At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the development of a cutting-edge Internal Developer Platform and optimise distributed systems.
- Company: Exciting FinTech carve-out backed by significant investment, building a tech organisation from scratch.
- Benefits: Hybrid work model, competitive salary, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with a focus on mentorship and engineering excellence.
- Why this job: Join a dynamic team and shape the future of payments infrastructure in the UK.
- Qualifications: Experience in scalable systems, cloud infrastructure, and proficiency in modern programming languages.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.
I’m thrilled to announce that Numi has been retained to find a Principal Platform Engineer for one of the most exciting FinTech carve‑outs in the UK right now. Backed by a massive, multi‑hundred‑million‑pound strategic investment from a global private‑equity powerhouse, this newly formed entity processes billions of pounds annually, providing critical payments infrastructure to the UK economy. They are currently building a standalone tech organisation from the ground up, meaning a greenfield opportunity backed by enterprise scale.
Our client’s Platform & Infrastructure team provides the hardened, high‑velocity foundations that allow product teams to ship code confidently. We need a Principal Engineer who is both an architect of engineering principles and a hands‑on build engineer.
What You’ll Do- Owning Developer Experience (DX): Designing, operating, and refining an Internal Developer Platform (IDP) that scales with a rapidly growing set of product teams.
- Distributed Systems: Leading the migration toward and optimisation of highly available, low‑latency systems.
- Frictionless Compliance: Creatively integrating controls and compliance into the SDLC so they empower engineers to ship multiple times a day, rather than acting as blockers.
- Observability: Building the tooling (monitoring, logging, incident response) that allows teams to see around corners.
- Mentorship & Leadership: Leveling up the engineering org through RFCs, workshops, and fostering communities of practice.
- Battle‑Tested Experience: You’ve built complex, scalable systems, seen things break at scale, and know exactly how to prevent them.
- Cloud & Infra Mastery: Deep command of cloud infrastructure, Kubernetes, and the broader CNCF ecosystem.
- Polyglot Mindset: Expertise in at least two modern languages (e.g., Rust, Go, Kotlin) and a strict “right tool for the job” philosophy.
- Product Thinking: You treat the platform as a product, viewing your fellow engineers as your primary customers.
- Exceptional Communication: You can translate complex technical trade‑offs to non‑technical stakeholders effortlessly.
- Strong opinions, weakly held: Objective, pragmatic decision‑making.
- Automate everything: Everything‑as‑code. If you do it three times, it’s a feature for the back‑end.
- Logging simplicity is a feature: Boring, reliable tech > flavour of the week.
- Absolute Ownership: You build it, you run it, you fix it.
Location: London (Hybrid – 3 days a week in a brand‑new office space).
Principal Software Engineer (platform) in London employer: numi
Join a pioneering FinTech carve-out in London, where you will be part of a dynamic team building a cutting-edge tech organisation from the ground up. With a strong emphasis on innovation and collaboration, our client offers a vibrant work culture that encourages mentorship and professional growth, alongside competitive benefits and a hybrid working model in a brand-new office space. This is an exceptional opportunity to shape the future of payments infrastructure while enjoying the support of a substantial investment and a commitment to engineering excellence.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal Software Engineer (platform) in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the FinTech space and let them know you're on the lookout for opportunities. A personal recommendation can go a long way in landing that Principal Software Engineer role.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio or GitHub repository showcasing your projects, especially those involving cloud infrastructure and distributed systems. This will give potential employers a taste of what you can bring to their team.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on your communication skills. Be ready to explain complex technical concepts in simple terms, as you'll need to engage with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to apply through our website! We’ve got some fantastic opportunities waiting for you, and applying directly can help you stand out from the crowd. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive!
We think you need these skills to ace Principal Software Engineer (platform) in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the Principal Software Engineer role. Highlight your experience with cloud infrastructure, distributed systems, and any relevant programming languages. We want to see how your skills align with what we’re looking for!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you’re excited about this opportunity and how your background makes you a perfect fit. Don’t forget to mention your approach to developer experience and compliance!
Showcase Your Projects:If you’ve worked on any complex, scalable systems or have experience with Kubernetes, make sure to showcase these projects. We love seeing real-world examples of your work and how you’ve tackled challenges in the past.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It helps us keep track of your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates from us!
How to prepare for a job interview at numi
✨Know Your Tech Inside Out
Make sure you’re well-versed in the technologies mentioned in the job description, especially cloud infrastructure and Kubernetes. Brush up on your knowledge of distributed systems and be ready to discuss your experience with scalable systems. This will show that you’re not just a theorist but someone who has hands-on experience.
✨Showcase Your Product Thinking
Prepare to talk about how you view the platform as a product. Think of examples where you’ve treated engineering challenges from a product perspective, focusing on how your solutions benefited your fellow engineers. This will demonstrate that you understand the importance of Developer Experience (DX) and can communicate effectively with non-technical stakeholders.
✨Emphasise Your Leadership Skills
Since mentorship and leadership are key aspects of this role, come prepared with examples of how you’ve levelled up teams in the past. Discuss any workshops or RFCs you’ve led, and how you fostered communities of practice. This will highlight your ability to lead and inspire others in a tech environment.
✨Be Ready for Problem-Solving Scenarios
Expect to face technical challenges during the interview. Prepare for scenario-based questions where you’ll need to demonstrate your problem-solving skills, particularly in optimising systems for low latency and high availability. Practising these scenarios will help you articulate your thought process clearly and confidently.
