At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead technical direction and solve complex problems in financial services software.
- Company: Join one of the UK's largest financial services companies, trusted by millions.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Dynamic team environment with a focus on innovation and resilience.
- Why this job: Shape the future of investing with cutting-edge technology and impactful projects.
- Qualifications: 2+ years in a Principal Engineering role, strong Java skills, and stakeholder management experience.
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 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
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the company inside out! Research HL's values, mission, and recent projects. This will help you tailor your conversations during interviews and show that you're genuinely interested in being part of their future.
✨Tip Number 2
Practice your technical storytelling. Be ready to explain complex concepts in a way that even non-tech folks can understand. This is key when you're discussing architectural decisions or influencing stakeholders.
✨Tip Number 3
Network like a pro! Connect with current employees on LinkedIn or attend industry events. This can give you insider info about the company culture and might even lead to a referral!
✨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 serious about joining the team at HL.
We think you need these skills to ace Principal Software Engineer - Transfers
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the Principal Software Engineer role. Highlight your experience with Java, AWS, and any relevant financial services background. We want to see how your skills align with our needs!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about this role and how you can contribute to our Transfers Tribe. Keep it engaging and relevant to the job description.
Showcase Your Technical Skills:In your application, don't shy away from showcasing your technical expertise. Mention specific projects where you've solved complex problems or led architectural decisions. We love seeing real-world examples!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother process. It helps us keep track of your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates. Plus, it’s super easy!
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 your knowledge of AWS and event-driven architectures, as you'll likely be asked to discuss these during the technical interview.
✨Prepare for Stakeholder Scenarios
Since stakeholder management is key for this role, think of examples where you've successfully influenced decisions without direct authority. Be ready to articulate how you navigated complex discussions and drove alignment among different teams.
✨Practice System Design Questions
For the technical interview, practice designing systems that are resilient and scalable. Focus on event-driven flows and how you would approach migration paths for live systems. This will help you demonstrate your problem-solving skills effectively.
✨Showcase Your Cultural Fit
In the culture fit interview, be prepared to share your motivations and past experiences. Think about what drives you in a team environment and how you can contribute to a positive culture at HL. Authenticity goes a long way!
