How to hire a team lead engineer

How to hire a team lead engineer, step by step

Here's a step-by-step team lead engineer hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a team lead engineer job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new team lead engineer
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a team lead engineer do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The team lead engineer hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A team lead engineer's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, team lead engineers from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   Here's a comparison of team lead engineer salaries for various roles:

   Type of Team Lead Engineer	Description	Hourly rate
   Team Lead Engineer	Mechanical engineering is one of the broadest engineering disciplines. Mechanical engineers design, develop, build, and test mechanical and thermal sensors and devices, including tools, engines, and machines.	$40-75
   Technical Team Lead	The responsibilities of a technical team lead revolve around overseeing the progress and performance of a technical team, ensuring they are functioning efficiently. They mostly delegate tasks, manage schedules, set goals, produce reports and presentations, respond to correspondence, and coordinate with staff, clients, and other department personnel to ensure accuracy and timeliness for all projects... Show more	$31-58
   Consulting Engineer	A consulting engineer is a professional who aids in the planning, designing, and construction of a project from the public and private clients. Consulting engineers are required to advise on the best component suitable according to the needs of their clients... Show more	$34-62

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Python
   • Architecture
   • Java
   • C++
   • Infrastructure
   • Windows
   • SAN
   • Leveraged
   • Project Management
   • JavaScript
   • Database
   • Linux
   • Visualization
   • API

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage and develop the OS image for the flexible class Linux thin client devices.
   • Lead a team of 13 for a major multi-tenant scalability feature major changes to the SAN OS.
   • Manage software update process: vendor interaction, QA testing, web release, & authore documentation.
   • Manage subcontractor's installation of the HVAC systems to the successful completion of a fast pace project.
   • Lead the evaluating, testing and integration of new devices to enhance SAN switching, management, and storage provisioning.
   • Manage day-to-day QA tasks as dictated by project launch schedule and collaborate across work-streams to validate actual test results against expect results

   More team lead engineer duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the team lead engineer job description is a good way to get more applicants. A team lead engineer salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for a team lead engineer in Mississippi may be lower than in California, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level team lead engineer. Additionally, a team lead engineer with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average team lead engineer salary

   $114,867yearly

   $55.22 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level team lead engineer salary

   $84,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 31, 2026

   Average team lead engineer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$162,409	$78
   2	New Jersey	$136,092	$65
   3	Massachusetts	$132,361	$64
   4	New York	$127,936	$62
   5	Arizona	$125,367	$60
   6	Virginia	$123,662	$59
   7	District of Columbia	$122,631	$59
   8	Texas	$118,964	$57
   9	Pennsylvania	$115,085	$55
   10	Washington	$113,889	$55
   11	North Carolina	$112,564	$54
   12	Utah	$112,436	$54
   13	Michigan	$110,383	$53
   14	Georgia	$109,802	$53
   15	Colorado	$108,944	$52
   16	Illinois	$105,480	$51
   17	Alabama	$102,563	$49
   18	Missouri	$101,400	$49
   19	Kansas	$99,324	$48
   20	Minnesota	$97,034	$47

   Average team lead engineer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Meta	$181,753	$87.38	400
   2	Google	$175,073	$84.17	501
   3	Grubhub	$159,487	$76.68
   4	Squarespace	$159,270	$76.57	5
   5	Apple	$158,007	$75.96	663
   6	Atlassian	$156,756	$75.36	40
   7	BP America Inc	$153,906	$73.99	7
   8	Federal Reserve Bank of New York	$153,482	$73.79
   9	Zendesk	$153,030	$73.57	1
   10	Algolia	$148,261	$71.28	1
   11	Fortinet	$147,415	$70.87	17
   12	Chevron	$146,398	$70.38	4
   13	Zscaler	$141,869	$68.21	16
   14	Genesys	$141,585	$68.07	21
   15	Hearst	$140,157	$67.38	8
   16	Datadog	$137,410	$66.06	10
   17	ENERGY RECOVERY, INC.	$137,196	$65.96	1
   18	CyberCoders	$136,487	$65.62	2
   19	#LiveAtTheQ	$136,376	$65.57	1
   20	Volvo Trucks	$136,182	$65.47	4

4. Writing a team lead engineer job description

   A team lead engineer job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a team lead engineer job description:

   Team lead engineer job description example

   The Rock Family of Companies is made up of nearly 100 separate businesses spanning fintech, sports, entertainment, real estate, startups and more. We're united by our culture - a drive to find a better way that fuels our commitment to our clients, our community and our team members. We believe in and build inclusive workplaces, where every voice is heard and diverse perspectives are welcomed. Working for a company in the Family is about more than just a job - it's about having the opportunity to become the best version of yourself.
   
