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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the evolution of backend systems and mentor engineers in a modern team.
- Company: Join a mission-driven scaleup focused on solving real-world safety challenges.
- Benefits: Enjoy generous leave, private health cover, flexible working, and tech perks.
- Why this job: Be part of a collaborative culture that values clean systems and technical excellence.
- Qualifications: 6+ years in Java development with expertise in microservices and system design.
- Other info: Opportunity to influence engineering standards and drive impactful decisions.
The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 £ per year.
One of our scaleup partners is hiring a Principal Java Engineer to lead the technical evolution of their core backend system. You’ll join a modern engineering team delivering high-scale, event-driven microservices. This is more than just a hands-on Java role; you’ll be mentoring engineers, defining architecture, and setting engineering standards that will scale as the business grows.
What You’ll Be Doing
- Designing and building modern Java microservices in an event-driven architecture
- Leading the break-up of legacy monolith systems into scalable, decoupled services
- Driving best practices in code quality, architecture, and delivery
- Collaborating closely with product managers, designers, and engineering peers
- Providing mentorship and leadership within the team, from pairing to code review
- Helping the business scale safely and efficiently through pragmatic engineering decisions
What You’ll Bring
- 6+ years of Java development experience, including deep knowledge of microservices
- Experience migrating monolithic systems into modern service architectures
- Strong grasp of system design, distributed systems, and cloud-native development
- A technical mindset grounded in real-world delivery and commercial impact
- Experience in mentoring or leading engineers in a high-growth environment
- Great communication skills and a collaborative, team-first approach
Why Apply
- Generous annual leave
- ESOP scheme
- Private health cover, dental & optical
- Cycle-to-work & tech scheme
- Flexible working environment
- Work with a mission-led scaleup, solving real-world safety problems
Interested? If you’re a pragmatic Java engineer who loves clean systems, building for scale, and leading others toward technical excellence, feel free to apply for the role or reach out to Ryan Quinn directly on LinkedIn.
Contact Detail:
Ocho Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal Java Engineer
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the latest trends in Java microservices and event-driven architecture. Being able to discuss recent advancements or frameworks during your conversations will show your passion and expertise in the field.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare to share specific examples of how you've successfully migrated monolithic systems to microservices. Highlighting your hands-on experience with real-world challenges will demonstrate your capability to lead similar projects.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your mentoring experience by discussing how you've helped junior engineers grow. This role values leadership, so be ready to explain your approach to fostering a collaborative team environment.
✨Tip Number 4
Engage with the company's mission and values. Research their projects and be prepared to discuss how your technical decisions can align with their goals, especially in solving real-world safety problems.
We think you need these skills to ace Principal Java Engineer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights your 6+ years of Java development experience, focusing on your work with microservices and any relevant projects that demonstrate your ability to lead and mentor others.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for clean systems and scalable architecture. Mention specific examples of how you've successfully migrated monolithic systems and driven best practices in previous roles.
Showcase Your Leadership Skills: Emphasise your experience in mentoring engineers and leading teams. Provide examples of how you've collaborated with product managers and designers to achieve successful outcomes in high-growth environments.
Highlight Communication Skills: Since great communication is key for this role, include instances where your collaborative approach has led to successful project delivery. This could be through code reviews, team pairings, or cross-functional collaborations.
How to prepare for a job interview at Ocho
✨Showcase Your Technical Expertise
Be prepared to discuss your experience with Java and microservices in detail. Highlight specific projects where you've designed and built event-driven architectures, and be ready to explain the challenges you faced and how you overcame them.
✨Demonstrate Leadership Skills
Since this role involves mentoring and leading engineers, share examples of how you've successfully guided teams in the past. Discuss your approach to code reviews and how you foster a collaborative environment.
✨Discuss System Design Knowledge
Expect questions about system design and distributed systems. Prepare to articulate your understanding of breaking down monolithic systems into scalable services, and be ready to provide insights on best practices in architecture.
✨Communicate Effectively
Strong communication skills are essential for this role. Practice explaining complex technical concepts in a clear and concise manner, as you'll need to collaborate closely with product managers and designers during the interview.
