Lead Software Engineer Jobs in Chicago, IL
Lead Software Engineer jobs in Chicago are in strong demand, concentrated in the Loop, River North, and Fulton Market across fintech, enterprise software, and healthcare technology. Employers hiring right now include Capital One, JPMorganChase, and Deloitte. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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Showing 5 of 105+ Lead Software Engineer jobs






Posted Date
6/22/2026
Description
Do you love building and pioneering in the technology space? Do you enjoy solving complex business problems in a fast-paced, collaborative, inclusive, and iterative delivery environment? At Capital One, you'll be part of a big group of makers, breakers, doers and disruptors, who solve real problems and meet real customer needs. We are seeking Full Stack Software Engineers who are passionate about marrying data with emerging technologies. As a Capital One Senior Lead Software Engineer, you’ll have the opportunity to be on the forefront of driving a major transformation within Capital One.
What You’ll Do:
- Lead a portfolio of diverse technology projects and a team of developers with deep experience in distributed microservices, and full stack systems to create solutions that help meet regulatory needs for the company
- Share your passion for staying on top of tech trends, experimenting with and learning new technologies, participating in internal & external technology communities, mentoring other members of the engineering community, and from time to time, be asked to code or evaluate code
- Collaborate with digital product managers, and deliver robust cloud-based solutions that drive powerful experiences to help millions of Americans achieve financial empowerment
- Utilize programming languages like JavaScript, Java, HTML/CSS, TypeScript, SQL, Python, and Go, Open Source RDBMS and NoSQL databases, Container Orchestration services including Docker and Kubernetes, and a variety of AWS tools and services
Basic Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s Degree
- At least 6 years of experience in software engineering (Internship experience does not apply)
- At least 1 year experience with cloud computing (AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud)
Preferred Qualifications:
- Master’s Degree
- 9+ years of experience in at least one of the following: JavaScript, Java, TypeScript, SQL, Python, or Go
- 4+ years of experience with AWS, GCP, Microsoft Azure, or another cloud service
- 4+ years of experience in open source frameworks
- 1+ years of people management experience
- 2+ years of experience in Agile practices
Capital One will consider sponsoring a new qualified applicant for employment authorization for this position.
The minimum and maximum full-time annual salaries for this role are listed below, by location. Please note that this salary information is solely for candidates hired to perform work within one of these locations, and refers to the amount Capital One is willing to pay at the time of this posting. Salaries for part-time roles will be prorated based upon the agreed upon number of hours to be regularly worked.
Chicago, IL: $209,000 - $238,500 for Sr. Lead Software Engineer
Candidates hired to work in other locations will be subject to the pay range associated with that location, and the actual annualized salary amount offered to any candidate at the time of hire will be reflected solely in the candidate’s offer letter.
Capital One offers a comprehensive, competitive, and inclusive set of health, financial and other benefits that support your total well-being. Learn more at the Capital One Careers website. Eligibility varies based on full or part-time status, exempt or non-exempt status, and management level.
This role is expected to accept applications for a minimum of 5 business days.No agencies please. Capital One is an equal opportunity employer (EOE, including disability/vet) committed to non-discrimination in compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. Capital One promotes a drug-free workplace. Capital One will consider for employment qualified applicants with a criminal history in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable laws regarding criminal background inquiries, including, to the extent applicable, Article 23-A of the New York Correction Law; San Francisco, California Police Code Article 49, Sections 4901-4920; New York City’s Fair Chance Act; Philadelphia’s Fair Criminal Records Screening Act; and other applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations regarding criminal background inquiries.If you have visited our website in search of information on employment opportunities or to apply for a position, and you require an accommodation, please contact Capital One Recruiting at 1-800-304-9102 or via email at RecruitingAccommodation@capitalone.com. All information you provide will be kept confidential and will be used only to the extent required to provide needed reasonable accommodations.
For technical support or questions about Capital One's recruiting process, please send an email to Careers@capitalone.com
Capital One does not provide, endorse nor guarantee and is not liable for third-party products, services, educational tools or other information available through this site.
Capital One Financial is made up of several different entities. Please note that any position posted in Canada is for Capital One Canada, any position posted in the United Kingdom is for Capital One Europe and any position posted in the Philippines is for Capital One Philippines Service Corp. (COPSSC).
Senior Lead Software EngineerDo you love building and pioneering in the technology space? Do you enjoy solving complex business problems in a fast-paced, collaborative, inclusive, and iterative delivery environment? At Capital One, you'll be part of a big group of makers, breakers, doers and disruptors, who solve real problems and meet real customer needs. We are seeking Full Stack Software Engineers who are passionate about marrying data with emerging technologies. As a Capital One Senior Lead Software Engineer, you’ll have the opportunity to be on the forefront of driving a major transformation within Capital One.
What You’ll Do:
- Lead a portfolio of diverse technology projects and a team of developers with deep experience in distributed microservices, and full stack systems to create solutions that help meet regulatory needs for the company
- Share your passion for staying on top of tech trends, experimenting with and learning new technologies, participating in internal & external technology communities, mentoring other members of the engineering community, and from time to time, be asked to code or evaluate code
- Collaborate with digital product managers, and deliver robust cloud-based solutions that drive powerful experiences to help millions of Americans achieve financial empowerment
- Utilize programming languages like JavaScript, Java, HTML/CSS, TypeScript, SQL, Python, and Go, Open Source RDBMS and NoSQL databases, Container Orchestration services including Docker and Kubernetes, and a variety of AWS tools and services
Basic Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s Degree
- At least 6 years of experience in software engineering (Internship experience does not apply)
- At least 1 year experience with cloud computing (AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud)
Preferred Qualifications:
- Master’s Degree
- 9+ years of experience in at least one of the following: JavaScript, Java, TypeScript, SQL, Python, or Go
- 4+ years of experience with AWS, GCP, Microsoft Azure, or another cloud service
- 4+ years of experience in open source frameworks
- 1+ years of people management experience
- 2+ years of experience in Agile practices
Capital One will consider sponsoring a new qualified applicant for employment authorization for this position.
The minimum and maximum full-time annual salaries for this role are listed below, by location. Please note that this salary information is solely for candidates hired to perform work within one of these locations, and refers to the amount Capital One is willing to pay at the time of this posting. Salaries for part-time roles will be prorated based upon the agreed upon number of hours to be regularly worked.
Chicago, IL: $209,000 - $238,500 for Sr. Lead Software Engineer
Candidates hired to work in other locations will be subject to the pay range associated with that location, and the actual annualized salary amount offered to any candidate at the time of hire will be reflected solely in the candidate’s offer letter.
Capital One offers a comprehensive, competitive, and inclusive set of health, financial and other benefits that support your total well-being. Learn more at the Capital One Careers website. Eligibility varies based on full or part-time status, exempt or non-exempt status, and management level.
This role is expected to accept applications for a minimum of 5 business days.No agencies please. Capital One is an equal opportunity employer (EOE, including disability/vet) committed to non-discrimination in compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. Capital One promotes a drug-free workplace. Capital One will consider for employment qualified applicants with a criminal history in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable laws regarding criminal background inquiries, including, to the extent applicable, Article 23-A of the New York Correction Law; San Francisco, California Police Code Article 49, Sections 4901-4920; New York City’s Fair Chance Act; Philadelphia’s Fair Criminal Records Screening Act; and other applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations regarding criminal background inquiries.If you have visited our website in search of information on employment opportunities or to apply for a position, and you require an accommodation, please contact Capital One Recruiting at 1-800-304-9102 or via email at RecruitingAccommodation@capitalone.com. All information you provide will be kept confidential and will be used only to the extent required to provide needed reasonable accommodations.
For technical support or questions about Capital One's recruiting process, please send an email to Careers@capitalone.com
Capital One does not provide, endorse nor guarantee and is not liable for third-party products, services, educational tools or other information available through this site.
Capital One Financial is made up of several different entities. Please note that any position posted in Canada is for Capital One Canada, any position posted in the United Kingdom is for Capital One Europe and any position posted in the Philippines is for Capital One Philippines Service Corp. (COPSSC).
Salary
209,000.00 - 238,500.00 Annual
Type
Full-time
See All 105+ Lead Software Engineer Jobs in Chicago
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Find Lead Software Engineer JobsLead Software Engineer Job Market in Chicago
Who's Hiring
- Capital One10

