At a Glance
- Tasks: Design and build scalable data platforms for analytics and AI.
- Company: Rapidly growing tech company focused on data-driven solutions.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, annual bonus, comprehensive benefits, and hybrid working.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with opportunities for technical ownership and growth.
- Why this job: Join a founding team and shape the future of data engineering.
- Qualifications: 8+ years in backend software, strong Python skills, and leadership experience.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.
Our client is a rapidly scaling technology business where data sits at the heart of everything they build. They’re investing heavily in a brand-new Data Platforms function responsible for building the infrastructure that powers analytics, AI and next-generation software products. Operating at significant scale, they process and manage hundreds of terabytes of data today, with the platform growing towards petabyte scale. This is an opportunity to solve genuinely difficult engineering problems where performance, reliability and scalability are critical.
Why this role stands out:
- Join as a founding engineer within a brand-new Data Platforms team
- Build highly scalable systems capable of supporting 100TB–1PB of data
- Shape the architecture, tooling and engineering culture from day one
- Work on complex distributed systems and platform engineering challenges
- Hybrid working from Oxford with excellent benefits and long-term progression
The Role
This is a builder’s role through and through. As Principal Software Engineer, you’ll play a key role in designing and building the core platforms that enable engineers, analysts and product teams to work with massive volumes of data efficiently and reliably. You’ll remain hands‑on while providing technical leadership, helping define engineering standards, mentoring a growing team and influencing the long-term technical direction of the platform. If you enjoy solving problems around scale, performance and distributed systems, this is the kind of environment where you’ll thrive.
What You’ll Be Building:
- Cloud-native platforms designed to process and serve data at massive scale
- High-performance backend systems that prioritise reliability and availability
- Internal tooling that enables engineering teams to move faster and build with confidence
- Modern engineering practices centred around automation, testing and continuous delivery
- A high-performing engineering culture built on collaboration, ownership and technical excellence
- The foundations for future AI, analytics and large-scale data capabilities
Your Experience:
- 8 + years building large-scale backend software systems
- Strong commercial experience with Python
- Experience leading and mentoring software engineering teams
- Strong understanding of distributed systems and scalable platform architecture
- Passion for software quality, automation and engineering best practices
- Track record of delivering complex systems from concept through to production
Nice to Have:
- Experience building modern data or developer platforms
- Exposure to distributed compute, scheduling, streaming or storage technologies
- Infrastructure as Code using Terraform
- Experience with cloud-native architectures, ideally AWS
Why Join?
- Competitive salary, annual bonus and comprehensive benefits package
- Opportunity to shape a brand-new platform engineering function
- Work on engineering challenges involving hundreds of terabytes to petabytes of data
- Collaborative, low-ego engineering culture with genuine technical ownership
- Hybrid working model based in Oxford with flexibility
- Clear opportunity to influence architecture, engineering standards and long-term platform strategy
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal Software 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 KDR Talent Solutions 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 KDR Talent Solutions.
✨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 KDR Talent Solutions.
✨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 KDR Talent Solutions 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 Software 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 KDR Talent Solutions.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at KDR Talent Solutions 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 KDR Talent Solutions
✨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 KDR Talent Solutions 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.
