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- Tasks: Lead and mentor teams while coding and architecting scalable software solutions.
- Company: Join AJ Bell, a fast-growing investment platform with over 593,000 customers and a FTSE 250 listing.
- Benefits: Enjoy 26-31 days holiday, hybrid working, health plans, and ongoing training opportunities.
- Why this job: Be part of a supportive culture that values teamwork and innovation in tech.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in software engineering, leadership, and modern tech stacks like .NET and AWS.
- Other info: Initial office immersion for new hires to build connections and understand the business.
The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 £ per year.
We are a technology-driven company building high-performing, scalable, and resilient software solutions. Our teams work with a modern tech stack including .NET, MongoDB, AWS, Jenkins, SQL Server, and streaming technologies. We’re looking for a hands-on Principal Engineer who can code, design scalable systems, manage Staff Engineers, and drive technical excellence across multiple teams. This role is perfect for a technical leader who still enjoys writing code while shaping architecture and mentoring engineers.
As a Principal Engineer, you will play a critical role in:
- Architecting scalable, high-performance systems
- Coding and reviewing mission-critical features (at least 60% hands-on)
- Managing and mentoring Staff Engineers & Senior Developers
- Driving best practices in software development and AI-powered engineering
- Owning non-functional requirements (NFRs) such as security, scalability, and reliability
- Optimising cloud infrastructure and CI/CD pipelines
If you thrive on solving complex technical challenges, leading by example, and empowering teams, this is the role for you!
Key responsibilities:
- Hands-on coding (at least 60% of the time), working on core application components and system architecture
- Technical leadership – guiding multiple teams and ensuring best practices
- Managing & mentoring Staff Engineers – supporting career growth and technical excellence
- Architecting and scaling distributed systems and cloud-native applications
- Defining and enforcing non-functional requirements (NFRs) – scalability, security, performance
- Implementing Test-Driven Development (TDD) and automation best practices
- Optimising CI/CD pipelines with Jenkins & AWS
- Leading containerisation efforts with Docker & Kubernetes
- Collaborating with cross-functional teams to align technical solutions with business needs
- Research and implement AI-driven development tools to boost productivity
What we’re looking for:
- Proven experience as a Principal Engineer / Lead Engineer / Software Architect
- Proven hands-on coding experience with .NET, SQL Server, MongoDB, Angular/NextJS, AWS, and streaming technologies
- Strong experience in building scalable and high-performance applications
- Strong experience managing Staff Engineers & Senior Developers
- Solid understanding of Test-Driven Development (TDD) and modern testing frameworks
- Experience with Docker & Kubernetes for containerisation and cloud deployment
- Strong knowledge of CI/CD pipelines, automation, and deployment best practices
- Experience with AI-assisted development tools is a plus
- Excellent leadership and communication skills – able to coach and influence team
AJ Bell is one of the fastest-growing investment platform businesses in the UK offering an award-winning range of solutions that caters for everyone, from professional financial advisers to DIY investors with little to no experience. We have over 593,000 customers using our award-winning platform propositions to manage assets totalling more than £90.4 billion. Our customers trust us with their investments, and by continuously striving to make investing easier, we aim to help even more people take control of their financial futures.
Having listed on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange in December 2018, AJ Bell is now a FTSE 250 company. Headquartered in Manchester with offices in central London and Bristol, we now have over 1,500 employees and have been named one of the UK's 'Best 100 Companies to Work For’ for six consecutive years and in 2024 named a Great Place to Work.
At AJ Bell you can expect a friendly working environment with a strong sense of teamwork, we have a great sense of pride in what we do, and this is reflected in our guiding principles.
