At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead software development teams and shape the future of our innovative products.
- Company: Join IRIS Software Group, a top UK tech employer with a focus on well-being and inclusion.
- Benefits: Enjoy career growth, continuous learning, and a diverse workplace culture.
- Other info: Be part of a dynamic team that values collaboration and technical excellence.
- Why this job: Make a global impact while working with cutting-edge technologies and mentoring future engineers.
- Qualifications: Proven software engineering experience and strong leadership skills in modern tech environments.
The predicted salary is between 63000 - 77000 £ per year.
About IRIS
IRIS Software Group is one of the UK's largest privately held software companies, trusted by 100,000+ businesses, schools and accountancy firms to keep their operations running. Our software pays 1 in 6 UK employees, supports over 12,000 schools, and is relied on by 91 of the top 100 UK accountancy firms. We're a Great Place to Work® certified employer, recognised for our commitment to well-being, inclusion and development - and we're growing fast.
As a Principal Engineer, you will be a senior technical leader responsible for shaping the architecture, engineering standards, and technical direction of our products. This is a highly hands-on role where you will lead from the front, working closely with engineering teams to deliver new features, integrations, platform enhancements, technical debt reduction initiatives, and high-quality customer outcomes.
You will collaborate with Product, Architecture, DevOps, Support, and other stakeholders across the business to ensure solutions are scalable, secure, and maintainable. Alongside driving technical excellence, you will mentor engineers, champion modern software development practices, and help teams continuously improve how they build and deliver software.
Working across a range of technologies and product domains, you will play a key role in modernising legacy platforms, solving complex technical challenges, and building cloud-native solutions that support our growing customer base.
Key Responsibilities
- Technical Leadership & Delivery
- Provide hands-on technical leadership across software development teams.
- Lead the design, development, and delivery of scalable, secure, and high-performing software solutions.
- Drive architectural decisions and ensure alignment with engineering best practices and business objectives.
- Contribute to estimation, planning, and technical decision-making for new initiatives and product enhancements.
- Work closely with cross-functional teams to support successful product releases and operational excellence.
- Ensure teams understand priorities, milestones, and delivery commitments.
- Engineering Excellence
- Remain actively involved in software development, code reviews, troubleshooting, and resolving complex technical issues.
- Champion modern engineering practices, including CI/CD, DevOps, automation, testing, and observability.
- Promote high standards of code quality, maintainability, security, and performance.
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives across development processes, tooling, and ways of working.
- Support the evolution and modernisation of existing platforms and systems.
- People Leadership & Mentoring
- Coach, mentor, and develop engineers at all levels, creating a culture of learning and technical excellence.
- Provide line management support where applicable, including performance management, career development, and objective setting.
- Foster collaboration, knowledge sharing, and effective communication across teams.
- Help build high-performing engineering teams by promoting engagement, accountability, and continuous growth.
What You'll Bring
Essential Skills & Experience
- Significant experience in software engineering, including leadership of complex technical initiatives and distributed teams.
- Strong expertise within the Microsoft technology ecosystem, including C#, .NET, SQL Server, Azure, and related technologies.
- Experience designing and delivering scalable, cloud-native applications and services.
- Strong understanding of microservices, distributed systems, and modern software architecture principles.
- Ability to write, review, and guide the development of high-quality, well-tested, production-grade code.
- Experience working across multiple programming languages and technology stacks, demonstrating adaptability and a broad technical perspective.
- Deep understanding of software engineering best practices, development lifecycles, and agile delivery methodologies.
- Excellent problem-solving, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
Desirable
- Cloud platform certifications (Azure, AWS, or GCP).
- Experience with observability, monitoring, and performance optimisation practices.
- Experience modernising legacy applications and driving large-scale technical transformations.
Key Competencies
- Technical Leadership & Architecture
- Software Engineering Excellence
- Coaching & Mentorship
- Collaboration & Stakeholder Management
- Ownership & Accountability
- Strategic Decision Making
- Problem Solving & Innovation
- Continuous Improvement Mindset
Why You’ll Love Working Here
- Impact: Your work will influence millions globally.
- Growth: Continuous learning and career development opportunities.
- Belonging: A culture that celebrates diversity and empowers every individual.
Ready to Apply?
