At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and develop innovative cloud-native software solutions using Java.
- Company: Join Northern Trust, a global leader in wealth management and financial services.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, comprehensive benefits, and a flexible work culture.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with opportunities for growth and community involvement.
- Why this job: Make an impact with cutting-edge technology while mentoring the next generation of engineers.
- Qualifications: 10+ years in software engineering with expertise in Java and Azure.
The predicted salary is between 137400 - 233600 £ per year.
About Northern Trust: As a global leader in innovative wealth management, asset servicing, asset management and banking services, Northern Trust (Nasdaq: NTRS) is proud to guide the world’s most successful individuals, families, corporations and institutions. Since 1889, we have aligned our efforts with our three guiding Principles That Endure: Service, Expertise, and Integrity.
Role Summary: We are seeking a highly experienced Principal Software Engineer to provide technical leadership and hands‑on execution across complex, cloud‑native software initiatives. This role combines deep engineering expertise with mentorship, architecture influence, and strong collaboration across global teams.
Key Responsibilities:
- Technical Leadership & Hands‑On Development: Act as a hands‑on technical leader, designing, developing, and reviewing high‑quality, production‑ready software. Lead development using Java as the primary language, following clean code, TDD, and spec‑driven development principles. Drive adoption of AI‑assisted development capabilities to improve developer productivity and code quality. Influence and review application and solution architecture for scalability, security, performance, and maintainability. Partner with architects and senior engineers to define and enforce engineering standards and best practices.
- Cloud & Platform Engineering: Design, build, and deploy applications on Microsoft Azure, leveraging cloud‑native services. Lead cloud architecture decisions with a strong understanding of Azure compute, networking, storage, and security. Support and continuously improve DevOps pipelines, CI/CD practices, and infrastructure automation.
- Quality, DevOps & Automation Champion: Champion Test‑Driven Development (TDD) and automated testing at all levels. Enable and evolve test automation frameworks and practices across teams. Collaborate with DevOps and SRE partners to improve release reliability and deployment frequency.
- Engineering Excellence & Team Enablement: Mentor and groom engineers to elevate technical skills, design thinking, and ownership mindset. Provide guidance through code reviews, design discussions, and technical deep dives.
- Collaboration & Communication: Work closely with cross‑functional stakeholders including Product, Architecture, QA, and Operations. Communicate complex technical concepts clearly to both technical and non‑technical audiences.
Required Qualifications:
- Technical Skills: 10+ years of professional software engineering experience, with a strong hands‑on track record. Deep expertise in Java and modern application frameworks. Strong experience with Azure cloud services and cloud‑native application development.
- Professional Skills: Proven ability to lead by influence rather than authority. Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
What Success Looks Like in This Role: Engineering teams consistently deliver high‑quality, secure, and scalable products. Robust DevOps and automation practices reduce friction and improve time‑to‑market.
Salary Range: $137,400 - 233,600 USD. Salary range is a good faith estimate of base pay. Northern Trust provides a comprehensive benefits package including retirement benefits, health and welfare benefits, paid time off, parental and caregiver leave, life & accident insurance, and other voluntary and well-being benefits.
Work Authorization: Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. without the need for employment-based visa sponsorship now or in the future.
Working with Us: As a Northern Trust partner, you will be part of a flexible and collaborative work culture, which has a strong history of financial strength and stability.
Reasonable Accommodation: Northern Trust is committed to working with and providing adjustments to individuals with health conditions and disabilities.
Summary: Location: Chicago, IL; London, United Kingdom. Type: Full time.
Principal, SW Eng in London employer: Northern Trust
Northern Trust is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment in Greater London that fosters professional growth and development. With a strong emphasis on employee well-being, we provide comprehensive benefits and a collaborative culture that values innovation and excellence in service delivery. Join us to be part of a team that prioritises meaningful client relationships and supports your career aspirations in the financial services sector.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal, SW Eng in London
✨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 Northern Trust 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 Northern Trust.
✨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 Northern Trust.
✨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 Northern Trust 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, SW Eng in London
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 Northern Trust.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Northern Trust 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 Northern Trust
✨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 Northern Trust 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.
