Principal Java Software Engineer

At MHR, our employees are central to our success and play a key role in helping customers achieve sustainable high performance. With a team of over 900 professionals, we work to make things flow smoothly, whether it's for large organisations or individual employees. As businesses face rapid changes in the world of work, our team is here to help them adapt and thrive. By focusing on the core needs of efficiency, productivity, growth, and impact, our employees use their expertise to deliver real solutions through our People and Finance platform.

This system, which covers finance, HR, payroll, and learning, helps businesses run more smoothly and make better decisions in real time. With over 40 years of experience behind us, MHR’s track record as a high-performance organisation is built on clear goals, a shared vision, and strong communication—all of which we pass on to our customers. MHR is more than just a place to work; it’s a platform for empowerment.

Joining us means bringing innovation, technology, and teamwork seamlessly removes obstacles, enhances your skills, and allows you to focus on what’s most important to you- work that matters. With us, you’ll grow, find your flow, and make a lasting difference in your career, your team, and your impact.

Elevate your career by joining MHR, the pioneering SaaS company leading the charge in the UK. We're on the lookout for a visionary Principal Java Engineer to join the PeopleFirst engineering team at MHR.

You’ll be part of our dynamic People First engineering team, where you'll work with the most cutting-edge technologies, collaborate with experts, and contribute to the rapid growth of our People First SaaS system.

As a Principal Java Engineer at MHR, you're not just writing code – you're architecting the future of software solutions. You'll drive excellence in every aspect, from design through to maintaining a high-quality code base. Collaborate with like-minded Java Developers, shaping innovative solutions, and coaching and mentoring the team to tackle complex business challenges head-on.

• Collaborate seamlessly with delivery, platform, and architecture teams to align the functional roadmap with uncompromising quality of service.
• Lead the way by governing and actively contributing to the evolution of our Java codebase through hands-on engagement.
• Transform groundbreaking ideas into reality, producing proof of concepts to de-risk delivery and elucidate intricate concepts.
• Elevate coding standards by automating processes, ensuring extensive test coverage for sustainable delivery.
• Provide essential guidance during planning, design reviews, and incident management to empower Java engineers.
• Cultivate consensus among peers on cutting-edge technologies and best practices.
• Play a vital role in recruitment campaigns, hiring highly skilled engineers, and shaping the interview process to enhance efficiency.
• Develop, coach and mentor juniors on the team, supporting their professional growth.

What you’ll bring to the role and MHR:

• Expertise in Java & Jakarta EE or similar framework e.g. Spring
• Strong experience in SQL databases
• Solid understanding of microservices, REST APIs, and cloud platforms Azure
• Experience with Agile methodologies (SCRUM), test-driven development (TDD), and CI/CD pipelines.
• Knowledge of clean code principles, SOLID, and software design patterns.
• Familiarity with containerisation tools (Docker) is a plus.
• Strong problem-solving skills and a proactive, team-oriented mindset.

Alongside the opportunity to work with an incredible team and express your individuality, we offer a range of personalised benefits including:

• Access to over 60 internal training courses, professional qualifications, and cross-departmental mentoring and coaching programs
• 24/7 access to a GP through SmartHealth for you and your family, confidential mental health support, and paid sick leave
• Ability to purchase or sell additional holiday days beyond 25 days and bank holidays
• Enhanced Family leave
• My MHRewards offering discounts at over 900 retailers
• Monthly employee recognition program and departmental awards
• Referral bonus scheme of up to £2,000
• Employee-led social events such as running clubs, football teams, book clubs, and bake-offs
• On-site subsidised restaurants offering a variety of fresh meals daily
• Opt-in benefits schemes such as private medical insurance and dental coverage

We value the well-being, financial stability, and inclusivity of our employees, and strive to provide a supportive working environment. At MHR, we’re completely committed to creating a supportive and inclusive workplace where all voices are heard, and everyone feels valued and supported. Whatever your background, abilities and experiences, if you’re excited by this role we want to hear from you. If you require assistance for an interview, please let us know and we’ll make sure your needs are met when you arrive.