Click Apply - we’re excited to learn about your unique perspective and experience. If you need adjustments during the process, let us know. We’re committed to making this opportunity accessible to everyone.
What to expect from our hiring process
Our process is designed to be fair, transparent and straightforward. Stages vary depending on the role — more senior positions may involve additional steps, and some areas include role-specific assessments such as a technical test or case study — but typically you can expect:
- Application review — we assess your experience and potential
- Initial call — a short conversation to learn about you and share more about the role
- Skills assessment — tailored to the position, e.g. case study, coding challenge or portfolio review
- Final interview — meet the team and explore how you'll make an IMPACT at IRIS
We'll always walk you through the specific stages at the start of the process so you can prepare with confidence. If you need any adjustments or accommodations during the process, let us know, we’re committed to making this experience accessible for everyone.
Principal Engineer employer: Iris
IRIS Software Group is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment that fosters collaboration and innovation within the finance sector. With a strong commitment to employee development, you will have access to continuous learning opportunities and the chance to work alongside industry experts in a supportive culture. Located in a vibrant area, our team enjoys a healthy work-life balance and the unique advantage of being part of a global organisation that values diversity and inclusion.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal Engineer
✨Join Local Tech Meetups
Get out there and mingle with fellow developers by joining local tech meetups. It’s a fantastic way to meet people who might be working at Iris or know someone who does. Plus, you can pick up some trendy tech skills and trends while you're at it!
✨Contribute to Open Source Projects
Show off your coding chops by jumping into open-source projects. Not only does this give you practical experience, but it also gets you noticed in the dev community. You'll create a killer portfolio that speaks volumes about your skills to Iris.
✨Tap into Online Developer Communities
Don’t underestimate the power of online developer communities like GitHub, Stack Overflow, and even Reddit. Participate in discussions, share your projects, and build your visibility. We can often find opportunities through these channels that can lead to a full-time gig at companies like Iris.
✨Explore Job Boards Specifically for Tech Roles
Keep your eyes peeled on job boards that focus on tech roles. Sites like TechCareers or Stack Overflow Jobs can often have listings for companies like Iris that might not show up on broader job sites. Make it a habit to check these regularly, and don’t hesitate to apply directly through our website!
We think you need these skills to ace Principal Engineer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show off your coding skills:When applying for a software engineering role, it's super important to showcase your coding skills. Make sure your CV includes your tech stack, any relevant programming languages you’re comfortable with, and examples of projects you've worked on. If you have a GitHub profile, link it up! We love to see code in action.
Tailor your portfolio:For a full-time role, we’d expect to see some solid examples of your work in your portfolio. Make sure to include at least two or three projects that highlight your problem-solving skills and your ability to work with different technologies. Focus on the projects that are most relevant to the position at Iris.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Iris and how your skills align with the role. Show us your passion for software development. We dig enthusiastic candidates who understand the value of collaboration and continuous learning!
Be clear and concise:When it comes to writing your CV and cover letter, clarity is key. Avoid jargon that could confuse us and stick to simple, direct language. Highlight your achievements with quantifiable results where possible, and keep everything easy to read. A well-organised application goes a long way!
How to prepare for a job interview at Iris
✨Brush Up on Your Coding Skills
For a full-time software engineering role, it's crucial that we stay sharp with our coding abilities. Expect technical questions that might involve solving problems on the spot or discussing algorithms. Practise on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank to get comfortable with the types of questions that often come up.
✨Know Your Tools and Frameworks
Make sure we’re well-acquainted with the tools and technologies listed in the job description. Familiarise ourselves with any specific frameworks or programming languages mentioned. If Iris uses React or Node.js, for instance, be ready to discuss how we’ve used them in previous projects or coursework.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Bring along a portfolio that highlights our best work. This could be code samples, GitHub repositories, or any side projects we’ve built. Make sure we can talk through our thought process for each project, especially the challenges we faced and how we solved them—this shows our problem-solving skills in action.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
While technical skills are key, full-time positions also require cultural fit. Be ready to discuss our previous experiences and how we handle teamwork, conflict, and deadlines. Brush up on the STAR method—Situation, Task, Action, Result—to clearly articulate our past experiences when discussing how we've contributed to a team.
