Lead Software Engineer

Adobe Inc.; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 208,000 - 302,000; Full time

Job summary

Adobe is seeking a Lead Software Engineer to join Project Graph, a new platform for combining AI models, tools, and components in a visual editor. You will own developer-facing features and help define the technical vision across browser-native tech and Web Components.

The role emphasizes architecture, mentoring, and collaboration with product teams to deliver scalable, high-quality software. The ideal candidate brings 10+ years in web app development, deep browser tech expertise, and a proven

Qualifications

• BS or MS in Computer Science or a related field.
• 10+ years of experience building and operating complex web applications with ownership of deep technical areas.
• Expertise in at least one core browser technology (rendering, performance, networking, Web Components or JS runtime).

Responsibilities

• Technical Ownership: design and maintain foundational platform capabilities using native web technologies and Web Components.
• Platform Thinking: architect for browser as runtime with emphasis on performance and extensibility.
• Lead architecture for large-scale, globally distributed client applications with high availability.
• Mentorship: provide architectural guidance and hands-on code reviews to elevate engineering effectiveness.
• Customer Focus: collaborate with product managers to translate user needs into robust technical solutions.

Skills

Lead engineer

10+ years exp

Browser tech

Web Components

Lit/FAST familiarity

Developer tooling

Architecture

Communication

Education

BS or MS in CS

Tools

Lit

FAST

Web Components API

Job description

About the Role

We areseekinga highly motivatedLead Software Engineerto join the newProject Graphteamat Adobe.

Project Graph is a new creative system that lets you combine first and third-party AI models, Adobe tools, and custom interactive components inside a visual, designer-friendly node graph editor. Connect a library of tactile, interactive components that bring creative control of AI back to your fingertips. Transform ideas into powerful workflows and modular tools that run anywhere, from the web to Adobe apps like Photoshop. And ifyou'drather focus on creating than building, you can tap into a growing ecosystem of community-built tools without ever opening the editor.

In thisposition,you will play a keyrolein designing and deliveringdeveloper-focused features of the Project Graph platform.

What You'll Do

• Technical Ownership: Design, implement, andmaintainfoundational platform capabilities, with a focus onnativewebtechnologiesandWeb Components. Build systems that are framework-agnostic and designed for long-term evolution.
• Platform Thinking: Drive architecture that treats the browser as a powerfulruntime,notjust a rendering layer. Leverage deep knowledge of browser internals (rendering, events, networking, performance) to build robust, extensible systems.
• Innovation & Impact: Collaborate with engineering leadership to shape and rapidly deliver on a technical visiontoaddress the complex needs of theGraphplatform,
• Engineering Excellence: Champion strong fundamentals: simplicity, performance, reliability, and maintainability. Set a high bar for code quality, testing, and operational rigor.
• Design and Operate at Scale: Lead in the architecture and operation of large-scale, globally distributedclient application. Ensure high availability and low latency in enterprise environments.
• Mentorship & Collaboration: Set the standard of the team througharchitectural designleadership, thoughtful code reviews, and hands-on mentorship. Act as a force multiplier for engineering effectiveness.
• Customer Focus: Work closely with product managers and customer-facing teams to understand user needs and translate them into robust technical solutions.

What You Need To Succeed

• Education: BS or MS in Computer Science or a related field.
• Experience: 10+ years of experience building, testing and operating complexweb applications,with a track record of owningdeep technical areasand delivering platform-level systems.Experience withnode-basedor visual programmingsystems is a plus.
• Technical Expertise:
• Deep expertise inat least one core area of browser technology (e.g., rendering, performance, networking, Web Components, or JavaScript runtime behavior)
• Strong proficiency withWeb Components (Custom Elements, Shadow DOM)
• Experience buildingframework-independent or low-level platform abstractions
• Familiarity with Lit, FAST, or similar libraries is welcome-but not a substitute for strong fundamentals
• Experience building developer tooling or extensibility systems is a strong plus
• Problem Solving: Ability todecomposecomplexsystems into clear abstractionsand deliversolutions that areelegant,scalable, andmaintainable.
• Communication:Excellentwritten and verbal communication skills. Ability to clearly articulate technical concepts and collaborate effectively with technical and non-technical partners.
• Customer Empathy:A strong senseof ownership and a passion for building products that delight users.
• Ownership & Craft: A self-directed engineer with strong dedication to responsibility, high standards for craft, and a bias toward impact. Passionate about building systems that empower other developers.

About Adobe

Adobe empowers everyone to create through innovative platforms and tools that unleash creativity, productivity and personalized customer experiences. Adobe's industry-leading offerings including Adobe Acrobat Studio, Adobe Express, Adobe Firefly, Creative Cloud, Adobe Experience Platform, Adobe Experience Manager, and GenStudio enable people and businesses to turn ideas into impact, powered by AI and driven by human ingenuity.

Our 30,000+ employees worldwide are creating the future and raising the bar as we drive the next decade of growth. We're on a mission to hire the very best and believe in creating a company culture where all employees are empowered to make an impact. At Adobe, we believe that great ideas can come from anywhere in the organization. The next big idea could be yours.

Let's Adobe together

At Adobe, we believe in creating a company culture where all employees are empowered to make an impact. Learn more about Adobe life, including our values and culture, focus on people, purpose and community, Adobe for All, comprehensive benefits programs, the stories we tell, the customers we serve, and how you can help us advance our mission of empowering everyone to create.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Adobe is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based on gender, race or color, ethnicity or national origin, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic. Learn more.

Adobe aims to make our Careers website and recruiting process accessible to any and all users. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation to navigate our website or complete the application process, email [e-mail] or call [phone].

AI Use Guidelines for Interviews

Our interviews are designed to reflect your own skills and thinking. The use of AI or recording tools during live interviews is not permitted unless explicitly invited by the interviewer or approved in advance as part of a reasonable accommodation. If these tools are used inappropriately or in a way that misrepresents your work, your application may not move forward in the process.

At Adobe, we empower employees to innovate with AI - and we look for candidates eager to do the same. As part of the hiring experience, we provide clear guidance on where AI is encouraged during the process and where it's restricted during live interviews. See how we think about AI in the hiring experience.

Expected Pay Range

The U.S. pay range for this positionis $159,200 -- $301,600 annually. Paywithin this range varies by work locationand may also depend on job-related knowledge, skills,and experience. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for the job location during the hiring process.

In California, the pay range for this position is $208,300 - $301,600

At Adobe, for sales roles starting salaries are expressed as total target compensation (TTC = base + commission), and short-term incentives are in the form of sales commission plans. Non-sales roles starting salaries are expressed as base salary and short-term incentives are in the form of the Annual Incentive Plan (AIP).

In addition, certain roles may be eligible for long-term incentives in the form of a new hire equity award.

State-Specific Notices

California

Fair Chance Ordinances

Adobe will consider qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records for employment in accordance with state and local laws and "fair chance" ordinances.

Colorado

Application Window Notice

If this role is open to hiring in Colorado (as listed on the job posting), the application window will remain open until at least the date and time stated above in Pacific Time, in compliance with Colorado pay transparency regulations. If this role does not have Colorado listed as a hiring location, no specific application window applies, and the posting may close at any time based on hiring needs.

Massachusetts

Massachusetts Legal Notice

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.