At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead backend service design and development for a high-availability platform.
- Company: Join a high-growth UK-based SaaS company backed by recent investment.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, private healthcare, and a 5% pension plan.
- Why this job: Shape global infrastructure with a mission-led product and modern tech stack.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in a senior engineering role, ideally with Ruby and AWS expertise.
- Other info: Remote-first work culture with opportunities for mentorship and professional growth.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 120000 £ per year.
Albany Growth are partnering with a high-growth UK-based SaaS company backed by recent investment and now ready to scale their engineering team with 2 senior hires. They are now hiring a Principal Engineer to drive backend excellence across a complex, high-availability platform used by global customers. This is a hands-on senior leadership role with significant influence across engineering standards, architecture, and mentorship. You'll work across a modern Ruby-based stack, and play a key role in scaling platform infrastructure and guiding technical decisions that impact millions.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the design and development of backend services in a mission-critical platform
- Set and uphold engineering best practices across performance, testing, security, and delivery
- Mentor peers and contribute to the technical and professional growth of the wider team
- Own features from concept to production, balancing architectural integrity with delivery pace
- Collaborate closely with product and engineering leadership on roadmap planning and system evolution
- Contribute to compliance-focused, change-controlled deployments with high DORA metrics (elite-level performance)
- Continuously improve tooling, observability, and infrastructure to support scalable growth
Key Requirements
- Proven experience as a Principal / Lead / Staff level Engineer, ideally in SaaS or platform environments
- Expertise in Ruby on Rails and strong understanding of distributed backend systems
- Experience with infrastructure at scale—ideally across AWS, Terraform, Kubernetes, Postgres, Redis
- Comfortable working in fast-paced, collaborative, remote-first environments
- Strong communication and mentoring skills with a product-oriented mindset
If you're ready to shape backend systems that underpin global infrastructure, apply using the link and we’ll be in touch with further details.
Principal Engineer employer: Albany Growth
Contact Detail:
Albany Growth Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal Engineer
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the specific technologies mentioned in the job description, such as Ruby on Rails, AWS, and Postgres. Having hands-on experience or projects that showcase your skills in these areas will give you a significant edge during discussions.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare to discuss your leadership and mentoring experiences in detail. Since this role involves guiding a team, be ready to share examples of how you've successfully led projects or mentored junior engineers in the past.
✨Tip Number 3
Research the company’s mission and recent developments in their technology stack. Understanding their goals and challenges will allow you to tailor your conversations and demonstrate how you can contribute to their success.
✨Tip Number 4
Network with current or former employees of the company on platforms like LinkedIn. Gaining insights into the company culture and expectations can help you align your approach and make a stronger impression during interviews.
We think you need these skills to ace Principal Engineer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights your experience with Ruby on Rails, AWS, and distributed backend systems. Use specific examples of projects where you've led backend development or implemented engineering best practices.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for backend engineering and how your leadership skills can contribute to the company's mission. Mention your experience in mentoring and collaborating with teams, as well as your familiarity with compliance-focused deployments.
Showcase Relevant Projects: Include a section in your application that showcases relevant projects or achievements. Highlight any experience you have with high-availability platforms, scaling infrastructure, or improving tooling and observability.
Prepare for Technical Questions: Anticipate technical questions related to backend architecture, performance optimisation, and security best practices. Be ready to discuss your approach to problem-solving and how you would handle real-time challenges in a SaaS environment.
How to prepare for a job interview at Albany Growth
✨Showcase Your Technical Expertise
Be prepared to discuss your experience with Ruby on Rails and distributed backend systems in detail. Highlight specific projects where you've implemented best practices in performance, testing, and security.
✨Demonstrate Leadership Skills
Since this role involves mentoring and leading a team, share examples of how you've guided peers in previous positions. Discuss your approach to fostering a collaborative environment and driving engineering excellence.
✨Understand the Company’s Mission
Research the company's mission and values before the interview. Be ready to explain how your personal goals align with theirs, especially in terms of building scalable and reliable backend systems.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that assess your problem-solving skills in real-time scenarios. Think about challenges you've faced in past roles and how you overcame them, particularly in high-availability environments.