It's reasonably common for there to be a "first among equals" type situation where the person with a title like "technical lead" or "team lead" has technical decision-making authority within the team, but isn't formally a manager of any of the team members in the HR sense.

Yep, "technical lead" is that in my head, but perhaps that's because a "team lead" is line manager everywhere I have been.

Never thought about it as "first among equals", this is true.

Well now you have. Nice to meet you!