- JPMorganChase8

- Deloitte5

- DRW4

- Braze4

Top Industries Hiring
- Investment & Asset Management25
- Banking & Financial Services24
- Technology & Software19
- Consulting & Professional Services19
- Fintech12
Lead Software Engineer Jobs in Chicago: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a lead software engineer job in Chicago?
Target Chicago's densest hiring corridors: fintech firms clustered in the Loop, health tech companies anchored in the Illinois Medical District, and enterprise software employers in River North and Fulton Market. Candidates who demonstrate distributed systems experience and prior team leadership stand out here. Engaging Chicago's active tech meetup community and pursuing roles at mid-size software companies often moves faster than chasing large enterprise openings.
Which companies hire lead software engineers in Chicago?
Employers hiring lead software engineers in Chicago right now include Capital One, JPMorganChase, and Deloitte, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of June 2026. Chicago's hiring mix leans heavily toward financial technology firms, healthcare platforms, and B2B SaaS companies that have grown their engineering offices in the city's downtown and Near West Side corridors.
Are there remote lead software engineer jobs in Chicago?
Yes, lead software engineer roles are well suited to remote and hybrid arrangements given the primarily desk-based, collaborative nature of the work. About 40% of lead software engineer openings tied to Chicago are remote or hybrid as of June 2026, with full-stack and backend architecture roles showing the highest remote availability. On-site requirements tend to appear most at trading firms and healthcare systems in the city.
How can I get a lead software engineer job in Chicago with little or no experience?
The most realistic path is moving up from a senior software engineer role at one of Chicago's many mid-size fintech or SaaS companies, where internal promotions to lead happen frequently. Joining a smaller startup in Fulton Market or a growing healthtech firm gives early access to technical leadership responsibilities without a long tenure requirement. Contributing to open-source projects and building mentorship experience strengthens any application significantly in Chicago's market.
Which industries hire the most lead software engineers in Chicago?
The sectors hiring the most lead software engineers in Chicago are Investment & Asset Management, Banking & Financial Services, and Technology & Software, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of June 2026. Chicago's position as a major financial and healthcare hub drives consistent engineering leadership demand, with fintech firms in the Loop and health systems citywide accounting for a large share of active openings.
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