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Tech Lead Software Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Paramount

Lead Software Engineer

Burbank, CA · On-site

$164K - $246K/yr

Lead Software Engineer, AI Tooling & Quality Engineering Platforms Team: Global Quality Engineering ... Evaluate and integrate emerging AI technologies that deliver measurable productivity and quality ...

STR

Lead Software Engineer

San Diego, CA

$157K - $224K/yr

STR is hiring experienced Lead Software Engineers to join our multidisciplinary cyber/networking ... Our team innovates communications technology across all networking layers, from the physical to the ...

Paramount

Lead Software Engineer

Burbank, CA · On-site

$164K - $246K/yr

Lead Software Engineer, AI Tooling & Quality Engineering Platforms Team : Global Quality ... Evaluate and integrate emerging AI technologies that deliver measurable productivity and quality ...

Paramount

Lead Software Engineer

Burbank, CA

$164K - $246K/yr

Lead Software Engineer, AI Tooling & Quality Engineering Platforms Team : Global Quality ... Evaluate and integrate emerging AI technologies that deliver measurable productivity and quality ...

Paramount

Lead Software Engineer

Burbank, CA · On-site

$164K - $246K/yr

Lead Software Engineer, AI Tooling & Quality Engineering Platforms Team : Global Quality ... Evaluate and integrate emerging AI technologies that deliver measurable productivity and quality ...

Paramount

Lead Software Engineer

Burbank, CA · On-site

$164K - $246K/yr

Lead Software Engineer, AI Tooling & Quality Engineering Platforms Team: Global Quality Engineering ... Evaluate and integrate emerging AI technologies that deliver measurable productivity and quality ...

Paramount

Lead Software Engineer

Burbank, CA · On-site

$164K - $246K/yr

Lead Software Engineer, AI Tooling & Quality Engineering Platforms Team : Global Quality ... Evaluate and integrate emerging AI technologies that deliver measurable productivity and quality ...

STR

Lead Software Engineer

San Diego, CA

$157K - $224K/yr

STR is hiring experienced Lead Software Engineers to join our multidisciplinary cyber/networking ... Our team innovates communications technology across all networking layers, from the physical to the ...

STR

Lead Software Engineer

San Diego, CA

$157K - $224K/yr

STR is hiring experienced Lead Software Engineers to join our multidisciplinary cyber/networking ... Our team innovates communications technology across all networking layers, from the physical to the ...

STR

Lead Software Engineer

San Diego, CA · On-site

$157K - $224K/yr

STR is hiring experienced Lead Software Engineers to join our multidisciplinary cyber/networking ... Our team innovates communications technology across all networking layers, from the physical to the ...

Green Dot

Lead Software Engineer

Los Angeles, CA · Hybrid

$139K - $199K/yr

Lead Software Engineer We're looking for talented professionals to join us in bringing smart money ... technology companies. This role will drive technical leadership and innovation in Firewire ...

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All JobsTech Lead Software Engineer JobsTech Lead Software Engineer Jobs in California

Tech Lead Software Engineer information

See California salary details

$81.9K

$144K

$195.4K

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

As of Jun 9, 2026, the average yearly pay for tech 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 the difference between Tech Lead Software Engineer vs Software Architect?

AspectTech Lead Software EngineerSoftware Architect
CredentialsBachelor's/Master's in CS or related field, relevant certificationsBachelor's/Master's in CS, often with architecture or design certifications
Work EnvironmentHands-on coding, team leadership, project managementDesigning system architecture, high-level planning, technical strategy
Employer & Industry UsageTech companies, startups, enterprise software teamsLarge organizations, system design firms, enterprise software
Search & Comparison IntentUnderstanding roles, responsibilities, career pathSystem design, technical strategy, architecture planning

The Tech Lead Software Engineer focuses on leading development teams, coding, and project execution, while the Software Architect concentrates on designing overall system architecture and technical strategy. Both roles require strong technical skills, but their primary responsibilities differ in scope and focus.

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

To thrive as a Tech Lead Software Engineer, you need advanced programming skills, deep software architecture knowledge, and experience in leading technical teams, often supported by a bachelor's or master's degree in computer science or related fields. Familiarity with tools such as Git, CI/CD pipelines, cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure), and agile project management systems is essential. Strong communication, mentorship, and problem-solving abilities are crucial soft skills for guiding teams and collaborating with stakeholders. These competencies ensure delivery of robust software solutions, foster team productivity, and drive technical excellence in complex projects.

