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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and mentor engineering teams while delivering high-quality, scalable software solutions.
- Company: Join a forward-thinking tech organisation shaping the future of automotive technology.
- Benefits: Enjoy remote work flexibility, competitive salary, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Why this job: Be part of a groundbreaking project that will define the next decade of Cox Automotive Europe.
- Qualifications: Strong background in React, AWS, and experience leading engineering teams.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with a focus on innovation and continuous improvement.
The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 ÂŁ per year.
Location: Manchester - Hybrid
Are you a visionary engineer who loves solving complex problems, shaping modern architectures, and building products that scale? Do you thrive in greenfield environments where you can influence the entire technical direction? If so, this is your chance to help build the Connected Platform that will power Cox Automotive Europe for the next decade.
Within CAPTG, Product Engineering leads the development of high‑quality, cloud‑native software products used across Cox Automotive Europe. We embrace modern engineering practices, DevOps, automation and continuous delivery, all underpinned by a strong engineering culture. Now, we’re building our Connected Platform—a brand-new foundational product that will bring every Cox Automotive system together and give our customers a single view of all their assets. This is a once‑in‑a‑generation opportunity to influence the architecture of a major new platform from scratch.
The Opportunity
As a Principal Engineer – Frontend, you’ll be a hands-on technical leader who sets standards, drives best practice, and shapes the future of our platform. This isn’t just about writing great code (though you’ll absolutely do that). It’s about:
- Guiding engineering teams with technical excellence
- Influencing our tech stack, patterns and principles
- Partnering with Architecture, DevOps, Infrastructure, Data and Product
- Driving innovation and continuous improvement
You’ll help shape this—but here’s where we’re heading:
- Cloud: AWS (cloud native, managed services first)
- IaC: Terraform
- Messaging: Kafka / AWS MSK, SNS/SQS, EventBridge
- Frontend: React + micro-frontends
- CI/CD: GitHub Actions
A modern stack for a modern platform.
What You’ll Lead & Deliver
- Technical Leadership: Guide, mentor and elevate engineers. Set engineering standards, influence culture, and lead by example. Work with cross‑functional teams to create scalable, secure, high-performance systems and micro-frontend architectures.
- Hands-on Engineering: Deliver high-quality code across our stack—frontend, backend, and cloud. Collaborate with DevOps and Infrastructure to optimise AWS environments for reliability, resilience and cost.
- System Performance & Integration: Tune performance, eliminate bottlenecks, and integrate new greenfield systems with existing platforms.
- Quality & Test Automation: Shape the tools and automation that ensure our code is always ready for production.
- Security & Compliance: Embed secure-by-design principles throughout everything we build.
- Data & Real-time Streaming: Leverage event-driven patterns to support real-time data flows and decoupled services. Partner with Architects, Designers, Product Managers, Data Engineers and others to drive delivery and continuous improvement.
What You’ll Bring
- A strong engineering background across React, GraphQL, .NET, AWS, Terraform, SQL/NoSQL, and event-driven architectures.
- Experience designing and delivering scalable micro-frontend and micro-service systems.
- Deep understanding of event storming, domain modelling, and modern architectural patterns.
- Experience leading engineering teams in a high-paced, continuous delivery environment.
- Demonstrable experience building secure, resilient, enterprise-scale platforms.
- A collaborative mindset and the ability to influence and communicate across all levels.
- The ability to thrive in ambiguity and push forward in a greenfield environment.
- A passion for innovation, continuous learning, and engineering excellence.
Be part of a flagship greenfield build that will define the next 10+ years of the business. Work with modern technologies and influence the entire engineering direction. Shape a platform at scale that impacts customers across Europe. Join a collaborative tech organisation with strong leadership and a forward-thinking culture. Work remotely with flexibility and autonomy.
Ready to build something big? If you’re an engineering leader who loves to innovate, inspire teams, and deliver cutting-edge technology—we want to meet you. Apply now and help us build the Connected Platform of the future.
Principal Software Engineer in Manchester employer: Cox Automotive Europe
Contact Detail:
Cox Automotive Europe Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal Software Engineer in Manchester
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, attend meetups, and engage with online communities. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can refer you directly.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio showcasing your projects, especially those that align with the technologies mentioned in the job description. This gives potential employers a taste of what you can bring to the table.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by practising common technical questions and scenarios related to frontend engineering. Don’t forget to brush up on your problem-solving skills—employers love to see how you tackle challenges!
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in being part of our team at StudySmarter.
We think you need these skills to ace Principal Software Engineer in Manchester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion: When writing your application, let your enthusiasm for engineering shine through! We want to see your love for solving complex problems and building scalable products. Share specific examples of projects that excite you and how they relate to the role.
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Principal Software Engineer position. Highlight your experience with React, AWS, and micro-frontend architectures. We’re looking for someone who can influence our tech stack, so don’t be shy about showcasing your relevant skills!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to tell us why you’re the perfect fit for this role. Discuss your vision for the future of software engineering and how you can contribute to our Connected Platform. Keep it engaging and personal—let us get to know you!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our team at StudySmarter!
How to prepare for a job interview at Cox Automotive Europe
✨Know Your Tech Stack Inside Out
Make sure you’re well-versed in the technologies mentioned in the job description, like React, AWS, and Terraform. Brush up on your knowledge of micro-frontend architectures and event-driven patterns, as these will likely come up during technical discussions.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples of how you've guided engineering teams in the past. Think about specific instances where you set standards or influenced culture. This role is all about technical leadership, so be ready to discuss your approach to mentoring and elevating others.
✨Demonstrate Problem-Solving Abilities
Be prepared to tackle complex problems during the interview. You might be asked to solve a coding challenge or discuss how you would approach a specific architectural issue. Practice articulating your thought process clearly and logically.
✨Emphasise Collaboration and Communication
This role involves working with cross-functional teams, so highlight your collaborative mindset. Share experiences where you partnered with architects, product managers, or data engineers to drive delivery and continuous improvement. Show that you can communicate effectively across all levels.
