At a Glance
- Tasks: Shape the future of tech for global research and modernise key systems.
- Company: Join a leading tech firm focused on scholarly publishing innovation.
- Benefits: Generous holiday, health perks, learning opportunities, and flexible working.
- Other info: Flexible hybrid work style with a focus on inclusivity and growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact with cutting-edge technology and AI in a collaborative environment.
- Qualifications: Senior engineering experience and strong backend skills required.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.
About the role
As a Principal Engineer, you will help shape the technical direction of platforms used by the global research community. You will work across teams to modernise systems, improve reliability, and guide the responsible use of AI where it delivers clear value. This role combines technical leadership with hands‑on contribution.
About the team
The Submissions Technology group builds and operates platforms that support the scholarly publishing lifecycle—from submission and peer review through to editorial decisions and publication. We focus on reliability, scalability, and continuous improvement as we modernise core systems and introduce new capabilities.
Responsibilities
- Set clear technical direction across teams and support the delivery of shared goals.
- Guide the design of secure, scalable, and resilient services, APIs, and data flows.
- Contribute directly to high‑impact work, including system modernisation and risk reduction.
- Coach engineers and strengthen engineering practices such as observability, automation, and incident learning.
- Support teams in using AI‑assisted development and production AI patterns where they add real value.
Qualifications
- Experience working at senior, staff, or principal engineer level across multiple teams or domains.
- A track record of influencing technical decisions and supporting change at scale.
- Experience designing and evolving distributed systems, services, and APIs in cloud environments.
- Strong backend engineering experience (for example with Java and Spring Boot), and comfort working in modern product development teams.
- A collaborative approach, with clear communication and thoughtful decision‑making around quality, risk, and delivery.
- Event‑driven systems and messaging technologies (for example Kafka or SNS/SQS).
- Frontend development experience, such as React.
- Working in polyglot environments (such as TypeScript or Python).
- Containers, Kubernetes, infrastructure as code, and CI/CD pipelines.
- Applying AI or GenAI techniques in production, such as prompting, retrieval workflows, or large language model integrations.
Working arrangement
Remote from home or in office in a flexible hybrid style. Flexible hours – flex times throughout the day to fit needs and productivity. Co‑working in an inclusive, agile, collaborative, innovative, and supportive environment.
Benefits
- Generous holiday allowance with option to buy additional days.
- Access to learning platforms and encouragement to book up to 10 days focused learning/development time per year.
- Health screening, eye care vouchers and private medical benefits.
- Well‑being programs.
- Life assurance.
- Access to a competitive contributory pension scheme.
- Long service awards / Save As You Earn share option scheme.
- Travel season ticket loan.
- Maternity, paternity and shared parental leave.
- Access to emergency care for both the elderly and children.
- RELX Cares days, giving time to support charities and causes that matter.
- Employee resource groups with dedicated time to volunteer.
- Extensive learning and development resources.
- Employee discounts via Perks at Work.
Accessibility & Accommodations
We are committed to providing a fair and accessible hiring process. If you have a disability or other need that requires accommodation or adjustment, please let us know.
Equal Opportunity Employment
We are an equal opportunity employer: qualified applicants are considered for and treated during employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, citizenship status, disability status, protected veteran status, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.
Principal Software Engineer in Whitehall employer: Elsevier Inc.
As a Principal Software Engineer at our Oxford or London location, you will join a forward-thinking team dedicated to shaping the future of scholarly publishing technology. We pride ourselves on fostering a collaborative and inclusive work culture that prioritises employee growth through extensive learning opportunities and flexible working arrangements. With generous benefits, including a competitive pension scheme and well-being programmes, we are committed to supporting our employees both professionally and personally.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal Software Engineer in Whitehall
✨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 gives potential employers a taste of what you can do and sets you apart from the crowd.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by practising common technical questions and scenarios. Mock interviews with friends or mentors can help you feel more confident and ready to tackle any challenge that comes your way.
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search!
We think you need these skills to ace Principal Software Engineer in Whitehall
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that match the Principal Software Engineer role. Highlight your backend engineering experience and any work with distributed systems, as these are key for us.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Use your cover letter to tell us why you're passionate about shaping technical direction and how your collaborative approach can benefit our team. Be specific about your past experiences and how they relate to the responsibilities outlined in the job description.
Showcase Your Technical Skills:Don’t forget to mention your experience with technologies like Java, Spring Boot, and any cloud environments you've worked in. We want to see how you’ve applied these skills in real-world scenarios, especially in modern product development.
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 this exciting opportunity. Plus, it makes the process smoother for everyone!
How to prepare for a job interview at Elsevier Inc.
✨Know Your Tech Inside Out
As a Principal Software Engineer, you'll need to demonstrate your expertise in backend engineering and distributed systems. Brush up on your knowledge of Java, Spring Boot, and cloud environments. Be ready to discuss specific projects where you've influenced technical decisions or modernised systems.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
This role combines technical leadership with hands-on contributions. Prepare examples of how you've coached engineers or led teams in adopting best practices like observability and automation. Highlight your collaborative approach and how you’ve supported shared goals across teams.
✨Be Ready for AI Discussions
Since the role involves guiding the responsible use of AI, be prepared to discuss your experience with AI-assisted development. Share insights on how you've applied AI techniques in production, such as large language model integrations or retrieval workflows, and the value they brought to your projects.
✨Understand the Company Culture
StudySmarter values an inclusive and supportive environment. Familiarise yourself with their commitment to flexible working arrangements and employee well-being. During the interview, express how your values align with theirs and how you can contribute to their collaborative culture.
