Lead Software Engineer

Adobe; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 208,300 - 301,600; Full time

Job summary

Adobe is seeking a highly motivated Senior Software Engineer to join the Project Graph team in California. In this frontend-focused role, you will design and deliver developer-focused features, ensuring high availability in enterprise environments.

The ideal candidate has 5+ years of experience in building complex web applications and a deep understanding of modern software practices. Adobe offers a competitive salary range from $208,300 to $301,600 based on experience.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience building, testing, and operating complex web applications.
• Deep understanding of modern software development practices.
• Strong analytical skills and data-driven attitude.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and maintain core components of Project Graph.
• Collaborate with engineering leadership to shape technical vision.
• Mentor junior engineers and foster technical excellence.

Skills

Web components experience (Custom Elements, Shadow DOM)

5+ years of experience building web applications

Analytical skills

Excellent communication skills

Education

BS or MS in Computer Science or a related field

Tools

Lit

FAST

Job description

We are seeking a highly motivated Senior Software Engineer to join the new Project Graph team at 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 if you’d rather focus on creating than building, you can tap into a growing ecosystem of community‑built tools without ever opening the editor.

In this front‑end focused role, you will play a key role in designing and delivering developer‑focused features of the Project Graph platform.

What You’ll Do

• Technical Ownership: Design, implement, and maintain core components of Project Graph, with a focus on web components and developer experience.
• Innovation & Impact: Collaborate with engineering leadership to shape and rapidly deliver on a technical vision to address the complex needs of the platform.
• Engineering Excellence: Champion software engineering standards, including code quality, testing, and continuous integration/deployment.
• Design and Operate at Scale: Lead in the architecture and operation of large‑scale, globally distributed systems. Ensure high availability and low latency in enterprise environments.
• Mentorship & Collaboration: Mentor junior engineers, lead design reviews, and foster a culture of technical excellence and continuous learning across the team.
• 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: 5+ years of experience building, testing and operating complex web applications. Experience with node‑based systems and enterprise software development is a strong plus.
• Technical Expertise: Deep understanding of modern software development practices. Web components experience (Custom Elements, Shadow DOM) is a must‑have.
• Familiarity with Lit, FAST, or similar libraries is welcome— but not a substitute for strong fundamentals.
• Experience building developer tooling or extensibility systems is highly desirable.
• Problem Solving: Strong analytical skills and a data‑driven attitude. Ability to break down complex problems and deliver elegant, maintainable solutions.
• Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Ability to clearly articulate technical concepts and collaborate effectively with technical and non‑technical partners.
• Customer Empathy: A strong sense of ownership and a passion for building products that delight users.

Expected Pay Range

The U.S. pay range for this position is $159,200 - $301,600 annually. In California, the pay range is $208,300 - $301,600. Compensation may vary based on location and experience. Salary details will be discussed during the hiring process.

Adobe is 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].

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

Colorado: If this role is open to hiring in Colorado, 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.

Massachusetts: 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.