At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead technical direction and solve complex problems in financial product transfers.
- Company: Join a leading UK financial services company trusted by millions.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Dynamic team environment with a focus on collaboration and career development.
- Why this job: Shape the future of investing with innovative technology and impactful solutions.
- Qualifications: 2+ years in Principal Engineering or similar, strong Java skills, and stakeholder management.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.
About HL And The Opportunity
We're building the next generation platform for one of the UK's largest financial services companies, trusted by over 2 million clients and managing c.£150 billion in assets. You will contribute in expanding our new capabilities that will enable our clients to seamlessly transfer in (and out) financial products like SIPPs and ISAs. Be part of HL's future. Be part of the future of investing. Shape it with us.
About the Role
As the Principal Engineer in our Transfers Tribe, you will be the technical authority across the Transfers domain, shaping the architecture, technical direction, and long-term health of systems. You will focus on solving the hardest technical and architectural problems at scale, reducing systemic risk, and enabling teams to deliver faster without compromising stability, security, or regulatory compliance. You will work closely with Engineering Managers, Product Managers, Architecture, and Platform teams within an end-to-end, product-led delivery model.
Key Responsibilities
- Collaboration & Influence
- Lead through influence: Align stakeholders, run design reviews, drive decisions, own technical governance and unblock delivery teams.
- Work closely with Product, Operations, Architecture, and Platform teams to ensure solutions are fit for live service.
- Support regulatory, audit, and operational discussions by clearly articulating technical design choices and risks.
- Technical Strategy & Architecture
- Set and evolve the technical direction for the Transfers domain, ensuring architectural integrity, scalability, and resilience.
- Own and maintain architectural principles, guardrails, and standards, balancing short-term delivery with long-term sustainability.
- Lead early technical discovery for initiatives, shaping solution options, trade-offs, and technical risk assessments.
- Identify and proactively reduce system-level and cross-team technical risks, including performance, operability, and data integrity.
- Engineering & Problem Solving
- Solve complex technical problems across event-driven flows, integrations, orchestration, and data consistency.
- Drive improvements in testability, observability, deployment safety, and recovery across Transfers systems.
- Technical Leadership & Enablement
- Act as a technical mentor and coach to senior engineers, raising the technical bar across tribes.
- Partner with Engineering Managers to enable sustainable, predictable delivery.
- Provide clear technical direction through shared patterns, guidance, and architectural decisions.
Skills & Experience
Essential
- At least 2+ years in a Principal Engineering or Solution Architect role or similar.
- Proven ability to set technical direction across multiple teams without line management responsibility.
- Strong Java software engineering background with the ability to engage on architecture decisions. We use Java 21 and Spring Boot paired with RDBMS and NoSQL databases.
- Experience with AWS and event-driven architectures.
- Experience delivering product-led, agile software.
- Strong stakeholder management across Product, Operations, and Engineering.
- Excellent communication skills, able to explain complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders.
Desirable
- Experience in financial services.
- Experience improving operational resilience and throughput via system redesign and automation.
- Experience with agent-first organisations.
What Success Looks Like
- Transfers systems are simpler, more resilient, and easier to change, with fewer incidents and faster recovery.
- Technical risks are surfaced and addressed early, enabling predictable delivery.
- Clear architectural direction reduces rework, inconsistency, and regret spend.
Interview Process
- 3 Stage Interview
- Stage 1 - Discussion with our Hiring Manager (45 mins): A chance to talk with our Hiring Manager in more detail about the role, our tech stack and some of the problems we solve every day. Here, we'll dig a bit more into some of your experiences, understand the processes you're familiar with and the technologies you've used to deliver end user value as well as your approach to influencing without line management.
- Stage 2 - Technical (90 mins): For the technical part, we'd like you to sit down with some of your potential peers to work through a technical solution. We'll be looking together at system design, deep-dive into areas like event-driven systems or migration paths for live systems, and how to influence your peers.
- Stage 3 - Culture Fit (30 mins): In our Cultural Fit interview, we'll be looking to learn more about your past experiences, what keeps you motivated, where we may be able to help you improve further, key decisions you've helped to make and issues you've resolved.
Principal Software Engineer - Transfers in Bristol employer: Hargreaves Lansdown
At HL, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters innovation and collaboration. As a Principal Software Engineer in our Transfers Tribe, you will not only tackle complex technical challenges but also have the opportunity to mentor and shape the next generation of engineers. With a commitment to employee growth and a focus on delivering impactful solutions for our clients, HL provides a rewarding environment where your contributions truly matter.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal Software Engineer - Transfers in Bristol
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current employees at HL through LinkedIn or other platforms. Ask them about their experiences and any tips they might have for the interview process. This insider info can give you a leg up!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those technical interviews by brushing up on your Java skills and understanding event-driven architectures. Practice explaining complex concepts in simple terms, as you'll need to communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your problem-solving skills! Be ready to discuss specific challenges you've faced in previous roles and how you tackled them. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers and make them impactful.
✨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 being part of HL's future.
We think you need these skills to ace Principal Software Engineer - Transfers in Bristol
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that align with the Principal Software Engineer role. Highlight your Java expertise, architectural experience, and any relevant projects you've worked on that showcase your ability to solve complex problems.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Use your cover letter to tell us why you're passionate about this role and how you can contribute to our Transfers Tribe. Share specific examples of how you've influenced technical decisions or led teams in the past.
Showcase Your Communication Skills:Since you'll be working closely with various stakeholders, it's crucial to demonstrate your ability to explain complex technical concepts clearly. Use your application to show how you've successfully communicated with non-technical audiences in previous roles.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website for the best chance of getting noticed. It helps us keep track of applications and ensures you’re considered for the role as soon as possible!
How to prepare for a job interview at Hargreaves Lansdown
✨Know Your Tech Stack Inside Out
Make sure you’re well-versed in Java 21, Spring Boot, and the databases mentioned in the job description. Brush up on event-driven architectures and AWS, as these will likely come up during your technical interview.
✨Prepare for Stakeholder Scenarios
Think of examples where you've influenced stakeholders without direct authority. Be ready to discuss how you’ve aligned teams and driven decisions in past projects, as this is crucial for the role.
✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills
Be prepared to tackle complex technical problems during the technical interview. Practice articulating your thought process clearly, especially around system design and risk assessment, as these are key areas they'll focus on.
✨Cultural Fit Matters
In the culture fit interview, be genuine about your motivations and experiences. Reflect on what drives you and how you can contribute to the team’s success. They want to see if you’ll mesh well with their values and work style.
