Principal Software Engineer - Operations and Customer Services
Principal Software Engineer - Operations and Customer Services

Principal Software Engineer - Operations and Customer Services

London Full-Time 48000 - 72000 £ / year (est.) No home office possible
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead the development of CRM and operations platforms, ensuring seamless integration and high-quality applications.
  • Company: Iglu.com is the UK's top online cruise retailer, transforming how people book cruises digitally.
  • Benefits: Enjoy remote work options, travel perks, and paid training for personal growth.
  • Why this job: Join a collaborative team where your ideas matter and make a real impact in the travel industry.
  • Qualifications: Experience in leading engineering teams, developing scalable solutions, and expertise in C#, AWS, and SQL required.
  • Other info: Work in an Agile environment with a focus on innovation and continuous improvement.

The predicted salary is between 48000 - 72000 £ per year.

About Iglu

Why You'll Love Working Here

At Iglu.com, we’re more than just a travel company — we’re the UK’s leading online cruise retailer, and we’re redefining what it means to book a cruise in the digital age. Working at Iglu means:

  • Flat structure, real impact – Your ideas matter. Everyone contributes, and you’ll see the results of your work fast.
  • Cruise perks & travel love – We’re in the business of adventure, and you’ll feel it.
  • Smart, supportive people – Join a talented, close-knit team that genuinely enjoys solving hard problems together.
  • Room to grow – We’re on a transformation journey, and there’s huge opportunity to shape the future with us.

Training and development - Paid for training, conferences and certification e.g. AWS Certs.

We combine a passion for travel with a love for technology, delivering smart, seamless customer experiences and building platforms that handle the complexity of modern cruising — all while keeping things collaborative and fun.

What you will be doing and why it matters

As a Principal Engineer at IgluCruise.com, you’ll take technical ownership of the CRM and operations domains, helping to shape the evolution of our enterprise platforms and the seamless integration of business-critical systems. From architecting clean, scalable integrations between internal and external platforms to overseeing the development of vital applications that power our customer service and operations — your work will be foundational to how we operate and grow. You’ll be at the technical heart of a business that’s transforming how people book cruises online — a sector ripe for innovation and full of complexity.

Who will I be working with?

You’ll report directly to the Director of Engineering and play a leadership role across two cross-functional Product Teams focused on CRM and operations. You’ll be supported by and work closely with:

  • The Head of Architecture to align technical direction with target architecture
  • The Director of Engineering to drive engineering strategy and team growth
  • The Head of QA to ensure high standards of quality, automation, and release confidence
  • The Lead Engineers and Software Engineers in the CRM and operations Product Teams
  • Business stakeholders as a technical consultant for new idea submissions

Collaboration will be at the heart of your role — ensuring technology choices and development practices are aligned with business needs and delivered with excellence.

What you will own

  • Enterprise COTS SaaS platforms covering:
  • Customer service and sales lead management
  • Back office automation platform
  • Call centre platform
  • Bespoke development covering:
    • Agent Reservations (Configure, Price, Quote and Book)
    • Booking management platform
    • Customer Booking Portal

    What we are looking for

    • Contribute to sprint planning while providing architectural guidance to product teams.
    • Shape the long-term technical vision for bespoke software, looking beyond immediate delivery needs.
    • Serve as a technical advisor to business units aligned with product teams, with a primary focus on Sales and Customer Service.
    • Bring deep expertise in application and platform development.
    • Demonstrate strong proficiency in enterprise integration patterns (including APIs and event driven design), AWS and SQL as well as noSQL databases.
    • Lead architecture and development decision-making with confidence and clarity.
    • Maintain a hands-on approach, effectively balancing strategic thinking with practical implementation.
    • Someone who can remain calm under pressure to investigate and resolve technical issues and challenges.

    Tech at Iglu:

    • We work in an Agile way but let teams decide how to operate within those boundaries
    • We are happy with remote and office working
    • We are pragmatic about what technologies we use but always are evaluating new tools/languages/frameworks
    • We are passionate about Infrastructure as code and AWS is our platform of choice
    • We believe in autonomy and responsibility to sit in the teams that are building and deploying the software.
    • Small frequent deployments are what we strive for

    Experience / Qualifications:

    • Experience in running engineering teams or cross functional teams
    • Experience designing and developing highly available and scalable distributed solutions ideally ecommerce.
    • Experience in Infrastructure as Code
    • Strong problem-solving and analytical skills.
    • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
    • Experience leading and mentoring a team of software developers
    • Extensive experience of C#, MVC and SQL (.net framework and .net core)
    • Experience working closely with Stakeholders and wider business
    • Experience with AWS (or other cloud technologies)
    • Experience with distributed caching
    • Experience with search technologies
    • Exposure to TeamCity, Octopus and Bitbucket Pipelines

