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- Tasks: Lead technical direction and mentor teams while staying hands-on with coding.
- Company: Join a dynamic team focused on building innovative payment solutions for merchants.
- Benefits: Enjoy a flexible work environment, opportunities for growth, and minimal bureaucracy.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by solving complex problems in a fast-paced, empowering culture.
- Qualifications: 10+ years in software engineering, strong skills in .NET or Java, and mentoring experience.
- Other info: Payments experience is a bonus; reach out to Brendan McCrory for questions.
The predicted salary is between 54000 - 84000 £ per year.
Are you a senior engineer who wants to stay hands-on while shaping the technical direction of a growing team? Do you enjoy designing and delivering complex systems that have real impact? If so, read on.
We’re building the next generation of tools to support a fast-moving, merchant-first ecosystem. We value empowered teams, practical thinking, and outcome-driven engineering—and we’re looking for someone who shares these values.
What We Prioritise:
- Small teams, real outcomes – Clear goals, the right tools, minimal bureaucracy.
- Growth mindset – Encouraging innovation, skill development, and cross-team learning.
- Solving real problems – Focused on delivering value through practical, scalable solutions.
The Role:
As Principal Software Engineer II, you’ll lead technical direction across a range of platform capabilities (e.g., APIs, billing, settlement). You’ll be responsible for architectural decisions, mentoring teams, and contributing to key delivery efforts—staying 50% hands-on with the code.
Key Responsibilities:
- Define and evolve engineering practices and architecture across teams.
- Own and contribute to technical strategy, standards, and documentation.
- Identify improvement opportunities and lead cross-team initiatives.
- Provide technical leadership and mentorship to developers.
- Guide technology decisions, including build vs. buy assessments.
- Stay hands-on with critical coding tasks tied to strategic goals.
Requirements:
- 10+ years’ experience in software engineering and architecture.
- Strong skills in .NET, Java, or similar languages; SaaS/API experience preferred.
- Hands-on knowledge of SQL, middleware, caching, system integration.
- Track record of addressing performance/scalability issues.
- Experience in mentoring and leading technical teams.
- Excellent communication skills and stakeholder engagement.
- Comfortable working in a fast-moving, evolving environment.
- Payments experience is a bonus, but not essential.
Please reach out to Brendan McCrory with any further questions.
Principal Software Engineer (Payments) employer: Ocho
Contact Detail:
Ocho Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal Software Engineer (Payments)
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the latest trends and technologies in payments and software engineering. This will not only help you understand the industry better but also allow you to speak confidently about how your skills align with our needs during discussions.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with current or former employees of StudySmarter, especially those in technical roles. They can provide insights into our culture and expectations, which can be invaluable when preparing for interviews.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss specific examples of your past work that demonstrate your ability to lead teams and make architectural decisions. Highlighting your hands-on experience with coding and mentoring will show us that you’re a great fit for the role.
✨Tip Number 4
Stay updated on best practices in agile methodologies and team collaboration tools. Being able to articulate how you’ve successfully implemented these in previous roles will resonate well with our focus on empowered teams and practical thinking.
We think you need these skills to ace Principal Software Engineer (Payments)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights your 10+ years of experience in software engineering and architecture. Emphasise your skills in .NET, Java, and any relevant SaaS/API experience. Showcase specific projects where you've addressed performance or scalability issues.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for hands-on engineering and your desire to shape technical direction. Mention your experience in mentoring teams and how you align with the company's values of practical thinking and outcome-driven engineering.
Showcase Technical Leadership: Provide examples of how you've led technical initiatives or contributed to architectural decisions in previous roles. Highlight your ability to guide technology decisions and mentor developers, as these are key responsibilities for the role.
Prepare for Technical Questions: Anticipate technical questions related to your coding experience and architectural decisions. Be ready to discuss specific technologies you've worked with, such as SQL and middleware, and how you've solved real problems in past projects.
How to prepare for a job interview at Ocho
✨Showcase Your Technical Expertise
Be prepared to discuss your experience with .NET, Java, and any relevant technologies. Highlight specific projects where you’ve made architectural decisions or solved performance issues, as this will demonstrate your hands-on knowledge and ability to lead technical direction.
✨Emphasise Mentorship Experience
Since the role involves mentoring teams, share examples of how you've guided junior developers or led cross-team initiatives. This will show that you not only have the technical skills but also the leadership qualities they are looking for.
✨Demonstrate a Growth Mindset
Discuss how you encourage innovation and skill development within your teams. Share instances where you’ve fostered a culture of learning or adapted to new challenges, aligning with the company's value of a growth mindset.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that assess your problem-solving abilities in real-world scenarios. Think about how you would approach defining engineering practices or making technology decisions, and be ready to articulate your thought process clearly.
