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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 54000 - 84000 £ 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.
Principal Java Engineer employer: Ocho
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 at StudySmarter.
✨Tip Number 3
Brush up on your mentoring skills and be ready to discuss your approach to leading teams. Since this role involves guiding other engineers, showcasing your leadership style and past experiences will be crucial.
✨Tip Number 4
Engage with our community on platforms like LinkedIn. Connecting with current employees or following our updates can give you insights into our culture and values, which you can reference in your discussions.
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 and showcases your expertise in microservices. Include specific examples of projects where you've migrated monolithic systems to modern architectures.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, emphasise your leadership experience and mentoring skills. Discuss how you can contribute to the team by driving best practices in code quality and architecture.
Showcase Technical Skills: Be explicit about your technical skills related to system design, distributed systems, and cloud-native development. Mention any relevant tools or technologies you have used in past projects.
Highlight Collaboration Experience: Since the role involves close collaboration with product managers and designers, provide examples of how you've successfully worked in cross-functional teams. This will demonstrate your team-first approach.
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 or 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 on system design and distributed systems. Prepare to articulate your understanding of breaking down monolithic systems into scalable services, and be ready to provide insights into best practices for 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.
