<Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> This article does not cite any sources . Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources . Unsourced material may be challenged and removed . (February 2007) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> This article does not cite any sources . Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources . Unsourced material may be challenged and removed . (February 2007) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) </Td> </Tr> <P> A lead programmer is a software engineer in charge of one or more software projects . Alternative titles include development lead, technical lead, lead software engineer, software design engineer lead (SDE lead), software development manager, software manager, or lead application developer . When primarily contributing in a high - level enterprise software design role, the title software architect (or similar) is often used . </P> <P> A lead programmer's exact responsibilities vary from company to company, but in general he or she is responsible for the underlying architecture for the software program, as well as for overseeing the work being done by any other software engineers working on the project . A lead programmer will typically also act as a mentor for new or lower - level software developers or programmers, as well as for all the members on the development team . </P>

What does it mean to be a tech lead