   A job at Rocket Mortgage, backed by Rocket Companies, means more opportunities for you to carve your own career path forward. From our desire to revolutionize the way people get mortgages to addressing challenges big or small with outside-the-box solutions, we're not your typical employer. We'll provide you with everything you need to make sure you're successful here. Apply today to join a team that offers career growth, amazing benefits and the chance to work with leading mortgage industry professionals.
   Minimum Qualifications
   2 years of experience in a software engineering, quality engineering or product development, or role in a relevant field Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in computer science, information technology, or a related field Knowledge of organizational technology standards, including testing and deployment Knowledge of software delivery roles and the responsibilities of each, such as software engineers, architects, leadership and product roles Experience mentoring and developing team members Experience using Agile metrics, such as throughput, work-in-progress (WIP), cycle-time and defect rates, to improve team performance Demonstrated ability to advocate on behalf of team members and projects using deliberate, accurate and persuasive language
   
   Preferred Qualifications
   2 years of experience programming in C#, F#, PHP, Python, Java, JavaScript, Progress or other object-oriented/functional programming languages Knowledge of organizational technology standards, including architectural design and integration patterns Knowledge of supported business domains Experience working on teams that meet organizational engineering and architecture standards Ability to meet delivery goals with shifting timelines, staffing and dependencies Working knowledge of multiple Agile development methodologies Experience coordinating tech incident resolutions Knowledge of people leadership practices, such as change management, recruiting, hiring, performance management, corrective action and compensation administration Certified in Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) Agile practices
   
   Job Summary
   As the Team Leader of Engineering, you will act as a servant leader whose mission is to build a self-organizing and self-managing team. Responsible for elevating team member performance, you will ensure your team has what it needs to implement technologically superior software.
   
   Responsibilities
   Lead and mentor an Agile team that leans into data-driven experimentation, innovation, quality and craftsmanship Communicate and promote the culture and mission of the company Collaborate with leadership to establish a divisional mission aligned with the company vision Promote iterative, thoughtful decision making within a self-organized team Recognize trends affecting delivery goals and support team decisions on short- and long-term resolutions, removing roadblocks when necessary Drive performance in areas such as quality, predictability, flow and velocity Coordinate response and communication of tech incidents to stakeholders Recognize trends across tech incidents and ensure true root causes have been identified and fixes implemented Stay informed of trends and changes in the broader technology, business and regulatory landscapes Regularly evaluate the team's size, organizational fit and position and propose changes to improve synergies Fully understand and plan for the product roadmap and maintain awareness of broader technical and business changes impacting the team Develop short-, mid- and long-term key results with the team to achieve team objectives Develop and retain talent in alignment with the product team's vision and roadmap Lead interviews and discussions regarding hiring decisions for candidates and promotions, pulling in appropriate subject matter experts as required Prepare and deliver reviews, compensation adjustments and promotions Identify, implement and drive adoption of best practices within the leadership community Mentor and support team members on any of the above responsibilities
   
   Who We Are
   Rocket Companies is a Detroit-based company made up of businesses that provide simple, fast and trusted digital solutions for complex transactions. The name comes from our flagship business, now known as Rocket Mortgage , which was founded in 1985. Today, we're a publicly traded company involved in many different industries, including mortgages, fintech, real estate, automotive and more. We're insistently different in how we look at the world and committed to an inclusive workplace where every voice is heard. And we're passionate about the work we do, and it shows. We've been ranked #5 on Fortune's list of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in 2021, as well as ranking #1 for Fortune's Best Large Workplaces in Financial Services and Insurance List in 2021.
   
   Disclaimer
   This is an outline of the primary responsibilities of this position. As with everything in life, things change. The tasks and responsibilities can be changed, added to, removed, amended, deleted and modified at any time by the leadership group.
   
   We are proud equal opportunity employers and committed to providing an inclusive environment based on mutual respect for all candidates and team members. Employment decisions, including hiring decisions, are not based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, military or veteran status or any other characteristic protected by state or federal law. We also provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with state and federal law.
   
   Colorado Candidates Only. Pursuant to the disclosure requirements of C.R.S. § 8-5-101, et seq., the minimum salary for this position for candidates in Colorado is approximately eighty-nine thousand dollars. The position may also be eligible for an annual bonus and other employment-related benefits. The information regarding compensation and other benefits included in this paragraph is only an estimate and is subject to revision from time to time as the Company, in its sole and exclusive discretion, deems appropriate. The Company may determine during its review of the proposed minimum compensation and benefits provided for this position, that the compensation and benefits for such position should be reduced. In no event will the Company reduce the compensation for the position to a level below the applicable jurisdictional minimum wage rate for the position. The Company is a proud equal opportunity employer and committed to providing an inclusive environment based on mutual respect for all candidates and team members.
   
   The Company is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer, and does not discriminate in any hiring or employment practices. The Company provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with state and federal law. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation in completing the application and/or participating in the employment application process should notify a representative of the Human Resources Team, The Pulse, at 1-800-411-JOBS.

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5. Post your job

   To find the right team lead engineer for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with team lead engineers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit team lead engineers who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your team lead engineer job on Zippia to find and recruit team lead engineer candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit team lead engineers, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new team lead engineer

   Once you've selected the best team lead engineer candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new team lead engineer. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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