Lead Software Engineer Jobs in North Carolina
Lead Software Engineer jobs in North Carolina are in strong demand, concentrated in financial technology, enterprise software, life sciences, and defense contracting, with openings ranging from senior individual contributors stepping into leadership through principal-level architects. The largest hiring metros are the Research Triangle area, Charlotte, and the Triad, where companies like Red Hat, Fidelity Investments, and IBM have established North Carolina presences. The most sought-after specializations include distributed systems, cloud-native development, and full-stack platform engineering. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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BUILD A BETTER CAREER WITH MSC
Serving customers and our community starts with the best people doing their best work. That is precisely what we have created at MSC Industrial Supply Co. We are a leading North American distributor of metalworking and maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO), products and services. We offer more than 2 million products and have over 80 years of experience across dozens of industries. We aim to execute our Built to Make You Better brand promise for all our stakeholders, including our associates.
Requisition ID : 21720
Employment Type : Full Time
Job Category : Digital/IT
Work Location : Davidson, NC
BRIEF POSITION SUMMARY:
As a Software Developer at MSC you will work in a team environment to develop innovative solutions to complex business problems. Utilizing R&D, rapid prototyping and other collaborative development techniques you will create solutions that add business value and create competitive advantage for MSC. You will have the opportunity to apply your development skills in a challenging and dynamic environment utilizing leading languages and technologies. In platform and data?centric teams, this role contributes to solutions that enable business users and data stewards to govern, improve, and reliably publish master data for downstream consumption.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Build really great software that your customers love to use.
- Ensures written code will not only meet requirements but will perform and scale by applying software engineering discipline to all codes done
- Ensures code is supportable, maintainable and reusable by others
- Applies quality assurance and debugging techniques for defect identification and resolution before they make it to production
- Ensures successful production delivery by automating the build and delivery process via DevOps
- Keeps current with new technology and techniques for solving business problems
- Understands the business and act like an owner. MSC's success is your success, and technology is an integral part of driving growth, efficiency and competitive advantage
- Enables data stewardship and governance by implementing configuration and logic that supports data validation, approvals, and controlled change processes within enterprise platforms
- Partner with functional and business stakeholders to translate stewardship needs (data quality rules, validations, workflow steps) into maintainable technical solutions
- Fosters the MSC Culture in the department and through the company to ensure unity of purpose and fulfillment of MSC's mission
- Participation in special projects and performs additional duties as required
QUALIFICATIONS
What You Need:
- Solid understanding of object-oriented programming and functional programming concepts with knowledge of an object-oriented programming language such as Java, Swift, C#, C++ required
- Exposure to web development and web-oriented technologies with knowledge of HTML, Python, CSS, JavaScript required
- Knowledge of query languages to relational or no-SQL database required
- Familiarity with data quality, stewardship, or governance concepts as applied in enterprise data platforms
- Basic understanding of computer science concepts including hardware architecture, database, networking, computer languages, and operating systems
- Hands-on experience through coursework or internship
Bonus Points If You Have:
- Make your case by exercising good communications skills and delivering messages in a clear, compelling and concise manner
- Take the initiative by being self-motivated and having a strong drive to build and deliver solutions that meet or exceed customer expectations
- Think creatively, have high standards and set aggressive goals. Pursue everything with energy and focus on obtaining set goals
- Connect and work collaboratively with others within and outside the organization
- Challenge yourself by taking on new assignments in or outside of the workgroup
- Learn and improve by adapting to changing business needs and accepting feedback
- Be empowered by working through ambiguity to successfully develop great business solutions
Other Requirements:
- A valid driver's license may be required
- This position may require access to International Traffic in Arms Regulations Information (“ITAR”) and/or Controlled Unclassified Information (“CUI”)
- INDICATES ESSENTIAL DUTIES
To perform this job successfully an associate must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of knowledge, experience level and abilities required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties.
Compensation starting at $61,500 - $91,841 depending on candidate location and experience.
The salary range represented is based on similar roles in comparable industries, and the cost of labor in respective cities. Actual compensation is based on the candidate’s relevant experience, education requirements and peer pay equity. The Company reserves the right to modify the range as market conditions change.
Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa for this position at this time.
This job posting will remain open for a minimum of 3 business days from the original posting date or longer as needed to fill the position.
WHY MSC?
People. Collaboration. Insight. That’s how you build something that works. Built on a foundation of trust, MSC works side by side with our customers to help them drive business results. With more than one million product offerings and 80+ years of experience across industries, MSC strives to help our customers achieve greater productivity, profitability, and growth through inventory management and other innovative supply chain solutions. We care about our associates and have programs in place to help our 6,500+ team members achieve their potential.
