Principal Engineer

Principal Engineer

Leicester Full-Time 80000 - 120000 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
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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 modern tech stack and impactful projects.
  • Qualifications: Proven experience in a senior engineering role, especially with Ruby and AWS.
  • 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 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

As a Principal Engineer at our high-growth UK-based SaaS company, you will thrive in a remote-first environment that champions innovation and collaboration. We offer competitive salaries, a comprehensive benefits package including private healthcare and a pension scheme, and a culture that prioritises mentorship and professional development. Join us to lead impactful projects that drive backend excellence and contribute to a mission-led product that addresses complex real-time challenges.
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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 make you stand out.

✨Tip Number 2

Network with current or former employees of the company on platforms like LinkedIn. Engaging in conversations about their experiences can provide valuable insights and potentially lead to referrals.

✨Tip Number 3

Prepare to discuss your leadership and mentoring experiences in detail. Since this role involves guiding a team, showcasing your ability to uplift others will be crucial during any interviews.

✨Tip Number 4

Stay updated on industry trends related to SaaS and backend engineering. Being able to discuss recent developments or challenges in the field can demonstrate your passion and commitment to the role.

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 high-availability platform design
Strong communication skills
Experience in SaaS or platform environments
Ability to balance architectural integrity with delivery pace
Familiarity with compliance-focused deployments
Understanding of performance, testing, and security standards
Collaboration skills for working in remote-first environments

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights your experience with Ruby on Rails, AWS, and distributed backend systems. Emphasise any leadership roles you've held and your contributions to engineering best practices.

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 specific projects where you led design and development, showcasing your ability to mentor and influence teams.

Showcase Relevant Experience: When detailing your work history, focus on your experience in SaaS or platform environments. Highlight your familiarity with tools like Terraform, Kubernetes, and your approach to maintaining high DORA metrics.

Prepare for Technical Questions: Anticipate technical questions related to backend architecture and system scalability. Be ready to discuss your problem-solving strategies and how you've improved tooling and infrastructure in previous roles.

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 Skills

As a Principal Engineer, you'll need to show that you can mentor and guide others. Share examples of how you've contributed to the professional growth of your team members and upheld engineering best practices in previous roles.

✨Discuss Your Experience with Infrastructure at Scale

Familiarity with AWS, Terraform, and Kubernetes is crucial for this role. Be ready to discuss your experience managing infrastructure at scale and how you've improved tooling and observability in past projects.

✨Prepare for Collaborative Discussions

Since this role involves close collaboration with product and engineering leadership, think about how you've successfully worked with cross-functional teams in the past. Be ready to discuss your approach to roadmap planning and system evolution.

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