Principal Software Architect (London)
Principal Software Architect (London)

Principal Software Architect (London)

Wandsworth Full-Time 75000 - 105000 ÂŁ / year (est.) No home office possible
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead architecture initiatives, enhance system health, and ensure robust security.
  • Company: PeopleCheck delivers fast, accurate background-screening solutions for compliance-driven industries.
  • Benefits: Enjoy hybrid work, additional leave, company events, and private medical insurance.
  • Why this job: Join a small, agile team and make a real impact on a mission-critical platform.
  • Qualifications: 5+ years in backend/system architecture with expertise in scalable systems and automated testing.
  • Other info: Work closely with senior tech experts and influence key architectural decisions.

The predicted salary is between 75000 - 105000 ÂŁ per year.

Principal Software Architect

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PeopleCheck provides fast, accurate background-screening solutions for compliance-driven industries. As we scale up our platform, we need a seasoned architect to help us build a rock-solid, maintainable codebase and resilient infrastructure—ensuring excellent user experience, security, and rapid feature delivery.

Role Overview

You’ll be the senior architect driving PeopleCheck’s system-health, architecture, and scalability initiatives. Reporting to the CEO and collaborating closely with our tech lead, frontend engineer, and product manager, you'll:

  • Assess and evolve our current stack, delivering impactful improvements within your initial months.
  • Utilize your previous architecture experience to guide design decisions and establish best practices.

Key Responsibilities

  • Automated Testing & Validation
  • Design and implement comprehensive CI/CD pipelines ensuring thorough coverage and reliability on critical APIs.
  • Architect a fully automated test suite (unit, integration, end-to-end) and mirror staging/production environments (e.g., Docker)
  • Further enhance modularity and maintainability of our backend architecture following single-responsibility principles.
  • Enhance or evolve our existing architecture with microservices best practices.
  • System Health & Monitoring
  • Define robust error-handling patterns, integrating structured logging and alerting for swift root-cause analysis.
  • Optimize and maintain infrastructure abstraction and scalability strategies for robust performance during peak loads.
  • Security & Compliance
  • Strengthen and maintain industry-leading security standards around credential management and database access.
  • Ensure secure coding and data protection best practices throughout our stack and infrastructure.
  • Documentation & Knowledge Sharing
  • Lead architecture/design reviews, write thorough runbooks, and collaborate with the team on SOLID/fp-based design

Required Experience & Skills

  • 5+ years in backend/system architecture or senior engineering roles
  • Hands-on expertise in designing and operating scalable , high-availability systems
  • Deep understanding of system design patterns: modularity, microservices, SRP (SOLID), functional decomposition
  • Proven track record of delivering automated test suites (unit, integration, end-to-end) and driving 90–100% coverage on critical paths
  • Comfortable with Docker , CI/CD tools (e.g., Jenkins, GitHub Actions, GitLab CI), and environment mirroring
  • Strong experience with Node.js (or equivalent), RESTful APIs, and code structuring
  • Familiarity with cloud platforms (Linode/AWS/GCP) and infrastructure-as-code principles
  • Excellent communicator—able to present past case studies and guide stakeholders

Preferred Qualifications

  • Background in compliance or background-screening services
  • Experience with microservices design and orchestration (Kubernetes, ECS)
  • Knowledge of advanced observability tools (Datadog, New Relic, ELK)

Why Join Us?

  • Impact : Help define the technical roadmap together with our tech lead of a mission-critical compliance platform.
  • Ownership : Lead key initiatives end-to-end with direct influence on architecture and product.
  • Growth : Work alongside senior tech experts and expand your skills.
  • Culture : Small, agile team—fast decision-making, collaborative environment, work/life balance.

Apply Today if you’re passionate about building resilient, scalable systems and eager to share your success stories with a driven, compliance-focused team in London.

