Successful companies today have strong technology leadership. They have professionals in place to lead the technology development team. Depending on the company, a technical lead may be known by various titles — senior developer or team lead. Technical leads are tasked with establishing the technical vision for the company and working with developers to make it come to life. Successful technical leads need to have a strong combination of technology skills, project management and people skills. This combination helps you manage processes, people and technology.
A technical lead plays a key role in the technology sector. As a technical lead, you can expect an average annual salary of about $100,000. Salaries for this job range from as low as $64,000 per year up to $130,000. The type of company you work for, your success in the industry, and your experience have an impact on your earning potential.
Technical leads work in an office environment, commonly at the company headquarters. You work in the IT department and work directly with the development team, taking a hands-on approach. You report to senior management or a VP of technology.
Your day-to-day tasks as a technical lead will vary based on the company's strategic direction. You will split your time between developing technology strategies, coding, working with the development team and reporting to senior management. Here are some of the daily tasks that are included in your job description:
A technical lead typically works within the IT department of large companies, within the technology industry for a software development company or with information technology firms. Some work internally, others work as outside consultants with the overall goal to help companies most effectively use technology to support business objectives.
Technical lead jobs are most commonly found in states with a large technology sector such as in California, New York and Florida.
Successful technical leads are more than technology experts. They have a strong combination of technology, leadership and management skills to guide development teams and ensure technology is aligned with business goals. Here are some of the skills and qualities hiring companies are looking for in technical lead candidates:
To work as a technical lead, you will need to have a degree in computer science or related field. Additional education in business administration, project management and leadership is an asset. Technical leads are expected to have up to 10 years of industry experience in computer applications, software development and programming.
Technical leads, or team leads, are near the top of the organization. Coming from a software engineer or senior developer role, technical leads often stay within this role for the long term. Some move to new companies to take on new challenges.
Are you a senior developer looking to break into a technical lead role? Are you currently a technical lead looking for a career change? Randstad USA can help. Contact us today to ramp up your job search. We can help you find the perfect role for your skill set.
Is your company looking for an experienced technical lead? We can help. Contact Randstad USA today to boost your recruiting efforts.