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Tech Lead Software Engineer Jobs in Iowa (NOW HIRING)

Software Developer Lead

West Des Moines, IA · On-site

$113K - $142K/yr

Athene is seeking a Software Developer Lead to help shape the next generation of AI-native ... technology, innovation, and a culture built on our BEAM values-Believe in your co-workers, Engage ...

Software Engineer

Ames, IA · On-site

$45 - $60/hr

Software Engineer This role leads the design, implementation, and testing of innovative software ... Lead the design, implementation, and testing of robust software solutions that meet and exceed ...

Capable of reading and understanding engineered drawings. * Responsible for PPAP information and ... Quality Tech Lead Qualifications: * Proficient in Excel. * Good communication skills (verbal and ...

Senior Software Engineer

Des Moines, IA · Hybrid

$119K - $157K/yr

As a Senior Software Engineer, you will serve as the highest-level engineering execution ... 2+ as a tech lead * Expert-level C# / .NET proficiency with a track record of building and ...

... technologies and tools, primarily within a Windowsbased 3D CAD system written in C++, as well as ... Software fundamentals: Solid understanding of objectoriented programming, data structures, and ...

Summary The Specialist Software Engineer is focused on the design and development of web and cloud ... technologies. * Perform design and analysis for deliverables. Lead large team design sessions.

Experience with search and indexing technologies such as Elasticsearch. - Experience in React, Next ... software engineering principles, design patterns, algorithms, and system architecture ...

Showing results 21-40

Tech Lead Software Engineer information

See Iowa salary details

$78K

$137K

$186K

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

As of Aug 18, 2026, the average yearly pay for tech lead software engineer in Iowa is $137,030.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $113,700.00 and $158,300.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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.

What does a Tech Lead Software Engineer do?

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 the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a tech lead software engineer?

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 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 popular job titles related to Tech Lead Software Engineer jobs in Iowa?

For Tech Lead Software Engineer jobs in Iowa, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Tech Lead Software Engineer jobs in Iowa look for?

The top searched job categories for Tech Lead Software Engineer jobs in Iowa are:

What cities in Iowa are hiring for Tech Lead Software Engineer jobs?

Cities in Iowa with the most Tech Lead Software Engineer job openings:

Infographic showing various Tech Lead Software Engineer job openings in Iowa as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 90% Full Time, 8% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 86% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 12% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $137,030 per year, or $65.9 per hour.

Software Developer Lead

Athene Holding Ltd.

West Des Moines, IA • On-site

$113K - $142K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 15 days ago


Job description

We are driven to do more. More for our customers and the financial professionals who offer our products. If you are driven to do more and love the challenge of pursuing more, Athene is your kind of company. You will find we offer more than the basics to create an inclusive and dynamic work environment at our various locations.
Purpose:
Athene is seeking a Software Developer Lead to help shape the next generation of AI-native platforms that power critical insurance workflows. In this hands-on technical leadership role, you will design and deliver scalable, event-driven systems while advancing engineering practices that improve reliability, speed, and quality across the software development lifecycle. You'll serve as a trusted technical leader, influencing architecture, mentoring engineers, and driving adoption of modern AI-augmented development approaches.
This role offers the opportunity to solve complex technical challenges at enterprise scale while partnering across engineering and business teams to deliver innovative capabilities that directly support Athene's continued growth. Backed by Apollo's global investment platform, Athene is transforming retirement services through technology, innovation, and a culture built on our BEAM values-Believe in your co-workers, Engage actively, Act like owners, and Make it happen.
Accountabilities:
  • Lead the architecture, design, and delivery of scalable, event-driven distributed systems supporting business-critical insurance platforms.
  • Establish and champion AI-enabled, specification-driven software development practices that improve engineering quality, productivity, and delivery speed.
  • Drive platform reliability through strong observability, operational excellence, automation, and production readiness.
  • Provide technical leadership, mentorship, and architectural guidance across engineering teams while promoting engineering standards and continuous improvement.
  • Partner with cross-functional stakeholders to simplify complex technical challenges and deliver innovative, customer-focused solutions.

Qualifications and Experience:
  • 6+ years of experience designing and delivering enterprise software, distributed systems, or AI-enabled technology solutions, including recent experience applying AI to software development or business solutions, or relevant experience.
  • Demonstrated expertise designing secure, scalable, highly available distributed systems, with strong knowledge of cloud-native architectures, observability, automation, and modern engineering practices.
  • Proven ability to provide technical leadership by influencing architecture, mentoring engineers, driving innovation, and balancing speed, quality, and operational excellence in a fast-paced environment.
  • Strong critical thinking, adaptability, creativity, and a bias for action, with experience leveraging AI and automation to improve engineering effectiveness and accelerate delivery.
  • Experience working within enterprise or regulated environments is preferred.
  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Technology, or a related field, or equivalent experience.

Drive. Discipline. Confidence. Focus. Commitment. Learn more about working at Athene.
Athene is a Military Friendly Employer! Learn more about how we support our Veterans.
Athene is committed to inclusion and is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, veteran status or any other status protected by federal, state or local law.