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What is a software engineer/technical lead and how to become one
Software engineers/technical leads are responsible for working on projects that are currently being developed by their company. They develop and direct software system validation and testing methods while directing the software programming initiatives. They also oversee the development of documentation and analyze data to effectively coordinate the installation of new systems or the modification of existing systems.
Software engineers/technical leads earn an average salary of $106,000 annually or $51 per hour. Their duties include creating, maintaining, auditing, and improving systems to meet particular needs, often as advised by a systems analyst or architect. They write diagnostic programs and design and write code for operating systems and software to ensure efficiency. They also integrate existing software products and make incompatible platforms work together.
Software engineers/lead technicians typically hold a bachelor's degree in computer science, electronics, information systems, mathematics, or other related fields. They are expected to have some years of engineering experience or any similar role. Some employers prefer candidates with in-depth knowledge of computer systems and technologies and the ability to communicate with clients.
What general advice would you give to a software engineer/technical lead?
Frank McCown Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Harding University
Avg. Salary $123,110
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth rate 21%
Growth rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.17%
Asian 30.03%
Black or African American 4.33%
Hispanic or Latino 8.05%
Unknown 4.77%
White 52.66%
Genderfemale 16.98%
male 83.02%
Age - 38American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 38Stress level is moderate
7.1 - high
Complexity level is challenging
7 - challenging
Work life balance is good
6.4 - fair
Software engineer/technical lead career paths
Key steps to become a software engineer/technical lead
Explore software engineer/technical lead education requirements
Start to develop specific software engineer/technical lead skills
Skills Percentages Java 17.17% Software Development 6.84% JavaScript 4.54% Scrum 3.83% Database 3.50% Complete relevant software engineer/technical lead training and internships
Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New software engineers/technical lead learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a software engineer/technical lead based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real software engineer/technical lead resumes.Research software engineer/technical lead duties and responsibilities
- Perform extensive UNIX and NT administration to large UNIX servers to accomplish installation of software and troubleshooting.
- Manage continuous integrations using Jenkins.
- Develop GUI's with JavaScripts, HTML, and XML.
- Direct colleagues in HTML development/layout and JavaScript functions.
Get software engineer/technical lead experience
Generally, it takes 2-4 years to become a software engineer/technical lead. The most common roles before becoming a software engineer/technical lead include software engineer, senior software engineer team lead and software developer.Prepare your software engineer/technical lead resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your software engineer/technical lead resume.
You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a software engineer/technical lead resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
Choose from 10+ customizable software engineer/technical lead resume templates
Build a professional software engineer/technical lead resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your software engineer/technical lead resume.
Apply for software engineer/technical lead jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a software engineer/technical lead job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How did you land your first software engineer/technical lead job
Are you a software engineer/technical lead?
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Average software engineer/technical lead salary
The average software engineer/technical lead salary in the United States is $123,110 per year or $59 per hour. Software engineer/technical lead salaries range between $92,000 and $164,000 per year.
What am I worth?
How do software engineers/technical lead rate their job?
Software engineer/technical lead reviews
Problem solving and cutting edge technology - always learning and evolving my skill set
Still have to deal with people :)
If company is not supportive of new technology advancement.
I enjoyed working on creative problems that dealt with the user interface
I didn't like how technical it could become
Updated January 8, 2025