What is a Tech Lead Software Engineer?

A Tech Lead Software Engineer is a senior developer who combines technical expertise with leadership responsibilities. They guide a team of engineers through software development projects, making key technical decisions, setting coding standards, and ensuring that best practices are followed. In addition to writing code, Tech Leads coordinate work, mentor team members, and communicate with stakeholders to align technical solutions with business goals. Their role bridges the gap between hands-on engineering and leadership, ensuring both project success and team growth.

How does a Tech Lead Software Engineer balance hands-on coding with leadership responsibilities?

As a Tech Lead Software Engineer, you'll often split your time between writing code and guiding the technical direction of your team. While you remain involved in architecture decisions and complex problem-solving, you also mentor junior engineers, conduct code reviews, and facilitate communication between team members and stakeholders. Balancing these responsibilities requires strong time management and prioritization skills, ensuring that both project delivery and team development are progressing smoothly. It's common to gradually shift from primarily coding to more strategic leadership as your team grows.
What are popular job titles related to Tech Lead Software Engineer jobs in California? For Tech Lead Software Engineer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Tech Lead Software Engineer jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Tech Lead Software Engineer jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Tech Lead Software Engineer jobs? Cities in California with the most Tech Lead Software Engineer job openings:
Tech Lead Software Engineer jobs near you
Lead Software Engineer

Lead Software Engineer

Cadence Design Systems, Inc.

San Jose, CA • On-site

$114K - $213K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Posted 7 days ago

Job description

At Cadence, we hire and develop leaders and innovators who want to make an impact on the world of technology.
At Cadence, we hire and develop leaders and innovators who want to make an impact on the world of technology.
Cadence is the industry leader of Verification IP (VIP) with products supporting several communication protocols and memory interfaces. Cadence VIP fits into nearly every verification environment with support for all major simulators and verification languages. Our VIP delivers the advanced features that you need to maximize your productivity and keep projects moving forward.
Our VIP PCIe R&D team is looking for a self-motivated, hands-on, and creative Lead Software Engineer who can be part of PCIe verification IP team and development efforts of the most complex industry leading software solutions for hardware/SOC memory and protocol verification. This industry-leading and proven technology is critically important for state-of-the-art products that are existing or under development
Responsibilities:
Candidate will be responsible for software development and validation of PCIe Verification IP. As a Lead Software Engineer, candidate is expected to participate in development efforts of the PCIe product to meet customer use model, solution requirements, protocol specification and execute necessary SW development practices to create reusable robust software solution to enable verification of these interface protocols. Candidate should be able to work with multi-site and diverse team. You need to effectively collaborate multi location development team to contribute in PCIe verification IP development, milestones technical roadmap and people training for success.
The candidate is also expected work with technical support lead and key customers to resolve implementation or usage issues as Cadence VIP products are used within various verification environments and timing critical to our customer's successes.
Position Requirements
Requirements:
  • BS with a minimum of 4 years of experience OR MS with a minimum of 2 years of experience OR new PhD Graduate
  • Extensive experience in modeling in C/C++ and background in object-oriented, algorithms, and data structures.
  • In-depth understanding of space/time complexity and advanced debugging techniques for proficiency in troubleshooting software issues and debugging a large codebase.
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with an ability to visualize processes and outcomes.
  • Outstanding all-round communication skills and ability to work collaboratively in a dynamic multi-location environment.

Strong Plus:
  • Working knowledge of PCI Express (PCIe) protocol or one or more protocols USB, NVME, SATA, Display Port, etc.
  • Knowledge of Verilog/SystemVerilog languages and OVM/UVM verification methodologies.
  • Experience with digital logic design or IP/SoC level Verification flow.
  • Customer orientation and knowledge of the EDA tool flow.

The annual salary range for California is $114,800 to $213,200. You may also be eligible to receive incentive compensation: bonus, equity, and benefits. Sales positions generally offer a competitive On Target Earnings (OTE) incentive compensation structure. Please note that the salary range is a guideline and compensation may vary based on factors such as qualifications, skill level, competencies and work location. Our benefits programs include: paid vacation and paid holidays, 401(k) plan with employer match, employee stock purchase plan, a variety of medical, dental and vision plan options, and more.
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