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Software Engineering Team Lead Jobs in California

Waabi

Electrical Engineering Team Lead

San Francisco, CA · On-site +1

$185K - $270K/yr

The hardware behind that intelligence has to be as rigorous as the software - road-ready ... Lead the team. Guide and mentor a group of electrical engineers working on high-performance ...

Waabi

Electrical Engineering Team Lead

San Francisco, CA · On-site +1

$185K - $270K/yr

The hardware behind that intelligence has to be as rigorous as the software -- road-ready ... Lead the team. Guide and mentor a group of electrical engineers working on high-performance ...

Compal USA

Software Engineering Lead

Goleta, CA · On-site

ABOUT THE ROLE We are seeking a Software Engineering Lead to join our Automotive Electronic Products (AEP) team as part of CompalUSA, work based in Goleta California. A hybrid work model combining ...

E2B

Engineering Team Lead, Platform

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$120K - $159K/yr

... lead both the people and the quality of what they deliver, so that E2B's core infrastructure is ... Leading a platform engineering team: 1:1s, performance reviews, career growth, hiring, and day-to ...

Compal

Software Engineering Lead

Goleta, CA · On-site

ABOUT THE ROLE We are seeking a Software Engineering Lead to join our Automotive Electronic Products (AEP) team as part of CompalUSA, work based in Goleta California. A hybrid work model combining ...

Compal USA

Software Engineering Lead

Goleta, CA · On-site

ABOUT THE ROLE We are seeking a Software Engineering Lead to join our Automotive Electronic Products (AEP) team as part of CompalUSA, work based in Goleta California. A hybrid work model combining ...

MML US Inc

Principal Software Engineer

San Diego, CA · On-site

$190K - $210K/yr

The individual serves as the technical lead of the software engineering team, establishing architecture frameworks, driving design decisions, and owning platform strategy -- all within the regulatory ...

Compal

Software Engineering Lead

Goleta, CA · Hybrid

ABOUT THE ROLE We are seeking a Software Engineering Lead to join our Automotive Electronic Products (AEP) team as part of CompalUSA, work based in Goleta California. A hybrid work model combining ...

E2B

Engineering Team Lead, Platform

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$190 - $240/hr

You'll lead both the people and the quality of what they deliver, so that E2B's core infrastructure ... Leading a platform engineering team: 1:1s, performance reviews, career growth, hiring, and ...

Terabase Energy

Software Engineering Manager

Davis, CA · On-site

Our team is a blend of solar-industry veterans and newbies, thought-leaders, dreamers, software ... Lead design and implementation of significant features, services, or architectural components ...

Terabase Energy

Software Engineering Manager

Davis, CA · On-site

Our team is a blend of solar-industry veterans and newbies, thought-leaders, dreamers, software ... Lead design and implementation of significant features, services, or architectural components ...

E-Space

Head of Software Engineering

Saratoga, CA

$279K/yr

This is a rare opportunity to build and lead a world-class engineering team at the forefront of ... Define and drive the software engineering vision, architecture, and roadmap across all space ...

Ring Inc

Head of Software Engineering

Saratoga, CA · On-site

$100 - $185/hr

This is a rare opportunity to build and lead a world-class engineering team at the forefront of ... Define and drive the software engineering vision, architecture, and roadmap across all space ...

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Showing results 21-40

All JobsSoftware Engineering Team Lead JobsSoftware Engineering Team Lead Jobs in California

Software Engineering Team Lead information

See California salary details

$81.9K

$144K

$195.4K

How much do software engineering team lead jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 9, 2026, the average yearly pay for software engineering team lead 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 are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a software engineering team lead?

To thrive as a Software Engineering Team Lead, you need a solid background in software development, experience with project management, and a track record of leading technical teams, often supported by a degree in computer science or related fields. Familiarity with agile methodologies, version control systems like Git, and tools such as Jira or Azure DevOps is typically required. Strong communication, mentorship, and conflict resolution skills help foster team collaboration and professional growth. These competencies are crucial for delivering high-quality software solutions while motivating and guiding a productive, cohesive team.

What is the difference between Software Engineering Team Lead vs Software Developer?