Our perks and benefits:
- Starting holiday entitlement of 26 days, increasing up to 31 days with length of service plus a holiday buy and sell scheme
- A choice of pension schemes with matched contributions up to 7%
- Discretionary bonus scheme
- Annual free share awards scheme
- Buy As You Earn (BAYE) Scheme
- Health Cash Plan – provided by SimplyHealth
- Discounted private healthcare scheme and dental plan
- Free gym membership
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Bike loan scheme
- Sick pay+ pledge
- Enhanced maternity, paternity, and shared parental leave
- Loans for travel season tickets
- Death in service scheme
- Paid time off for volunteer work
- Charitable giving opportunities through salary sacrifice
- Calendar of social events, including monthly payday drinks, annual Christmas party, summer party and much more
- Ongoing technical training
- Professional qualification support
- Talent development programmes
- Peer recognition scheme, with rewards including restaurant and shopping vouchers or time off
- Monthly leadership breakfasts and lunches
- Casual dress code
- Access to a range of benefits from our sponsorship deals
Hybrid working:
At AJ Bell, our people are the heart of our culture. We believe in building strong connections by working together. That’s why we offer a hybrid working model, where you’ll spend a minimum of 50% of your working time per month in the Manchester office. For new team members, an initial period will be full-time in the office to help you immerse yourself in our business and build valuable relationships with your colleagues.
AJ Bell is committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and all employees are empowered to bring their whole self to work. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, pregnancy, religion, physical and mental disability, marital status and any other characteristics protected by the Equality Act 2010. All decisions to hire are based on qualifications, merit and business need.
If you like the sound of the above, or just want to know more about the company and the role, we’d love to speak to you.
Principal Software Development Engineer employer: Aj Bell
Contact Detail:
Aj Bell Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal Software Development Engineer
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the tech stack mentioned in the job description. Make sure you have hands-on experience with .NET, SQL Server, MongoDB, and AWS, as these are crucial for the role. Consider building a small project or contributing to open-source projects that utilise these technologies to showcase your skills.
✨Tip Number 2
Highlight your leadership experience when networking or during interviews. Since the role involves managing and mentoring Staff Engineers, be prepared to discuss specific examples of how you've successfully led teams and fostered technical excellence in previous positions.
✨Tip Number 3
Stay updated on best practices in software development, particularly around Test-Driven Development (TDD) and CI/CD pipelines. You might want to share insights or recent learnings on these topics in conversations with potential colleagues or during interviews to demonstrate your commitment to continuous improvement.
✨Tip Number 4
Engage with the community around AI-driven development tools, as this is a plus for the role. Attend meetups, webinars, or online courses to deepen your understanding and be ready to discuss how these tools can enhance productivity in software engineering during your application process.
We think you need these skills to ace Principal Software Development Engineer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights your experience with .NET, SQL Server, MongoDB, and other relevant technologies mentioned in the job description. Emphasise your hands-on coding experience and any leadership roles you've held.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, explain why you're passionate about the role of Principal Software Development Engineer. Discuss your approach to technical leadership and how you have successfully mentored teams in the past.
Showcase Relevant Projects: Include specific examples of projects where you've architected scalable systems or implemented CI/CD pipelines. Highlight your contributions and the impact they had on the team or company.
Highlight Soft Skills: Don't forget to mention your communication and leadership skills. Provide examples of how you've influenced teams and driven best practices in software development, as these are crucial for this role.
How to prepare for a job interview at Aj Bell
✨Showcase Your Technical Skills
As a Principal Software Development Engineer, you'll need to demonstrate your hands-on coding abilities. Be prepared to discuss your experience with .NET, SQL Server, and cloud technologies like AWS. Consider bringing examples of your previous work or projects that highlight your technical expertise.
✨Emphasise Leadership Experience
This role requires strong leadership skills, so be ready to talk about your experience managing and mentoring teams. Share specific examples of how you've guided engineers in their career growth and how you've driven technical excellence within your teams.
✨Discuss Architectural Design
You'll be responsible for architecting scalable systems, so it's crucial to articulate your approach to system design. Prepare to discuss your experience with distributed systems, non-functional requirements, and how you ensure security and reliability in your designs.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
Expect questions that assess your problem-solving abilities and how you handle challenges. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses, focusing on scenarios where you've successfully navigated complex technical challenges or led a team through a difficult project.
