At a Glance
- Tasks: Design and develop scalable systems while mentoring a dynamic tech team.
- Company: Join Autotrader, the UK's leading automotive marketplace and tech innovator.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, share options, 28 days holiday, and comprehensive medical cover.
- Other info: Enjoy hybrid working with remote-first periods and excellent career growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Make an impact in a vibrant environment with cutting-edge technology and collaborative culture.
- Qualifications: Strong full stack experience with Java, Spring Boot, and modern front-end technologies.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
About us You've probably heard of Autotrader, but do you know what we're all about?We're the most trusted, most visited automotive marketplace in the UK.
A heritage brand and a tech innovator.
We bring together vehicle buyers and sellers to give them real choices.
Cars may be what we're best known for but we’re also the place for pretty much everything else on wheels, from e-bikes to caravans.
In the automotive world, change is a constant, that’s why we take our job of untangling the complex car-buying journey very seriously.
At our core, we’re all about people.
We go our own way while embracing diversity and celebrating our differences.
We dedicate ourselves to the idea that we work better together.
Autotrader is a beautiful, surprising and vibrant place to work.
We might not be for everyone, but we could be perfect for you.
About the job We’re looking for Principal Full Stack Engineers to join us!
Our technology teams combine a diverse set of technologies to meet the needs of our users, handling millions of requests a day across over 600 systems.
We build these systems with industry standard frameworks and tools, such as React and Angular on the front end and Java, Spring Boot, Cloud SQL and Apache Kafka on the back end.
All of this runs on our cutting edge cloud delivery platform, facilitating over 60k releases to production a year.
We’re a close-knit tech community where collaboration and knowledge sharing are at the core of what we do.
Regular pair programming, code reviews, and stand-ups ensure that our engineers stay connected and aligned.
As a Principal Engineer, you’ll play a visible, strategic role in driving system design and architecture decisions, mentoring team members, and helping our teams deliver high-quality solutions at scale.
You might think that "Autotrader" means we’re looking for car enthusiasts, but that’s not the case.
We’re looking for people who are passionate about technology, thrive in a collaborative environment, and have a genuine curiosity about solving complex problems.
What we’re looking for: Strong experience working across the stack, from designing scalable back-end systems to developing responsive front-end applications You should be comfortable working with Java, Spring Boot and the Java ecosystem / JVMAbility to architect and design complex, distributed systems that are scalable, maintainable, and performant Experience with modern front-end technologies (e. g., React or Angular, Type Script/Modern Java Script), along with proficiency in building RESTful APIs and web services.
Strong knowledge of relational databases (SQL), along with experience working with document-based storage solutions (e. g., Mongo DB)Experience with Kafka or other event-driven architectures A structured approach to development and testing (including Test-Driven Development) with a focus on continuous delivery and automation Proven experience leading and mentoring teams, helping others grow technically while delivering high-impact projects During our application process, you will be asked two questions to help us learn more about you and how you align with our values.
These will be used as part of our selection criteria, to determine if we progress your application further Benefits We’re offering a salary of 60,000 – 80,000, plus an additional 10% of your salary awarded to you in shares each year.
These awarded shares will become yours in yearly instalments over the next three years, and you can choose to either sell them or keep them as shares.
And you'll receive 28 days holiday, plus bank holidays and comprehensive private medical cover.
That’s not all.
You'll be enrolled in our pension scheme, where our standard contributions are 7% and employee contributions are 5%.
We also have comprehensive private medical cover, enhanced family leave provisions, a car salary sacrifice scheme, share-save options, and much more.
We always want to give you the support you need and help prioritise your wellbeing, that’s why we provide access to 24/7 online GP and dentist, as well as specialist support for assisted fertility, gender dysphoria, menopause, period care plans and lots more.
On top of all that, our hybrid model, Connected Working, combines the best of both worlds – office and home working.
You'll spend a minimum of 3 days a week in the office with your team, focused on collaboration and connection.
