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- Tasks: Lead the architectural vision for our API ecosystem and drive innovation in distributed systems.
- Company: Join a forward-thinking tech company with a focus on collaboration and inclusivity.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, generous parental leave, and career development opportunities.
- Other info: Work in a dynamic environment with a strong emphasis on diversity and inclusion.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on global technology while mentoring talented engineers.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in cloud architecture and a passion for software craftsmanship.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
This is a contract role for 3 months, starting in May ideally. We are now looking for a visionary Principal Engineer to help define the next generation of our platform.
Why this role matters: This is more than a leadership position. It’s an opportunity to influence the architecture, scalability, and future direction of a truly global technology ecosystem. You’ll lead the technical vision for one of the most critical pillars in our Engineering organisation, our API platform, driving innovation across synchronous and asynchronous services built with REST, GraphQL, Kafka, and cloud-native technologies. You’ll work hands-on with modern engineering tools and practices, partnering with talented squads to solve complex distributed systems challenges at scale. From AI-driven engineering initiatives to highly observable event-driven architectures, this is a role for someone who thrives on building exceptional systems and empowering exceptional teams.
What you will be doing:
- Defining the architectural vision for our API ecosystem
- Leading the design and development of scalable, cloud-native distributed systems
- Building high-throughput event-driven services using Kafka
- Driving engineering excellence across security, observability, performance, and maintainability
- Mentoring and coaching engineers and technical leaders across multiple squads
- Collaborating closely with Product, Delivery, and Engineering leadership to shape strategic technical decisions
- Championing modern development practices including TDD, CI/CD, Infrastructure as Code, and automated testing
- Exploring and embedding AI-powered engineering capabilities into our workflows and platform
Our technology stack: You’ll be working with a modern, forward-thinking stack including:
- TypeScript (Node.js & React)
- AWS (EKS, Lambda, Aurora RDS)
- Kubernetes
- GraphQL & REST APIs
- Kafka
- Terraform & Helm
- GitHub Actions
- DataDog
- Salesforce integrations
What we are looking for: You’re a technically exceptional engineering leader who still loves being close to the code.
What you bring:
- Proven experience architecting large-scale distributed systems in the cloud
- Deep expertise in APIs, event-driven architectures, and containerised applications
- Strong knowledge of AWS and modern DevOps practices
- Experience leading engineering teams and influencing technical direction across squads
- A passion for software craftsmanship, clean architecture, and scalable design
- A mentoring mindset and a collaborative leadership style
- Curiosity around AI and emerging engineering technologies
Experience with Salesforce or enterprise CRM ecosystems is a strong advantage.
What Collinson Offers:
- Flexible and hybrid working options
- Work from anywhere – 8 weeks a year
- Generous parental leave and family-friendly policies
- Career development, mentorship, and training
- A supportive, inclusive culture with employee resource groups and diversity initiatives.
Equal Opportunity Statement: Collinson is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes differences in all their forms including colour, race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, neurodivergence, family status, age, individuals with disabilities and people from all backgrounds, cultures and experiences as we strongly believe this contributes to our on-going success.
Company Values: We are focused on continually evolving our purpose driven, high performing culture, providing an environment where our people have the opportunity to achieve their full potential and do interesting and meaningful work. Our company values are: Take Action, Do the right thing, One team and Be insight led. These help guide everything we do internally in terms of how we think, act and interact, right through to how we deliver value to our customers and clients.
Principal Software Engineer - 3 month contract employer: Collinson
Contact Detail:
Collinson Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal Software Engineer - 3 month contract
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, attend meetups, and engage in online forums. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio or GitHub repository showcasing your projects and contributions. This is your chance to demonstrate your expertise in APIs, cloud-native systems, and all that jazz.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on your technical knowledge and soft skills. Practice common interview questions, especially around architecture and distributed systems, so you can confidently share your vision and experience.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search.
We think you need these skills to ace Principal Software Engineer - 3 month contract
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion: When writing your application, let your enthusiasm for software engineering shine through. We want to see that you’re not just looking for a job, but that you’re genuinely excited about the opportunity to shape our API ecosystem and drive innovation.
Tailor Your Experience: Make sure to highlight your relevant experience in architecting large-scale distributed systems and working with cloud technologies. We’re looking for someone who can influence technical direction, so be specific about how your past roles align with what we need.
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application straightforward and to the point. We appreciate clarity, so avoid jargon and focus on communicating your skills and experiences effectively. Remember, we’re looking for a visionary leader, so make your vision clear!
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for this exciting role. We can’t wait to see what you bring to the table!
How to prepare for a job interview at Collinson
✨Know Your Tech Stack
Familiarise yourself with the technologies mentioned in the job description, like TypeScript, AWS, and Kafka. Be ready to discuss how you've used these tools in past projects and how they can be applied to the role.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
Prepare examples that highlight your mentoring and collaborative leadership style. Think about specific instances where you’ve influenced technical direction or helped teams overcome challenges.
✨Demonstrate Architectural Vision
Be prepared to articulate your vision for scalable, cloud-native distributed systems. Discuss your approach to API design and how you would tackle event-driven architectures, showcasing your strategic thinking.
✨Embrace AI and Innovation
Since the role involves exploring AI-driven engineering initiatives, come equipped with ideas on how AI can enhance workflows. Share any relevant experiences or projects that demonstrate your curiosity and adaptability in this area.