At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the design and development of modern Java microservices in a dynamic environment.
- Company: Join a mission-driven scaleup focused on solving real-world safety challenges.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, generous leave, and an employee share ownership scheme.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with excellent growth opportunities in a high-calibre team.
- Why this job: Take ownership of architecture and mentor others while making a real impact.
- Qualifications: 6+ years of Java experience with a strong grasp of microservices and system design.
The predicted salary is between 75000 - 85000 € per year.
At a Glance
Principal-level Java engineering role at a high-growth scaleup with event-driven microservices architecture, leading legacy monolith decomposition. Flexible/hybrid working. Salary: 75-85k. Architecture ownership, mentorship, and real engineering leadership from day one.
About the Company
Our client is a mission-led scaleup solving real-world safety problems at scale. They're building a modern, cloud-native backend to support their growth, and their engineering team is focused on doing things properly - clean systems, strong practices, and pragmatic decision-making. With an ESOP scheme on the table, this is a business that wants its engineers to grow with it.
The Role
This is a Principal-level engineering position at the heart of a significant technical evolution. You'll join a high-calibre backend team delivering high-scale, event-driven microservices, and take ownership of the architecture and engineering standards that will underpin the business as it scales. This goes well beyond hands-on Java development - you'll be mentoring engineers, defining long-term architectural direction, and leading the decomposition of legacy systems into modern, decoupled services. The right person is a pragmatic engineer who loves clean systems, builds for scale, and takes genuine satisfaction from helping others grow.
Key Responsibilities
- Design and build modern Java microservices within an event-driven architecture
- Lead the decomposition of legacy monolith systems into scalable, decoupled services
- Drive best practices across code quality, system design, and engineering delivery
- Define and own architecture standards that scale with the business
- Provide mentorship and technical leadership across the team - from pairing to code review
- Collaborate closely with product managers, designers, and engineering peers
- Help the business scale safely and efficiently through pragmatic, commercially grounded engineering decisions
What You'll Need
Essential:
- 6+ years' commercial Java development experience, including deep knowledge of microservices
- Proven experience migrating monolithic systems into modern service architectures
- Strong grasp of system design, distributed systems, and cloud-native development
- Experience mentoring or leading engineers in a high-growth environment
- A technical mindset grounded in real-world delivery and commercial impact
- Great communication skills and a collaborative, team-first approach
- Right to work in the UK
Nice to Have:
- Experience working in a scaleup or product-led engineering environment
- Familiarity with safety-critical or regulated domains
Why Apply?
- Generous annual leave entitlement
- ESOP scheme - share in the growth you help create
- Private health cover including dental and optical
- Cycle-to-work and tech scheme
- Flexible working environment
- Work with a mission-led scaleup solving real-world safety problems
- Genuine architectural ownership and technical leadership at Principal level
Interested? Feel free to apply via the link below or reach out to Ryan Quinn directly on LinkedIn for a confidential conversation.
Principal Java Developer in Newtownabbey employer: Ocho
Join a mission-led scaleup that prioritises clean engineering practices and offers genuine architectural ownership from day one. With a flexible working environment, generous annual leave, and an ESOP scheme, this is an excellent opportunity for Principal Java Developers looking to make a real impact while mentoring others in a collaborative team culture. Experience growth alongside the company as you tackle significant technical challenges in a supportive atmosphere focused on solving real-world safety problems.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal Java Developer in Newtownabbey
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the tech world, especially those who work in scaleups or have experience with microservices. A friendly chat can lead to insider info about job openings that aren't even advertised yet.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! If you’ve got a GitHub or personal project showcasing your Java and microservices expertise, make sure to share it during interviews. It’s a great way to demonstrate your hands-on experience and passion for clean systems.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for technical interviews by brushing up on system design and architecture principles. Be ready to discuss how you would approach decomposing legacy systems into modern services. We want to see your thought process and problem-solving skills in action!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we’re always here to help you navigate the job search process and find the perfect fit for your skills.
We think you need these skills to ace Principal Java Developer in Newtownabbey
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that match the Principal Java Developer role. Highlight your experience with microservices and event-driven architecture, as well as any leadership roles you've had. We want to see how you can contribute to our mission!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to tell us why you're passionate about this role and how your background aligns with our goals. Don't forget to mention your experience in mentoring and leading teams, as that's a big part of what we’re looking for.
Showcase Your Projects:If you've worked on relevant projects, make sure to include them in your application. Whether it's migrating monolithic systems or building scalable services, we want to see concrete examples of your work and how it relates to the role.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands. Plus, it shows us you're serious about joining our team at StudySmarter!
How to prepare for a job interview at Ocho
✨Know Your Microservices Inside Out
Make sure you can discuss your experience with microservices in detail. Be ready to explain how you've designed and built them, especially in an event-driven architecture. Use specific examples from your past work to demonstrate your expertise.
✨Showcase Your Mentorship Skills
Since this role involves mentoring, prepare to share instances where you've guided junior engineers or led a team. Highlight your approach to fostering growth and collaboration within your team, as this will resonate well with the interviewers.
✨Understand the Business Context
Research the company’s mission and the safety problems they aim to solve. Be prepared to discuss how your technical decisions can align with their goals and contribute to their growth. This shows that you’re not just a techie but also understand the bigger picture.
✨Prepare for Architectural Discussions
Brush up on your knowledge of system design and architectural standards. Be ready to discuss how you would approach the decomposition of legacy systems and what best practices you would implement to ensure scalability and maintainability.