Job Type: Full-time, Permanent

  • Additional leave
  • Company events
  • Company pension
  • Cycle to work scheme
  • Private medical insurance
  • Referral programme
  • Sick pay
  • Work from home

Schedule:

  • Monday to Friday

Language:

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Richmond TW9 (London)

Seniority level

  • Seniority level

    Mid-Senior level

Employment type

  • Employment type

    Full-time

Job function

  • Job function

    Engineering and Information Technology

  • Industries

    Information Services

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Principal Software Architect (London) employer: PeopleCheck

At PeopleCheck, we pride ourselves on being an excellent employer by fostering a collaborative and agile work culture that prioritises work/life balance. As a Principal Software Architect in London, you'll have the opportunity to lead impactful initiatives, work alongside seasoned tech experts, and enjoy benefits such as private medical insurance, a cycle to work scheme, and flexible hybrid working arrangements. Join us to make a meaningful impact on our mission-critical compliance platform while advancing your career in a supportive environment.
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Contact Detail:

PeopleCheck Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Principal Software Architect (London)

✨Tip Number 1

Network with professionals in the software architecture field, especially those who have experience in compliance-driven industries. Attend meetups or webinars where you can connect with potential colleagues and learn more about the specific challenges they face.

✨Tip Number 2

Familiarise yourself with the latest trends in microservices and CI/CD practices. Being able to discuss recent advancements or share your insights on these topics during interviews can set you apart from other candidates.

✨Tip Number 3

Prepare to showcase your previous projects that demonstrate your ability to design scalable systems. Be ready to discuss the architectural decisions you made and how they contributed to the success of those projects.

✨Tip Number 4

Research PeopleCheck's current technology stack and think about how your skills can enhance their platform. Tailoring your conversation to show how you can directly contribute to their goals will make a strong impression.

We think you need these skills to ace Principal Software Architect (London)

Backend/System Architecture
Scalable System Design
High-Availability Systems
Automated Testing (Unit, Integration, End-to-End)
CI/CD Pipeline Implementation
Docker Proficiency
Node.js Expertise
RESTful API Development
Microservices Architecture
Cloud Platforms (AWS, GCP, Linode)
Infrastructure as Code
Error Handling Patterns
Structured Logging and Monitoring
Security Best Practices
Documentation and Knowledge Sharing
Excellent Communication Skills

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights your experience in backend/system architecture and any relevant projects you've worked on. Emphasise your hands-on expertise with scalable systems and automated test suites, as these are key requirements for the role.

Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for building resilient systems and your understanding of compliance-driven industries. Mention specific experiences that align with the responsibilities outlined in the job description, such as your familiarity with CI/CD pipelines and microservices.

Showcase Relevant Projects: If you have previous projects that demonstrate your ability to design and operate high-availability systems, include them in your application. Highlight your role in these projects and the impact they had on system performance or user experience.

Prepare for Technical Questions: Be ready to discuss your architectural decisions and past case studies during the interview process. Think about how you can articulate your approach to system health, security, and compliance, as these are crucial aspects of the role.

How to prepare for a job interview at PeopleCheck

✨Showcase Your Architectural Experience

Be prepared to discuss your previous architecture projects in detail. Highlight specific challenges you faced, the solutions you implemented, and the impact of your decisions on system performance and scalability.

✨Demonstrate CI/CD Knowledge

Since the role involves designing CI/CD pipelines, be ready to explain your experience with these tools. Discuss how you've implemented automated testing and validation processes in past projects, and be specific about the technologies you've used.

✨Emphasise Security Practices

Given the importance of security in this role, prepare to talk about your approach to secure coding and data protection. Share examples of how you've integrated security measures into your architecture and any compliance standards you've adhered to.

✨Communicate Effectively

As an architect, you'll need to guide stakeholders and collaborate with various teams. Practice articulating your ideas clearly and concisely. Be ready to present case studies that demonstrate your ability to lead discussions and influence decisions.

Principal Software Architect (London)
PeopleCheck
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