Principal Engineer

Principal Engineer

Cambridge Full-Time 80000 - 120000 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead backend service design for a high-availability platform.
  • Company: Join a high-growth UK-based SaaS company backed by recent investment.
  • Benefits: Enjoy remote work, competitive salary, pension, private healthcare, and more.
  • Why this job: Shape global infrastructure with a modern tech stack and impactful projects.
  • Qualifications: Proven experience in a senior engineering role, expertise in Ruby on Rails, AWS.
  • Other info: Collaborative, fast-paced environment with opportunities for mentorship and 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 will 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 are 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

Join a dynamic and innovative SaaS company that prioritises employee growth and collaboration in a remote-first environment. With a strong focus on engineering excellence, you will have the opportunity to lead impactful projects while enjoying competitive benefits, including private healthcare and a generous pension scheme. Our culture fosters mentorship and continuous improvement, making it an ideal place for professionals looking to advance their careers in a mission-driven setting.
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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 previous leadership experiences and how you've mentored others in engineering roles. This position requires strong mentoring skills, so be ready to share specific examples of how you've helped your team grow.

✨Tip Number 3

Research the company’s mission and values, and think about how your personal values align with theirs. Being able to articulate this connection during your conversations can demonstrate your genuine interest in the role and the company.

✨Tip Number 4

Engage with the company's online presence, such as their blog or social media channels. This will not only help you understand their culture better but also provide you with talking points that can impress during interviews.

We think you need these skills to ace Principal Engineer

Expertise in Ruby on Rails
Strong understanding of distributed backend systems
Experience with AWS infrastructure
Proficiency in Terraform and Kubernetes
Knowledge of Postgres and Redis
Leadership and mentoring skills
Ability to set and uphold engineering best practices
Experience in SaaS or platform environments
Strong communication skills
Experience with high-availability platforms
Understanding of performance, testing, security, and delivery
Ability to balance architectural integrity with delivery pace
Collaboration skills for working with product and engineering leadership
Experience with compliance-focused deployments
Continuous improvement mindset for tooling and infrastructure

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights your experience with Ruby on Rails, AWS, and other relevant technologies mentioned in the job description. Use specific examples of projects where you've demonstrated leadership and backend excellence.

Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for backend engineering and how your skills align with the company's mission. Mention your experience in mentoring and leading teams, as well as your familiarity with high-availability platforms.

Showcase Relevant Projects: Include a section in your application that showcases specific projects or achievements related to backend systems, particularly those involving distributed systems and compliance-focused deployments. This will demonstrate your hands-on experience.

Highlight Soft Skills: Since the role requires strong communication and mentoring skills, make sure to highlight any experiences where you've successfully collaborated with teams or mentored peers. This can set you apart from other candidates.

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 led the design and development of backend services, and be ready to explain your approach to performance, testing, and security.

✨Demonstrate Leadership and Mentorship Skills

Since this role involves significant influence over engineering standards and mentoring peers, share examples of how you've guided teams in the past. Discuss your approach to fostering a collaborative environment and how you've contributed to the professional growth of others.

✨Understand the Company’s Mission and Product

Research the company’s mission and the challenges they face with their platform. Be ready to discuss how your skills can help them achieve their goals, particularly in scaling infrastructure and improving tooling and observability.

✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions

Expect questions that assess your problem-solving abilities in real-time scenarios. Think about how you would handle architectural decisions under pressure, and be ready to discuss your thought process and the trade-offs involved.

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