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- Tasks: Join us as a Principal Full Stack Engineer, driving system design and mentoring teams.
- Company: Autotrader is the UK's leading automotive marketplace, known for innovation and diversity.
- Benefits: Enjoy a salary of £60k-£80k, shares, 28 days holiday, and comprehensive medical cover.
- Why this job: Be part of a vibrant tech community focused on collaboration and solving complex problems.
- Qualifications: Strong full-stack experience with Java, Spring Boot, React/Angular, and cloud platforms required.
- Other info: Hybrid working model with remote-first periods and support for wellbeing initiatives.
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 UK’s leading automotive marketplace, a heritage brand, and a tech darling of the stock market. 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 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 entire Java ecosystem
- Ability to architect and design complex, distributed systems that are scalable, maintainable, and performant
- Experience with modern front-end technologies (e.g., React or Angular, TypeScript/Modern JavaScript), along with proficiency in building RESTful APIs and web services.
- Deep understanding of cloud platforms, ideally Google Cloud
- Strong knowledge of relational databases (SQL), along with experience working with document-based storage solutions (e.g., MongoDB)
- 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
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 have two fixed weekly office days for team collaboration and one more of your choice to suit your work-life balance. 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.
Principal Full Stack Engineer - Full or Part Time employer: Autotrader
Contact Detail:
Autotrader Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal Full Stack Engineer - Full or Part Time
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the technologies mentioned in the job description, especially Java, Spring Boot, React, and Angular. Having hands-on experience or projects showcasing these skills can set you apart during discussions.
✨Tip Number 2
Engage with the tech community by participating in forums or local meetups related to full stack development. This not only helps you network but also shows your passion for technology and collaboration, which is highly valued at Autotrader.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss your experience in mentoring and leading teams, as this role requires strong leadership skills. Think of specific examples where you've helped others grow or contributed to high-impact projects.
✨Tip Number 4
Research Autotrader's culture and values, particularly their focus on diversity and collaboration. Be ready to share how your personal values align with theirs, demonstrating that you're not just a fit for the role, but for the company as a whole.
We think you need these skills to ace Principal Full Stack Engineer - Full or Part Time
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Company Culture: Before applying, take some time to understand Autotrader's company culture. Highlight your alignment with their values of collaboration, diversity, and a passion for technology in your application.
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects your experience with the technologies mentioned in the job description, such as Java, Spring Boot, React, and cloud platforms. Use specific examples to demonstrate your skills in building scalable systems and mentoring teams.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that showcases your enthusiasm for the role and the company. Discuss your experience with full stack development and how you can contribute to Autotrader's mission of simplifying the car-buying journey.
Showcase Problem-Solving Skills: In your application, provide examples of complex problems you've solved in previous roles. This will demonstrate your ability to thrive in a collaborative environment and your genuine curiosity about technology, which is key for this position.
How to prepare for a job interview at Autotrader
✨Showcase Your Technical Skills
Be prepared to discuss your experience with the technologies mentioned in the job description, such as Java, Spring Boot, React, and Angular. Bring examples of projects where you've successfully implemented these technologies, and be ready to explain your thought process behind architectural decisions.
✨Demonstrate Collaboration
Since Autotrader values teamwork and collaboration, share experiences where you've worked closely with others, perhaps through pair programming or code reviews. Highlight how you contributed to a team environment and helped others grow technically.
✨Prepare for Problem-Solving Questions
Expect to face questions that assess your problem-solving abilities. Practice coding challenges or system design scenarios that require you to think critically about scalable and maintainable solutions. This will showcase your ability to tackle complex issues.
✨Express Your Passion for Technology
Autotrader is looking for candidates who are genuinely passionate about technology. Be ready to discuss what excites you about the tech industry, any personal projects you're working on, or new technologies you're eager to explore. This enthusiasm can set you apart from other candidates.
