89% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $143,980 per year, or $69.2 per hour.

Software Engineer - Windows Internals - Fully Remote

Westlight AI

Palo Alto, CA โ€ข Remote

Full-time

Re-posted 26 days ago


Job description

Job Summary

At Westlight, we build products that help companies and governments to provide an extra layer of security for their infrastructure. We work with the internals of different operating systems to provide a framework that brings a completely new level of security and control.

We are looking for a Windows software engineer who has enough autonomy to lead the implementation of features related to kernel-mode drivers and integrate those features with other I/O subsystems. The ideal candidate will have prior experience writing Windows security software, e.g. anti-malware scanners or other low-level software.

This position offers significant opportunities for career development. Westlight's core team comprises of Stanford and MIT PhDs with expertise in AI, cybersecurity, CI/CD, and large-scale software systems. In this position, one will have opportunities to expand into these areas based on interest and expertise developed while working at Westlight.

Westlight is a fully remote company and this position can be held anywhere in the US. Since we work closely with the US Air Force, we require all applicants to be US Citizens and located in the US.

What we are looking for
  • Strong skills in Windows / C# desktop development
  • Comprehensive understanding of C and low-level memory management
  • Advanced use of debugging tools, e.g. WinDbg, KD, CDB, NTSD
  • Prior experience with Windows security software development, e.g. anti-malware scanners
  • Intermediate knowledge on networking fundamentals (TCP/IP, UDP, and common application protocols, e.g. HTTP, SSH, etc.)
  • Basic knowledge on Public-key cryptography fundamentals
    • Beginner knowledge on elliptic curve cryptography is a plus
  • Strong interpersonal skills and someone who thrives in a cooperative team environment
Technologies
  • Operating Systems: Windows 10 and Server
  • Programming languages: C#, C++, and C
    • Knowledge of Ruby on Rails and AWS also will be helpful
  • CI/CD Tools: Gitlab CI
Responsibilities

As a Software Engineer, you will work on Westlight product development:

  • Develop Westlight Windows kernel-level software
  • Integrate kernel-level software with other subsystems, such as I/O
  • Work together with the company leadership to define the Westlight Windows experience
Employment Type: FULL_TIME