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Tech Lead Software Engineer Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

Caterpillar

Lead Software Engineer

Chicago, IL · On-site

$128K - $208K/yr

Technology, Digital and Data Your Work Shapes the World at Caterpillar Inc. When you join ... As a Lead Software Engineer, you will provide technical leadership and drive the delivery of ...

GN Group

Lead Software Engineer

Chicago, IL · On-site

As a Lead Software Engineer, you will be responsible for working closely with our hardware and ... Come up to speed with our tech stack. Our new web application is written in React and deployed in ...

Epsilon

Lead Software Engineer

Chicago, IL · On-site

Responsibilities At Epsilon, we help leading brands use data, identity, and technology to drive ... Why This Role Epsilon is looking for a Lead Software Engineer to drive the design, delivery ...

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Tech Lead Software Engineer information

See Chicago, IL salary details

$85.5K

$150.3K

$204K

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

As of Sep 12, 2026, the average yearly pay for tech lead software engineer in Chicago, IL is $150,288.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $124,600.00 and $173,600.00 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 Chicago, IL?

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

What job categories do people searching Tech Lead Software Engineer jobs in Chicago, IL look for?

The top searched job categories for Tech Lead Software Engineer jobs in Chicago, IL are:

What cities near Chicago, IL are hiring for Tech Lead Software Engineer jobs?

Cities near Chicago, IL with the most Tech Lead Software Engineer job openings:

Tech Lead Software Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Tech Lead Software Engineer job openings in Chicago, IL as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 83% Full Time, 14% Part Time, 2% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 89% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $150,288 per year, or $72.3 per hour.

Lead Software Engineer

Chicago, IL • On-site

Caterpillar
See more jobs at Caterpillarexternal

$128K - $208K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

This job post has expired 3 days ago. Applications are no longer accepted.

Key responsibilities

  • Lead the design and development of enterprise-scale REST APIs and microservices using Java, Spring Boot, and AWS cloud services.

  • Guide engineers in building secure and scalable service integrations using OAuth 2.0, JWT, and enterprise authorization models.

  • Own the end-to-end software lifecycle, including deployment, monitoring, support, documentation, and operational runbooks.

Caterpillar Inc. rating

7.5

Company rating: 7.5 out of 10

Based on 490 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

Job description

Career Area:
Technology, Digital and Data
Job Description:
Your Work Shapes the World at Caterpillar Inc.
When you join Caterpillar, you're joining a global team who cares not just about the work we do - but also about each other. We are the makers, problem solvers, and future world builders who are creating stronger, more sustainable communities. We don't just talk about progress and innovation here - we make it happen, with our customers, where we work and live. Together, we are building a better world, so we can all enjoy living in it.
JOB PURPOSE:
Join Cat Digital Platform and help build the technology that powers Caterpillar's digital future. Our platform fuels the secure flow of data, insights, and services connecting customers, dealers, machines, and applications worldwide. As a Lead Software Engineer, you will provide technical leadership and drive the delivery of scalable, secure, and customer-focused cloud solutions.
JOB DUTIES:
  • Lead the design and development of enterprise-scale REST APIs and microservices using Java, Spring Boot, and AWS cloud services.
  • Build API-first solutions, define service contracts, payload schemas, and OpenAPI/Swagger specifications.
  • Guide engineers in building secure and scalable service integrations using OAuth 2.0, JWT, and enterprise authorization models.
  • Translate business requirements into scalable technical designs, user stories, and implementation plans.
  • Provide technical leadership for the initiatives by driving design reviews, design decisions, code reviews, and engineering best practices.
  • Collaborate with product owners, UI development teams, architects, and partner teams to ensure successful delivery of customer-focused solutions.
  • Lead the adoption and continuous improvement of engineering best practices for reliability, scalability, observability, security, and maintainability.
  • Drive quality engineering through automated testing, performance testing, operational excellence, and continuous improvement.
  • Lead troubleshooting and resolution of complex production issues.
  • Own the end-to-end software lifecycle, including deployment, monitoring, support, documentation, and operational runbooks.

What you will have:
  • Software Development: Knowledge of software development tools and activities; ability to produce software products or systems in line with product requirements.
  • Software Product Design/Architecture: Knowledge of software product design; ability to convert market requirements into the software product design.
  • Decision Making and Critical Thinking: Knowledge of the decision-making process and associated tools and techniques; ability to accurately analyze situations and reach productive decisions based on informed judgment.
  • Effective Communications: Understanding of effective communication concepts, tools and techniques; ability to effectively transmit, receive, and accurately interpret ideas, information, and needs through the application of appropriate communication behaviors.

Top candidates will also have:
  • Extensive experience developing RESTful APIs and microservices using Java 21+ and Spring Boot, including API management platforms such as Apigee.
  • Experience designing, deploying, and operating applications in public cloud environments such as AWS, Azure, or GCP.
  • Proven ability to own the end-to-end software lifecycle, including writing comprehensive automated tests (unit, integration, and end-to-end) using frameworks like JUnit and Mockito.
  • Experience designing and implementing Event-Driven Architectures using message streaming solutions (eg: AWS Kinesis, AWS SQS, AWS SNS, Apache Kafka, RabbitMQ, Apache ActiveMQ, Azure Event Hub)
  • Strong knowledge of relational, NoSQL, caching, search, and vector database technologies, including PostgreSQL, MySQL, Oracle, Aurora, MongoDB, DynamoDB, Cassandra, Elasticsearch, and Redis.
  • Hands-on experience building and maintaining CI/CD pipelines using Azure DevOps, Jenkins, GoCD, or similar tools.
  • Familiarity with leveraging AI-assisted coding companions, such as GitHub Copilot or Cursor, to accelerate the software development lifecycle.
  • Demonstrated success working within an Agile development framework, ideally Scrum.

Additional Details:
  • This position requires the candidate to be based in Chicago, IL
  • Relocation assistance is not available for this position
  • Visa sponsorship is not available for this position

Summary Pay Range:
$128,470.00 - $208,770.00
Compensation and benefits offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, job level, market location, job-related knowledge, skills, individual performance and experience. Please note that salary is only one component of total compensation at Caterpillar.
Benefits:
Subject to plan eligibility, terms, and guidelines. This is a summary list of benefits.
  • Medical, dental, and vision benefits*
  • Paid time off plan (Vacation, Holidays, Volunteer, etc.)*
  • 401(k) savings plans*
  • Health Savings Account (HSA)*
  • Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)*
  • Health Lifestyle Programs*
  • Employee Assistance Program*
  • Voluntary Benefits and Employee Discounts*
  • Career Development*
  • Incentive bonus*
  • Disability benefits
  • Life Insurance
  • Parental leave
  • Adoption benefits
  • Tuition Reimbursement

* These benefits also apply to part-time employees
Visa Sponsorship is not available for this position.
Posting Dates:
August 26, 2026 - September 7, 2026
Any offer of employment is conditioned upon the successful completion of a drug screen.
Caterpillar is an Equal Opportunity Employer, Including Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities. Qualified applicants of any age are encouraged to apply.
Not ready to apply? Join our Talent Community.

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