Additionally, we have our remote-first periods at set times during summer and winter.
During these periods, you can work remotely anywhere in the UK and from certain locations abroad.
Discover more about our hiring process and explore our Engineering Blog.#LI-CI1#LI-Hybrid
Principal Full Stack Engineer - Full or Part Time in Manchester employer: AutoTrader UK
Autotrader is an exceptional employer that prioritises collaboration and innovation within a vibrant work culture. With a strong focus on employee wellbeing, we offer competitive salaries, generous share options, and comprehensive benefits including private medical cover and flexible working arrangements. Our commitment to diversity and personal growth ensures that every team member can thrive while contributing to our mission of transforming the automotive marketplace.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal Full Stack Engineer - Full or Part Time in Manchester
✨Join Local Tech Meetups
Get out there and mingle with fellow developers by joining local tech meetups. It’s a fantastic way to meet people who might be working at AutoTrader UK or know someone who does. Plus, you can pick up some trendy tech skills and trends while you're at it!
✨Contribute to Open Source Projects
Show off your coding chops by jumping into open-source projects. Not only does this give you practical experience, but it also gets you noticed in the dev community. You'll create a killer portfolio that speaks volumes about your skills to AutoTrader UK.
✨Tap into Online Developer Communities
Don’t underestimate the power of online developer communities like GitHub, Stack Overflow, and even Reddit. Participate in discussions, share your projects, and build your visibility. We can often find opportunities through these channels that can lead to a full-time gig at companies like AutoTrader UK.
✨Explore Job Boards Specifically for Tech Roles
Keep your eyes peeled on job boards that focus on tech roles. Sites like TechCareers or Stack Overflow Jobs can often have listings for companies like AutoTrader UK that might not show up on broader job sites. Make it a habit to check these regularly, and don’t hesitate to apply directly through our website!
We think you need these skills to ace Principal Full Stack Engineer - Full or Part Time in Manchester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show off your coding skills:When applying for a software engineering role, it's super important to showcase your coding skills. Make sure your CV includes your tech stack, any relevant programming languages you’re comfortable with, and examples of projects you've worked on. If you have a GitHub profile, link it up! We love to see code in action.
Tailor your portfolio:For a full-time role, we’d expect to see some solid examples of your work in your portfolio. Make sure to include at least two or three projects that highlight your problem-solving skills and your ability to work with different technologies. Focus on the projects that are most relevant to the position at AutoTrader UK.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at AutoTrader UK and how your skills align with the role. Show us your passion for software development. We dig enthusiastic candidates who understand the value of collaboration and continuous learning!
Be clear and concise:When it comes to writing your CV and cover letter, clarity is key. Avoid jargon that could confuse us and stick to simple, direct language. Highlight your achievements with quantifiable results where possible, and keep everything easy to read. A well-organised application goes a long way!
How to prepare for a job interview at AutoTrader UK
✨Brush Up on Your Coding Skills
For a full-time software engineering role, it's crucial that we stay sharp with our coding abilities. Expect technical questions that might involve solving problems on the spot or discussing algorithms. Practise on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank to get comfortable with the types of questions that often come up.
✨Know Your Tools and Frameworks
Make sure we’re well-acquainted with the tools and technologies listed in the job description. Familiarise ourselves with any specific frameworks or programming languages mentioned. If AutoTrader UK uses React or Node.js, for instance, be ready to discuss how we’ve used them in previous projects or coursework.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Bring along a portfolio that highlights our best work. This could be code samples, GitHub repositories, or any side projects we’ve built. Make sure we can talk through our thought process for each project, especially the challenges we faced and how we solved them—this shows our problem-solving skills in action.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
While technical skills are key, full-time positions also require cultural fit. Be ready to discuss our previous experiences and how we handle teamwork, conflict, and deadlines. Brush up on the STAR method—Situation, Task, Action, Result—to clearly articulate our past experiences when discussing how we've contributed to a team.
