Lead Software Engineer Jobs in San Diego, CA

Lead Software Engineer jobs in San Diego are in strong demand, concentrated in Sorrento Valley, UTC, and the downtown tech corridor across defense technology, biotech software, and SaaS companies. Employers hiring right now include Apple, Qualcomm, and Amazon. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.

Find Lead Software Engineer Jobs

Overview

Open roles317+
Top employerApple
Work type78% On-site
Top credentialBachelor's degree
Companies hiring25

Showing 5 of 317+ Lead Software Engineer jobs

Full Stack Software Engineer, Developer Publications
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Full Stack Software Engineer, Developer Publications
Apple
San Diego, California
Backend Engineering
Full-stack Engineering
Software Engineering
$142k - $263k/yr
Bachelor of Science
10,000+

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Software Engineer: Linux Driver and Kernel Developer
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Software Engineer: Linux Driver and Kernel Developer
Apple
San Diego, California
Embedded Systems Engineering
Engineering (Non-Software)
Software Engineering
$175k - $309k/yr
Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering
10,000+

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Senior Software Engineer - Backend, Developer Publications
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Senior Software Engineer - Backend, Developer Publications
Apple
San Diego, California
Backend Engineering
Full-stack Engineering
Software Engineering
$175k - $309k/yr
Bachelor of Science
10,000+

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Healthcare Software Developer
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Added 1w ago
Healthcare Software Developer
VisionTree Software
San Diego, California
Backend Engineering
Full-stack Engineering
Software Engineering
$90k - $130k/yr
On-Site

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CRM Software Developer
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CRM Software Developer
Jungo
San Diego, California
Backend Engineering
Full-stack Engineering
Software Engineering
$85k - $125k/yr
On-Site

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See All 317+ Lead Software Engineer Jobs in San Diego

Find roles in San Diego that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

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Lead Software Engineer Job Market in San Diego

Who's Hiring

  • Apple31
  • Qualcomm20
  • Amazon20
  • A2e Technologies20
  • Northrop Grumman20

Top Industries Hiring

  • Technology & Software
  • Electronics & Hardware

Lead Software Engineer Jobs in San Diego: Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get a lead software engineer job in San Diego?

Target San Diego's dominant hiring sectors: defense technology contractors in Sorrento Valley, biotech and life sciences software teams in Torrey Pines and UTC, and SaaS companies clustered downtown. Experience leading distributed engineering teams gives you an edge here, as does familiarity with cloud-native architectures and DevOps practices. Applying directly to employers in these districts, rather than waiting for recruiters, moves faster in San Diego's competitive market.

Which companies hire lead software engineers in San Diego?

Employers hiring lead software engineers in San Diego right now include Apple, Qualcomm, and Amazon, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. San Diego's mix of established defense contractors, mid-size biotech software firms, and venture-backed SaaS startups means hiring happens across a wide range of company sizes and funding stages.

Are there remote lead software engineer jobs in San Diego?

Yes, lead software engineer roles are well suited to remote and hybrid arrangements given the work is almost entirely screen-based. About 22% of lead software engineer openings tied to San Diego are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, with full-remote roles most common at SaaS and cloud software companies rather than defense or on-site embedded systems teams.

How can I get a lead software engineer job in San Diego with little or no experience?

The most realistic entry path is through a senior software engineer role at a San Diego mid-size company, then building toward a lead position internally. Biotech software firms in Torrey Pines and early-stage startups downtown are more likely than large defense contractors to promote from within quickly. Contributing to open-source projects and demonstrating mentorship or code-review experience on your resume accelerates that transition locally.

Which industries hire the most lead software engineers in San Diego?

Most lead software engineer openings in San Diego sit in Technology & Software and Electronics & Hardware, per current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. San Diego's deep roots in defense contracting, life sciences, and a growing SaaS ecosystem drive consistent demand for senior engineering leadership across those sectors year-round.

See All 317+ Lead Software Engineer Jobs in San Diego

Find roles in San Diego that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

Find Lead Software Engineer Jobs