Responsibilities and Duties

• Technical leads participate in and provide input into the design, re-design and development of technology products and applications. They contribute to and often lead the specification and software design phases of the software development life cycle. Technical leads also manage the design and implementation of new software development and enhancement efforts, and coordinate systems installation and software testing with other technologists.
  
  Technical leads also function in a support capacity and assist users with the isolation and resolution of software issues. They lead root-cause analyses, communicate options for resolution and provide recommendations to customer-facing technology problems. Duties and technical issues may sometimes require extended work hours, including weekends and holidays.
  
  

Distinguishing Characteristics

• Technical leads provide technology-enabled solutions to address complex business problems. Their duties include programming, IT support and technology communications. As a key member of the IT organization, technical leads work closely with other information technologists to produce high-quality, IT-enabled applications, products and services. Technical leads are responsible for the overall technical implementation of applications, and frequently interact with internal and external business contacts.
  
  

Qualifications, Skills and Experience

• There are no universal educational requirements for technical leads; however, employers commonly prefer candidates with a graduate degree in computer science, mathematics or information systems, with five to seven years of experience in application development or technology management, and demonstrated skills in configuration management, data management, information management, network security, IT architecture, infrastructure design, systems integration and systems life cycle management. Some employers prefer candidates with advanced graduate degrees, or technical certifications, such as Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE), Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP), and Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA).
  
  

Compensation

• The median annual wage of a technical lead in the United States is $86,322, as of 2010. The average annual salaries of technical leads are 28 percent higher than average salaries for all job postings nationwide, as of 2010. According to Indeed.com, factors such as employer size, industry, credentials and years of experience can dramatically affect the compensation of a project assistant. In general, the salary range for a technical lead in the United States is $45,000 to $163,800.
  
  

Career Advancement

• According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, technical leads advance their career by gaining further education or work experience, and may move into supervisory or management positions once they are qualified. IT consulting is an option for technical leads who do not wish to advance to management positions, or who would rather continue to work with hands-on applications or in a particular specialty.