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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Labcorp is a global leader in laboratory services, providing the insights and answers that help healthcare providers, patients, researchers, pharmaceutical companies and health systems make confident decisions and improve outcomes. Through our unparalleled science, data, technology and laboratory network, we advance diagnostics, accelerate innovation and help address some of the world’s most important health challenges. As we shape the future of healthcare, we are leveraging advanced technologies, intelligent digital solutions and data-driven innovation across our operations to enhance how work gets done and deliver greater value to customers and patients. With our global scale and deep expertise, you’ll have the opportunity to do meaningful work, grow your career and make a real impact on people’s health around the world. Together, we’re improving health and improving lives.
Lead Software Engineer
Durham NC or Burlington NC
Hybrid Schedule -3 days in office, 2 days remote
Monday-Friday, 1st shift
Job Responsibilities
- Provide hands-on leadership on complex, multi-team initiatives
- Own end-to-end delivery for systems handling high-volume transactions
- Lead architecture and design decisions for distributed systems and event-driven microservices
- Build prototypes and proofs of concept to validate new technologies
- Establish and enforce engineering best practices
- Mentor engineers and drive technical excellence
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree
- 8 or more years of software engineering experience
- 5 or more years of hands-on Java development experience
- 3 or more years of experience developing RESTful web services using the Spring framework
- 3 or more years of experience with build tools such as Maven or Gradle
- 3 or more years of experience with unit testing frameworks such as JUnit or Mockito
- 3 or more years of experience with SQL development and database management
- 3 or more years of experience leveraging Azure or AWS services for solution design and implementation
Preferred Qualifications
- 1 or more years of experience working in the healthcare domain, including knowledge of FHIR, HL7, and Azure Healthcare Services
- 2 or more years of experience developing pipelines for public health or healthcare data (HL7, FHIR, vocabulary, and HHS data standards)
- 1 or more years of experience integrating FHIR healthcare data within Labcorp systems
Additional Job Standards
- Proven ability to learn new technologies and apply research to ongoing projects
- Excellent troubleshooting, follow-through, and problem-solving skills
- Strong analytical, communication, and collaboration skills within Agile teams
Benefits: Employees regularly scheduled to work 20 or more hours per week are eligible for comprehensive benefits including: Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, STD/LTD, 401(k), Paid Time Off (PTO) or Flexible Time Off (FTO), Tuition Reimbursement and Employee Stock Purchase Plan. Employees regularly scheduled to work less than 20 hours, Casual, Intern, and Temporary employees are only eligible to participate in the 401(k) Plan. Employees who are regularly scheduled to work a 7 on/7 off schedule are eligible to receive all the foregoing benefits except PTO or FTO. For more detailed information, please click here.
Labcorp is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer:
Labcorp strives for inclusion and belonging in the workforce and does not tolerate harassment or discrimination of any kind. We make employment decisions based on the needs of our business and the qualifications and merit of the individual. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), family or parental status, marital, civil union or domestic partnership status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, personal appearance, age, veteran status, disability, genetic information, or any other legally protected characteristic. Additionally, all qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with applicable law.
We encourage all to apply
If you are an individual with a disability who needs assistance using our online tools to search and apply for jobs, or needs an accommodation, please visit our accessibility site or contact us at Labcorp Accessibility. For more information about how we collect and store your personal data, please see our Privacy Statement.
See All 46 Lead Software Engineer Jobs in North Carolina
Find roles in North Carolina that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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
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, Wells Fargo, and First Citizens Bank, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 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 Charlotte, Cary, and Raleigh. 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 72% of lead software engineer openings tied to North Carolina are remote or hybrid as of September 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 46 Lead Software Engineer Jobs in North Carolina
Find roles in North Carolina that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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