OUR COMMITMENT TO YOU
Our associates are our top priority and investing in their well-being is one way we execute our Built to Make You Better brand promise. Alongside competitive pay, we have a comprehensive benefits program to support you and your family's health, well-being and financial future. We offer dynamic healthcare plans, generous 401K and stock purchasing programs, tuition reimbursement opportunities, and paid time away for holidays, vacations, and illness. Visit our page for a better look at our extensive benefits: Your Future Benefits.
You will also have the opportunity to join our Associate Inclusion Circles: Women, Pride, Black, Generational, Veterans, HOLA, and Able. These circles are open to all associates and are designed to promote awareness, collaboration, and respect.
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY STATEMENT
At MSC, we are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all qualified applicants and our associates without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, sexual orientation or any category protected by applicable law. Accommodation requests can be made at any stage of the recruitment process; applicants are asked to make their needs/requirements known.
Please note that MSC uses electronic monitoring and system logs in its workplace, including monitoring of Company-provided systems and collaboration tools, as permitted by applicable law.
See All 63 Lead Software Engineer Jobs in North Carolina
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Find Lead Software Engineer JobsLead Software Engineer Jobs by City in North Carolina
Where North Carolina roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Lead Software Engineer Job Market in North Carolina
A snapshot from current North Carolina openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring



Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software
- Retail
- Construction & Real Estate
- Banking & Financial Services
What North Carolina Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in lead software engineer jobs across North Carolina.
- Bachelor's or master's degree in computer science, software engineering, or a related field
- Seven or more years of software development experience with at least two years in a technical lead role
- Proven ability to mentor engineers and lead code reviews within an agile team
- Deep expertise in one or more languages such as Java, Python, Go, or TypeScript
- Experience designing distributed systems or cloud-native architectures on AWS, Azure, or GCP
- Strong communication skills bridging engineering teams and non-technical stakeholders
Lead Software Engineer Jobs in North Carolina: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a lead software engineer in North Carolina?
Lead software engineer is not a licensed or state-regulated role in North Carolina, so no board exam or registration is required. The typical path is a bachelor's degree in computer science or software engineering, several years of hands-on development experience, and a demonstrated ability to lead projects and mentor junior engineers. North Carolina employers, particularly in the Research Triangle's tech and fintech sectors, also value candidates who have contributed to open-source projects or hold cloud certifications from AWS or Google.
How much do lead software engineers make in North Carolina?
Lead software engineers in North Carolina earn a median of about $134,710 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $83,840 for the lowest 10% to over $179,310 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire lead software engineers in North Carolina?
Employers hiring lead software engineers in North Carolina right now include SAS, First Citizens Bank, and Truist, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. North Carolina's mix of Fortune 500 financial firms in Charlotte and the dense technology cluster around Research Triangle Park keeps demand for senior engineering leadership consistently active throughout the state.
Which North Carolina cities have the most lead software engineer jobs?
The cities with the most lead software engineer openings in North Carolina are Raleigh, Charlotte, and Cary. The Research Triangle area, anchored by Raleigh, Durham, and Cary, leads because of the concentration of technology companies, university research spinoffs, and global headquarters like Red Hat and IBM clustered around Research Triangle Park, while Charlotte's large financial services sector drives steady demand in the western part of the state.
Are there remote lead software engineer jobs in North Carolina?
Yes, and more than most fields. Software engineering is highly amenable to remote and hybrid arrangements by its nature, and about 50% of lead software engineer openings tied to North Carolina are remote or hybrid as of November 2026. Architecture review, code review, sprint planning, and cross-team coordination are the functions most commonly performed remotely, though roles requiring on-site collaboration with hardware or government-classified systems tend to require in-person presence.
How can I get hired as a lead software engineer in North Carolina with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is securing a software engineer or software developer role first, then building toward a lead title. North Carolina employers like Fidelity Investments, Cisco, and SAS Institute run new-graduate development programs and rotational engineering tracks that place candidates in collaborative team environments where leadership opportunities surface quickly. Contributing a strong portfolio, earning a cloud certification, and moving laterally from a senior developer or engineering team lead role at a smaller Research Triangle startup are the most effective ways to accelerate into a lead position without a long tenured background.
Where can I find and apply to lead software engineer jobs in North Carolina?
You can find and apply to lead software engineer jobs in North Carolina on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings across the state. Search the listings, identify the roles that match your experience and preferred location or remote arrangement, and apply directly to the ones that fit.
See All 63 Lead Software Engineer Jobs in North Carolina
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