What is the difference between senior and lead engineer roles?

Senior engineers typically own complex features or subsystems and mentor junior developers. Lead engineers take on broader technical leadership - setting architecture direction, driving cross-team initiatives, and often managing a small team of engineers.

What salary should a senior engineer expect?

Senior engineers in the US typically earn $150K–$220K in base salary, with total compensation (including equity and bonuses) reaching $250K–$400K+ at top-tier companies. Geography, company stage, and specialization all influence the final number.

How do I advance from mid-level to a $150K+ senior role?

Focus on owning projects end-to-end, improving system reliability or performance with measurable results, mentoring teammates, and contributing to technical design decisions. Building a track record of scope expansion and business impact is the fastest path to promotion.

Are $150K+ senior engineer jobs available remotely?

Yes. Many companies hiring senior and lead engineers offer remote or hybrid arrangements, recognizing that experienced engineers are productive regardless of location. Use the work model filter to find remote-friendly $150K+ positions.

1,218+ JobsUpdated May 11, 2026

Senior Engineer Jobs Paying $150K+

Senior and lead engineers earning $150K+ drive technical strategy, mentor teams, and own critical systems. These positions reward deep expertise and leadership ability. Whether you're a senior full-stack developer or a lead platform engineer, find the role that matches your experience level and ambitions.

Get AI-Matched Jobs

Salary Range

$80k – $349k

Top Companies

SpaceX, Carbon Upcycling Technologies, Peraton, Leidos, Amazon.com Services LLC, Marriott International, Inc +31 more

Job Types

92% Full Time, 8% Contract

Top Locations

Washington, Arlington, Hawthorne, Bethesda

Work Model

86% On-Site, 12% Hybrid, 2% Remote

Experience Levels

64% Senior, 14% Staff, 12% principal

We found 1,218 senior engineer jobs paying $150k+ currently hiring in locations including Washington, Arlington, Hawthorne. Salaries range from $80k to $349k based on experience, location, and company size. Work arrangements include On-Site (86%), Hybrid (12%), Remote (2%). Top employers include SpaceX, Carbon Upcycling Technologies, Peraton and 34 other companies.

Companies Hiring for Senior Engineer Jobs Paying $150K+

SpaceX7 jobs

Carbon Upcycling Technologies3 jobs

Peraton3 jobs

Leidos2 jobs

Amazon.com Services LLC2 jobs

Marriott International, Inc2 jobs

+31 more companies hiring. Sign up to see all.

Career Path & Salary Progression

Senior

$143k–$193k

32 jobs

Lead

$160k–$225k

1 job

Staff

$180k–$260k

7 jobs

Latest Jobs Added

Restructuring and Turnaround Services, Healthcare and Life Sciences - Director (Revenue Cycle Management Transformation)

Riveron

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Senior Engineer Jobs Paying $150K+

Companies Hiring for Senior Engineer Jobs Paying $150K+

Career Path & Salary Progression

Latest Jobs Added

Restructuring and Turnaround Services, Healthcare and Life Sciences - Director

Project Management Construction Management (PMCM) Senior Manager

Principal Reliability Engineer

Tech Consulting - Full-Stack Java Developer - Senior - Multiple Locations

Senior Data Scientist

Senior Software Engineer

Senior Backend Engineer - Identity & Access Management

Senior Corporate Paralegal- East Coast

Senior Data Engineer (Starlink Growth)

Principal Optical Network Engineer (Starlink Ground Network)

Principal Account Manager - USA

Compliance Lead, Payments

Systems Engineer (L4 or L5)

Senior Supply Planner

Senior Staff Software Engineer

Senior Staff Mechanical Engineer

Systems Engineer - Splunk Administrator, Senior Advisor

Senior Integrated Network and Mission Operations Manager Jobs

Senior Cinematic Animator

Senior Manager, Strategic Supplier Mgmt.

Senior HR Business Partner - Capital Markets

Policy Analyst

Senior Manager Strategy & Business Development

Senior Manager, Media Relations and Issues Management

Project Manager, Third Party Risk Management

Senior Social Media Manager, Community and Listening-Hybrid in Washington, DC

Senior Auditor with Security Clearance

Senior Manager, Paid Social

Senior/Lead Risk Analyst, Payment fraud (Relocation to Toronto Required)

Senior Product Marketing Manager, Portfolio Marketing

Senior Program Manager, Utilization, Middle Mile Fleet Management

Principal Software Engineer, Continuous Integration (Starship)

Senior Software Engineer, Continuous Integration (Starship)

Senior Staff Engineer - Financial Substantiation Platform *Hybrid*

Assistant Program Operations Manager

Executive Sous Chef - Quick Hire!

Senior Digital Marketing Manager (Email) - Software (Remote)

Staff Industrial Engineer

Database Sharing Environment Lead with Security Clearance

Senior Systems Engineer – Endpoint II (6532)

Software Engineer (SWE), Level 3 [D.26.0105] with Security Clearance

Senior Manager of Business Development Training

Senior Project/Program Manager – Transmission & Distribution (T&D)

Senior Manager, Generative AI Research & Science

Product Manager, Sourcing & Supplier Management, Accessories

Construction Account Executive/Senior Account Executive

Lead ASIC Design Verification Engineer (Starshield Satellite Engineering)

Senior Antenna Engineer (Starship)

Cloud Software Engineer (Java/Kotlin), Senior Associate

Senior Security Software Engineer (Starshield)

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Senior Staff Engineer - Financial Substantiation Platform Hybrid