AspectSoftware Engineering Team LeadSoftware Developer
ResponsibilitiesOversees team projects, coordinates tasks, mentors team membersDevelops, tests, and maintains software applications
Required SkillsLeadership, project management, technical expertiseProgramming, debugging, technical problem-solving
Work EnvironmentTeam management, collaboration, cross-functional communicationIndividual coding, technical focus
Common CertificationsNone mandatory, but PMP or Agile certifications beneficialProgramming language certifications, such as Java, Python

The main difference between a Software Engineering Team Lead and a Software Developer lies in their roles. The Team Lead manages projects and guides the team, while the Developer focuses on coding and technical tasks. Both roles require strong technical skills, but the Team Lead also needs leadership and coordination abilities.

What is a software engineering team lead?

A Software Engineering Team Lead is a senior-level professional responsible for guiding and managing a team of software engineers. They oversee the planning, development, and delivery of software projects, ensuring that the team meets technical standards and project deadlines. In addition to their technical expertise, they provide mentorship, facilitate communication, and help resolve any obstacles that may arise during the development process. Their role often bridges the gap between engineering teams and management, ensuring alignment with organizational goals.

What are some common challenges faced by a software engineering team lead, and how can they be addressed?

As a Software Engineering Team Lead, one of the most common challenges is balancing hands-on technical work with leadership responsibilities, such as mentoring team members and managing project timelines. Effective delegation and clear communication are key to ensuring both technical and managerial duties are met. Additionally, fostering collaboration between team members and other departments—like product management or QA—can help prevent bottlenecks and miscommunication. Regular one-on-ones and sprint retrospectives are also valuable for addressing issues early and supporting team growth.
What are popular job titles related to Software Engineering Team Lead jobs in California? For Software Engineering Team Lead jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Software Engineering Team Lead jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Software Engineering Team Lead jobs in California are:
Software Engineering Team Lead jobs near you
Infographic showing various Software Engineering Team Lead job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 68% Full Time, 26% Part Time, 2% Temporary, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 91% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $143,980 per year, or $69.2 per hour.

Software Engineering Manager, Flight Software

Muon Space

San Jose, CA • On-site

$210K - $234K/yr

Full-time

Posted 3 days ago

New

Job description

About the role

We are looking for a Software Engineering Manager to lead the team responsible for building the platform that operates the flight and payload systems for on-orbit satellites. This team owns the core software, services, and tools that implement core flight operations including communications, telemetry, power management, sensor and payload operation and system orchestration.

In this role, you will develop the people, processes, and technical direction needed to deliver scalable, reliable systems that convert customer intent into safe and efficient on-orbit operations. You will collaborate closely with customers, ground platform and mission operations, to implement solutions that are robust, flexible, scalable and easy to integrate with.

This position is hybrid and requires working on-site in our San Jose, CA office three days per week.

Responsibilities
  • Lead, mentor, and grow a software engineering team responsible for core flight software development
  • Define team goals, and technical roadmaps that align with companies priorities.
  • Ensure reliability, scalability, and performance of mission-critical services operating in production.
  • Work with cross-functional stakeholders to translate mission needs into clear requirements and technical specifications.
  • Drive engineering best practices including design reviews, code quality, testing, and observability.
  • Manage team capacity, staffing, and growth, including hiring, coaching, and performance development.
  • Promote a culture of technical ownership, continuous improvement, and pragmatic delivery.
Qualifications
  • BS/MS in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field OR equivalent industry experience.
  • 5+ years of software engineering experience and 2+ years of experience managing software engineering team building production systems.
  • Significant experience developing in languages such as C++, Python or Rust
  • Strong technical background in embedded systems (RTOS and/or Linux class typically)
  • Demonstrated experience building and operating mission-critical products with uptime, reliability, and performance requirements.
  • Experience defining technical direction and driving execution through a team.
  • Strong communication skills and comfort working with cross-functional stakeholders.
Nice to have
  • Experience in aerospace, robotics or other domains with real-time scheduling, planning, or resource allocation and critical operations
  • Experience developing in Rust
Salary

The salary range for this role is $210,000 - $234,000, plus a competitive equity grant and comprehensive benefits package. Final compensation will be determined based on skills, qualifications, experience, and geographic location as assessed during the interview process. 

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