Lead Software Engineer
Reply
Chicago, IL · Posted May 6, 2026
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Where Chicago, IL ranks
Where Chicago, IL placed in our monthly rankings, month by month. Each month stays online at its own address.
November 2026
- #1Best cities for government pay after cost of living$146k · of 18
- #1Cities with the most jobs that do not need a four-year degree in the Midwest684 jobs · of 51
- #1Cities with the most jobs that do not need a four-year degree in the Great Lakes684 jobs · of 36
- #1Best cities for software and engineering jobs in the Midwest1,140 openings · of 59
- #1Best cities for software and engineering jobs in the Great Lakes1,140 openings · of 48
- #1Best all-round cities for mid-career professionals in the Midwest80 / 100 · of 20
Rankings about engineering jobs
- Best cities for software and engineering jobs #1 San Francisco (3,412 openings)
- Best cities for engineering pay after cost of living #1 San Mateo ($216k)
- Most requested AI skills in engineering jobs #1 AI tools in daily work (6.1%)
- AI tools named most often in engineering jobs #1 Claude (1.7%)
- Employers with the most engineering jobs #1 Amazon (2,992 roles)
Pay compared with the market
This listing does not state pay. Across 47 open lead software engineer listings that state pay, the middle half runs $161,500 to $192,500 and the median is $186,000.
Listed pay is what employers advertise, not what people are paid.
Lead Software Engineer salaries by state · Check your own pay
How AI is used in this kind of work
Among software developers, AI is already used for some of the tasks. Measured exposure for software developers: 29% (some).
Share of this job’s tasks that AI is already used for at work, from real usage. It is not a forecast of job loss, and a low number means no use seen yet. Source: Anthropic Economic Index.
Skills this job asks for
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About the job
Valorem Reply is an award-winning digital transformation firm focused on delivering solutions around data-driven enterprise, IT modernization, customer experience, product transformation and digital workplace by leveraging the power of Microsoft technologies. We provide hyper-scale and agile delivery of unique digital business services, strategic business models and design-led user experiences. Our innovative strategies and solutions securely and rapidly transform the way our clients do business.
We are seeking a Lead Software Developer to design and deliver modern software systems. This role combines hands-on development with technical leadership, guiding engineering teams while building scalable distributed systems. You will work closely with engineers, architects, and product stakeholders to design reliable systems and deliver production software. The role emphasizes automated CI/CD pipelines and modern engineering practices, including the use of AI-assisted development tools such as Claude Code, Codex, and GitHub Copilot.
Responsibilities Responsibilities Lead the design and architecture of modern software systems. Mentor and guide a team of 5–15 software developers. Develop and deliver production software using C#, React, SQL, and TypeScript. Design and implement applications deployed on Azure. Establish and maintain CI/CD pipelines using GitHub or Azure DevOps. Use and promote AI-assisted development tools such as Claude Code, Codex, and GitHub Copilot. Conduct code reviews and enforce engineering standards. Collaborate with architects, product managers, and stakeholders.
Minimum Requirements
7+ years of professional software development experience.
3+ years in a technical lead or senior engineering role.
Strong experience developing applications using C#, SQL, and familiarity with other non-relational databases.
Experience developing modern web applications using React and TypeScript.
Experience building distributed systems in cloud environments such as Azure.
Experience implementing CI/CD pipelines using GitHub or Azure DevOps.
Travel requirement: up to 20%.
Preferred Requirements
Experience designing microservice architectures.
Experience with containerization technologies such as Docker or Kubernetes.
Experience with event-driven systems or messaging technologies.
Experience establishing architecture standards across teams.
Experience delivering software in consulting or client-facing environments.
Experience using AI-assisted development tools such as Claude Code, Codex, or GitHub Copilot.
About Reply Reply specializes in the design and implementation of solutions based on new communication channels and digital media. Reply is a network of highly specialized companies supporting global industrial groups operating in the telecom and media, industry and services, banking, insurance and public administration sectors in the definition and development of business models enabled for the new paradigms of AI, cloud computing, digital media and the Internet of Things. Reply services include Consulting, System Integration and Digital Services. The base compensation range for this full-time position is between [$140,000 - $180,000] plus benefits. Compensation decisions are supported through market data, where regional variances may exist based on cost of labor. We also take into consideration prior experience, relevant skills, education and/or training, certifications and, as applicable, other required qualifications. If you have questions regarding compensation, the talent acquisition team can provide relevant details during the interview process. Reply is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to provide equal opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status. If you need assistance and reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or the recruiting process, email us at jobusa@reply.com. Visit our website at www.reply.com to learn more about our open roles.