At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead innovative tech projects and coach teams to achieve technical excellence.
- Company: Join loveholidays, a trailblazing tech company revolutionising travel.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, training budget, and discounted holidays.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse team focused on personal growth and success.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in tech while shaping the future of travel.
- Qualifications: Strong front-end skills and experience with AI-powered development.
The predicted salary is between 48000 - 72000 £ per year.
At loveholidays, we trailblaze together. We’re on a mission to open the world to everyone, giving our customers unlimited choice, unmatched ease and unmissable value for their next getaway. Our team is the driving force behind our role as our customers’ personal holiday expert - the smart way to get away. Technology at loveholidays underpins our vision to become the most loved OTA in Europe. We drive cutting-edge innovation and technical excellence to futureproof the business. Our systems process trillions of daily holiday offers, we deploy over a thousand times a month, serving thousands of requests per second. This is where you can accelerate your growth by solving complex challenges and broadening your skillset. Join us to create impact for our future in an exciting new chapter, owning your success and contributing to shared goals.
The impact you'll have: As a Principal Engineer in the Boost team, you’ll be part of a group of principal engineers who champion technical excellence. The team acts as an enabling function, not a delivery arm. You will embed in other teams to help them improve and work faster. You will be hands-on, leading by example, and coaching others to drive technical excellence and innovation across the company. Your success will be measured by how you help others succeed.
Your responsibilities include:
- Own the team’s functional KPIs, defining the measurable outcomes that show our impact.
- Help mission teams deliver faster, safer solutions by solving complex problems and training others to do the same.
- Champion AI adoption, applying it to both engineering processes and solutions.
- Coach our engineers, guiding their growth.
- Build tools to make the Boost team more effective and improve platform governance.
We are looking for a candidate with strong front-end skills. You will work across the various tech systems within our platform and be confident in your ability to quickly learn new technologies. We value an agile mindset, and a proven track record of delivery with teams.
Your day to day:
- Embed in mission teams to solve hard tech problems, coaching engineers hands-on to instill our core engineering principles.
- Drive initiatives to apply AI to build better solutions and improve our engineering process.
- Build tooling and processes to accelerate and enable our platform development.
- Design and oversee impactful systems that run reliably at cloud scale.
- Write and speak about our tech work to raise our engineering profile.
Your skillset:
- Experience with AI-powered feature development and leveraging AI tooling for software delivery, with enthusiasm for transforming how we build and deliver software.
- Demonstrable history of working hands-on with engineering teams to solve complex technical challenges, building team capabilities and promoting sustainable practices.
- Seasoned facilitator who excels at pairing with engineers, leading technical discussions, and helping teams navigate architectural decisions through practical, hands-on collaboration.
- Ability to identify and scale successful technical patterns while connecting technical excellence to measurable business outcomes.
- A track record of building and optimising scalable, high-performance websites.
Perks of joining us:
- Company pension contributions at 5%.
- Individualised training budget for you to learn on the job and level yourself up.
- Discounted holidays for you, your family and friends.
- 25 days of holidays per annum (plus 8 public holidays) increases by 1 day for every second year of service, up to a maximum 30 days per annum.
- Ability to buy and sell annual leave.
- Cycle to work scheme, season ticket loan and eye care vouchers.
At loveholidays, we focus on developing an inclusive culture and environment that encourages personal growth and collective success. Each individual offers unique perspectives and ideas that increase the diversity and effectiveness of our teams. And we value the insight and potential you could bring on our continued journey.
The interview journey:
- 1st stage interview with a member of our Talent Team
- Introduction to loveholidays Engineering with our VP of Engineering (60 mins)
- Presentation/Case Study with our VP and CTO (60 mins)
- Technical interview with 2 of our Principal or Heads of Engineering (60 mins)
Principal Software Engineer employer: loveholidays
At loveholidays, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that champions innovation and personal growth within a vibrant tech culture. Our commitment to employee development is reflected in our individualised training budgets, generous holiday allowances, and a supportive environment that encourages collaboration and technical excellence. Join us in our mission to revolutionise the travel industry while enjoying unique perks like discounted holidays and a focus on work-life balance in a dynamic and inclusive workplace.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal Software Engineer
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know loveholidays! Dive into their blog posts and open-source projects. This will not only give you insights into their tech culture but also help you tailor your conversations during interviews.
✨Tip Number 2
Network like a pro! Connect with current employees on LinkedIn or attend tech meetups. Building relationships can give you insider info and might even lead to referrals, which can be a game-changer.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for hands-on challenges! Since the role involves coaching and solving complex problems, practice coding and system design problems. Show them you can think on your feet and lead by example.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in being part of the loveholidays team.
We think you need these skills to ace Principal Software Engineer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Technology:When writing your application, let your enthusiasm for technology shine through! We want to see how you’ve engaged with tech in your past roles and how it aligns with our mission at loveholidays. Share specific examples that highlight your skills and experiences.
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your application for the Principal Software Engineer role. Highlight your front-end skills and any experience with AI-powered feature development. We’re looking for candidates who can connect technical excellence to measurable business outcomes, so don’t hold back!
Be Clear and Concise:Keep your application straightforward and to the point. Use clear language and avoid jargon where possible. We appreciate a well-structured application that makes it easy for us to see your qualifications and how you can contribute to our team.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our team at loveholidays!
How to prepare for a job interview at loveholidays
✨Know Your Tech Inside Out
Make sure you’re well-versed in the technologies mentioned in the job description. Brush up on your front-end skills and be ready to discuss how you've applied AI in your previous projects. This will show that you can hit the ground running and contribute to the team’s goals.
✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills
Prepare examples of complex technical challenges you've faced and how you solved them. Be ready to explain your thought process and the impact of your solutions. This aligns perfectly with their focus on driving technical excellence and innovation.
✨Emphasise Team Collaboration
Since the role involves coaching and embedding within mission teams, highlight your experience working collaboratively. Share stories where you’ve helped others grow or improved team dynamics, as this is key to their success measurement.
✨Engage with Their Content
Familiarise yourself with loveholidays' blog posts and open-source contributions. Mention specific articles or projects during your interview to demonstrate your genuine interest in their work and culture. This shows you’re proactive and invested in their mission.
