At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead complex software projects and mentor engineers while solving challenging engineering problems.
- Company: Join a cutting-edge AI-native technology consultancy with a focus on agentic engineering.
- Benefits: Earn up to £150,000 plus benefits, with remote work flexibility and client travel.
- Other info: Work with talented engineers and tackle complex technical challenges across various industries.
- Why this job: Shape the future of software engineering with innovative AI practices and influence industry leaders.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in software engineering, AI tools, and strong communication skills.
The predicted salary is between 67500 - 82500 £ per year.
- Principal Engineer - Agentic AI Engineering | AI-Native Technology Consultancy
- Fully remote UK | Client travel approximately 2 days per fortnight
- Up to £150,000 + benefits
Agentic AI, Claude Code, Software Architecture, Distributed Systems, Full-Stack Engineering
- The Principal Engineer
- As a
Principal Engineer , you'll operate at the intersection of hands‑on software engineering, technical leadership and client consultancy.
You'll work across complex client engagements, typically owning the technical direction of one or two projects while contributing to pre-sales, technical discovery and solution design for new opportunities.
A major part of the role is helping organisations understand and adopt agentic engineering practices.
You'll need genuine commercial experience of using AI agents to accelerate software delivery, alongside the technical judgement to ensure what gets shipped is secure, scalable and production-ready.
This isn't a pure architecture or management position.
You'll remain close to the code, capable of solving difficult engineering problems yourself, while having the communication skills and commercial awareness to influence senior stakeholders and lead technical conversations with clients.
What will the Principal Engineer do?
- Lead architecture and delivery across complex software engineering engagements.
- Introduce and embed agentic AI workflows that transform engineering productivity.
- Work directly with senior clients to shape technical solutions and drive buy‑in.
- Stay hands‑on, solving difficult engineering problems and reviewing AI‑generated output.
- Lead technical discovery, pre-sales and solution design for new opportunities.
- Mentor engineers and raise standards across AI‑native software delivery.
What will the Principal Engineer bring?
- Principal, Staff or exceptional Lead‑level software engineering experience.
- Deep technical foundations, with full‑stack capability and a core area of specialism.
- Commercial experience using AI agents and tools such as Claude Code to deliver significant engineering work.
- Strong architecture, distributed systems and modern cloud engineering experience.
- Experience with technologies such as . NET, Java, Go, Python or similar.
- Excellent communication skills and confidence working with senior business and technology stakeholders.
- Strong commercial awareness, pragmatism and a consultancy mindset.
- The Ideal Background
This Principal Engineer role would suit an exceptional engineer who combines strong technical delivery with the ability to influence people, clients and organisations.
Consultancy experience would be particularly valuable, although they're equally interested in engineers from high-performing product businesses who have developed strong stakeholder management and commercial skills.
You need to be genuinely AI‑fluent in how you work.
Using Copilot or Claude as a coding assistant isn't enough.
They're looking for people who have embraced agentic workflows, understand how to orchestrate AI agents, engineer the right context, review their output and build the quality controls needed to ship production software.
You should also be comfortable working with clients across different industries, including gaming, betting and gambling.
Why This Role?
This is an opportunity to join a business that is genuinely putting agentic AI into practice, rather than simply experimenting with the latest tools.
You'll work alongside some exceptionally talented engineers, have direct exposure to the CTO and senior technology leadership, and play a significant role in shaping how the business and its clients approach the future of software engineering.
You'll have the opportunity to work on complex technical challenges, influence senior business leaders and help organisations understand how AI can fundamentally change the economics of software development.
- Principal Engineer - Agentic AI Engineering | AI-Native Technology Consultancy
- Fully remote UK | Client travel approximately 2 days per fortnight
- Up to £150,000 + benefits
Agentic AI, Claude Code, Software Architecture, Distributed Systems, Full-Stack Engineering
Burns Sheehan Ltd will consider applications based only on skills and ability and will not discriminate on any grounds.
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Principal Engineer in City of London employer: Burns Sheehan
As a Chief Product Officer at this dynamic PE-backed business in central London, you will be part of a forward-thinking team that values innovation and collaboration. The company offers a vibrant work culture with a strong focus on employee growth, providing opportunities to lead impactful B2B data product initiatives while enjoying the benefits of a profitable and established organisation. With a commitment to professional development and a strategic vision for the future, this role promises a rewarding career path in an exciting environment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal Engineer in City of London
✨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 Burns Sheehan 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 Burns Sheehan.
✨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 Burns Sheehan.
✨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 Burns Sheehan 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 Engineer in City of London
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 Burns Sheehan.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Burns Sheehan 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 Burns Sheehan
✨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 Burns Sheehan 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.