    Principal Software Engineer - Operations and Customer Services employer: Iglu.com

    At Iglu.com, we pride ourselves on being more than just the UK's leading online cruise retailer; we foster a vibrant work culture where your ideas truly matter and can make a real impact. With a flat structure that encourages collaboration, generous training opportunities, and a passion for travel, you'll find a supportive team ready to tackle challenges together while enjoying unique cruise perks. Join us in our transformation journey and take advantage of the chance to shape the future of cruising technology in a dynamic and rewarding environment.
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    Contact Detail:

    Iglu.com Recruiting Team

    StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

    We think this is how you could land Principal Software Engineer - Operations and Customer Services

    ✨Tip Number 1

    Familiarise yourself with Iglu's business model and the cruise industry. Understanding how Iglu operates as a leading online cruise retailer will help you align your technical expertise with their specific needs, making you a more attractive candidate.

    ✨Tip Number 2

    Showcase your experience with enterprise integration patterns, especially APIs and event-driven design. Be prepared to discuss specific projects where you've successfully implemented these technologies, as they are crucial for the role.

    ✨Tip Number 3

    Highlight your leadership skills and experience in running cross-functional teams. Iglu values collaboration, so demonstrating your ability to guide teams and work closely with stakeholders will set you apart.

    ✨Tip Number 4

    Prepare to discuss your hands-on experience with AWS and Infrastructure as Code. Given Iglu's focus on cloud technologies, showcasing your practical knowledge in these areas will be essential during discussions.

    We think you need these skills to ace Principal Software Engineer - Operations and Customer Services

    Technical Leadership
    Architectural Design
    Enterprise Integration Patterns
    API Development
    Event Driven Design
    AWS Expertise
    SQL and NoSQL Databases
    Agile Methodologies
    Problem-Solving Skills
    Interpersonal Communication
    Team Mentoring
    C# Proficiency
    Experience with MVC
    Distributed Systems Design
    Infrastructure as Code
    Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD)
    Stakeholder Engagement
    Distributed Caching Technologies
    Search Technologies

    Some tips for your application 🫡

    Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in software engineering, particularly in CRM and operations. Emphasise your leadership roles and any experience with cloud technologies like AWS, as well as your proficiency in C#, MVC, and SQL.

    Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for travel and technology. Discuss how your skills align with Iglu's mission to redefine the cruise booking experience and mention specific projects where you've demonstrated architectural guidance and team leadership.

    Showcase Problem-Solving Skills: Provide examples of how you've tackled complex technical challenges in previous roles. Highlight your experience with enterprise integration patterns and your ability to remain calm under pressure, as these are crucial for the Principal Software Engineer position.

    Highlight Collaboration Experience: Since collaboration is key at Iglu, mention instances where you've worked closely with cross-functional teams or business stakeholders. Illustrate how you’ve contributed to team success and driven engineering strategy in past projects.

    How to prepare for a job interview at Iglu.com

    ✨Showcase Your Technical Expertise

    As a Principal Software Engineer, you'll need to demonstrate your deep understanding of application and platform development. Be prepared to discuss your experience with enterprise integration patterns, AWS, SQL, and noSQL databases. Highlight specific projects where you've successfully implemented these technologies.

    ✨Emphasise Leadership and Collaboration

    Since this role involves leading cross-functional teams, it's crucial to showcase your leadership skills. Share examples of how you've guided teams in sprint planning and architectural decisions, and how you've collaborated with business stakeholders to align technical solutions with business needs.

    ✨Prepare for Problem-Solving Scenarios

    Expect to face technical challenges during the interview. Prepare to discuss how you've approached complex problems in the past, particularly under pressure. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses and illustrate your problem-solving skills effectively.

    ✨Understand Iglu's Business Model

    Familiarise yourself with Iglu's operations and customer service domains. Understanding their business model will help you articulate how your technical expertise can contribute to their goals. Be ready to discuss how you can enhance customer experiences through technology and innovation.

    Principal Software Engineer - Operations and Customer Services
    Iglu.com
    I
    • Principal Software Engineer - Operations and Customer Services

      London
      Full-Time
      48000 - 72000 £ / year (est.)

      Application deadline: 2027-05-16

    • I

      Iglu.com

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