Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the architectural evolution of a growing SaaS platform and drive innovation.
- Company: Dynamic tech company focused on cutting-edge software solutions.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, strong pension, private healthcare, and hybrid work model.
- Why this job: Shape the future of technology while mentoring the next generation of engineers.
- Qualifications: 10+ years in software development with expertise in .NET and cloud architectures.
- Other info: Join a culture of continuous improvement and innovation with excellent career growth.
Leeds (Hybrid - 2-3 days per week in office) £70,000 - £80,000 + strong pension + private healthcare
My client is continuing to expand their SaaS platform and is now seeking a Principal Engineer / Architect to take ownership of the technical direction, architectural evolution and innovation strategy. This is a senior, hands-on technical leadership role focused on ensuring the platform remains scalable, maintainable and performant as the organisation grows. You will work across all engineering teams to define architectural standards, guide complex technical decisions and lead initiatives that strengthen performance, reliability, technical sustainability and innovation.
What will you do in the role?
- Architecture Governance
- Define and maintain system architecture standards
- Guide the evolution of platform architecture
- Support major technical decisions across engineering teams
- Review and approve complex technical designs
- Technical Debt and Modernisation
- Define and maintain a technical debt roadmap
- Lead initiatives such as frontend modernisation and system restructuring
- Improve the long-term maintainability of the platform
- Performance Engineering
- Identify and resolve system performance bottlenecks
- Lead database performance optimisation efforts
- Improve platform scalability and reliability
- Technical Leadership
- Mentor developers and Team Leads
- Support problem-solving for complex technical challenges
- Promote best practices in software design and development
- Platform Collaboration
- Work closely with Platform Engineers on infrastructure improvements
- Enhance CI/CD architecture and deployment processes
- Improve system monitoring and observability
- Data and Innovation
- Support development of data platform capabilities (e.g., ClickHouse, ElasticSearch)
- Explore AI and automation opportunities within the platform
- Drive innovation aligned with organisational needs
- Research and Development
- Define and lead the technical R&D strategy
- Identify and evaluate emerging technologies, tools and architectural approaches
- Run proofs-of-concept to validate new ideas
- Translate R&D findings into deliverable capabilities
- Establish structured experimentation with clear success criteria
- Keep the organisation informed of relevant technology trends
- Contribute to a culture of continuous improvement and innovation
What skills and experience will you already have?
- Essential
- 10+ years' experience in software development
- Experience designing and evolving large-scale systems
- Strong background in .NET and cloud-based architectures
- Experience with performance tuning and optimisation
- Degree in Computer Science or equivalent experience
- Deep understanding of software architecture principles
- Strong coding ability (C#, SQL, etc.)
- Experience with system integration patterns
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
- Ability to balance innovation with delivery needs
- Strong ability to assess new technologies and communicate trade-offs
- Strong understanding of performance optimisation techniques
- Experience with modern frontend frameworks (e.g. React)
- Desirable
- Experience with AWS
- Experience with distributed systems
- Experience with data platforms or analytics systems
- Experience contributing to R&D or innovation initiatives
- Experience evaluating and prototyping new technologies
- Exposure to AI/ML and emerging technology trends
- Experience introducing new technologies into production environments
Personal Qualities
- Highly analytical and detail-oriented
- Strong technical leadership presence
- Ability to influence without direct authority
- Passion for engineering excellence
- Pragmatic and outcome-focused
- Curious and forward-thinking mindset
- Comfortable operating in ambiguity
- Strong commercial awareness when assessing innovation
If you're looking for a senior technical leadership role where you can shape architectural direction, modernise a growing platform and lead high-impact engineering initiatives, please apply to find out more.
Please note: Sponsorship is not available for this role. Applicants must already have the right to work in the UK.
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their race, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation or age.
Principal Engineer / Architect in Leeds employer: Fruition Group
Contact Detail:
Fruition Group Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal Engineer / Architect in Leeds
✨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 refer you directly.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio or GitHub repository showcasing your projects and contributions. This is a great way to demonstrate your technical prowess and give potential employers a taste of what you can do.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on your problem-solving skills. Practice coding challenges and system design questions that are relevant to the role. We want you to feel confident and ready to tackle any technical question thrown your way!
✨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, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining our team and contributing to our innovative projects.
We think you need these skills to ace Principal Engineer / Architect in Leeds
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experience mentioned in the job description. Highlight your 10+ years in software development and any relevant projects that showcase your architectural expertise.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Use your cover letter to tell us why you're the perfect fit for the Principal Engineer / Architect role. Share specific examples of how you've led technical initiatives or improved system performance in previous roles.
Showcase Your Technical Leadership: In your application, emphasise your experience mentoring developers and leading teams. We want to see how you've influenced technical decisions and promoted best practices in your past positions.
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 ensure you’re considered for this exciting opportunity.
How to prepare for a job interview at Fruition Group
✨Know Your Architecture Inside Out
Make sure you’re well-versed in architectural principles and the specific technologies mentioned in the job description. Be ready to discuss how you've designed and evolved large-scale systems in your previous roles, especially with .NET and cloud-based architectures.
✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills
Prepare examples of complex technical challenges you've faced and how you approached them. Highlight your analytical skills and your ability to balance innovation with delivery needs, as this role requires strong problem-solving capabilities.
✨Demonstrate Leadership Experience
Since this is a senior role, be prepared to talk about your experience mentoring others and leading technical initiatives. Share specific instances where you’ve influenced decisions or guided teams towards best practices in software design and development.
✨Stay Current with Technology Trends
Research emerging technologies and trends relevant to the role, such as AI/ML and performance optimisation techniques. Be ready to discuss how you’ve evaluated and prototyped new technologies in the past, and how you can contribute to the organisation's culture of continuous improvement and innovation.