At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead engineering for HighQ, designing scalable systems and integrating AI technologies.
- Company: Join Thomson Reuters, a leader in legal tech with a focus on innovation.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible work, competitive pay, mental health support, and career growth opportunities.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse culture that values inclusion and social impact.
- Why this job: Make a real-world impact while working with cutting-edge technology in a collaborative environment.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in software design, proficiency in Java and Python, and strong communication skills.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.
Thomson Reuters is hiring a Principal Engineer for HighQ, our enterprise collaboration platform for the legal industry used by leading law firms worldwide to deliver digital services to their clients.
About the role
This is a senior individual contributor role. The Principal Engineer sets technical direction across HighQ's most significant engineering work, owns outcomes from design through production, and is directly accountable for raising the engineering bar across the organisation. The role partners closely with directors, architects, and Staff engineers, and operates as a senior technical voice in decisions that span multiple teams.
- Evaluate and introduce new technologies and engineering practices that improve how the organisation builds and delivers software.
- Architect and design complex systems that are scalable, performant and maintainable.
- Take technical ideas from concept to production, aligned with business priorities and technical strategy.
- Provide technical leadership and mentorship to engineering teams, raising the standard of work across the organisation.
- Contribute as a hands‑on engineer. Write production code and review the work of others to hold the technical bar.
- Work with product, architecture and engineering peers to turn business requirements into sound technical designs.
- Lead the engineering work behind HighQ's integration with modern AI and agent platforms, including the technical surfaces through which HighQ provides context and capability to AI systems.
- Drive reliability, scalability and performance improvements on a platform serving demanding enterprise customers with significant data and workflow commitments.
About you
- Track record of designing, building and delivering complex software systems in production.
- Operate effectively as a senior individual contributor, drive results independently and be accountable for outcomes.
- Proficiency in Java and Python coupled with broad fluency across modern backend ecosystems including containerised services, relational databases and distributed systems patterns.
- Deep command of software engineering fundamentals and how they apply in practice.
- Demonstrated ability to set architectural direction across multiple teams and be accountable for the outcome.
- Experience driving reliability, scaling or performance work in production systems.
- Familiarity with AI/LLM integration patterns, including the engineering practices that make AI features dependable in production (evals, monitoring, context management).
- Generate and advance technical ideas that produce meaningful business outcomes.
- Strong communicator. Articulate complex technical ideas clearly to engineering and non‑engineering audiences alike.
What’s in it for you
- Hybrid Work Model: Flexible hybrid working environment (2–3 days a week in the office depending on the role) while delivering a seamless digital and physical experience.
- Flexibility & Work‑Life Balance: Flex My Way policies support personal and professional responsibilities, including work from anywhere for up to eight weeks per year.
- Career Development and Growth: Continuous learning, skill development and a skills‑first approach to help grow, lead and thrive in an AI‑enabled future.
- Industry‑Competitive Benefits: Flexible vacation, company‑wide mental health days, Headspace app, retirement savings, tuition reimbursement, employee incentive programs and resources for mental, physical and financial wellbeing.
- Culture: Award‑winning reputation for inclusion, belonging, flexibility and work‑life balance.
- Our values: Obsess over Customers, Compete to Win, Challenge Your Thinking, Act Fast / Learn Fast and Stronger Together.
- Social Impact: Two paid volunteer days per year, pro‑bono consulting projects and ESG initiatives.
- Making a Real‑World Impact: Help our customers pursue justice, truth and transparency, support the rule of law, and provide trusted, unbiased information worldwide.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
As a global business, we rely on the unique backgrounds, perspectives and experiences of all employees to deliver on our business goals. We seek talented, qualified employees in all our operations worldwide regardless of race, color, sex/gender, pregnancy, gender identity & expression, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, citizen status, veteran status or any other protected classification under applicable law. Thomson Reuters is a proud Equal Employment Opportunity Employer providing a drug‑free workplace. We also make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and for sincerely held religious beliefs in accordance with applicable law. More information on requesting an accommodation is available through our internal system.
Principal Engineer in London employer: PowerToFly
Thomson Reuters is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment for Principal Engineers within the HighQ team. With a strong focus on career development, flexible working arrangements, and a commitment to employee wellbeing, we foster a culture of inclusion and innovation. Our employees benefit from industry-competitive perks, opportunities for meaningful social impact, and the chance to work on cutting-edge technology that supports justice and transparency worldwide.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal Engineer in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to folks in your industry, especially those at Thomson Reuters. A friendly chat can sometimes lead to opportunities that aren’t even advertised.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! If you’ve got a portfolio or GitHub with projects that highlight your engineering prowess, make sure to share it during interviews. It’s a great way to demonstrate your hands-on experience.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for technical interviews by brushing up on your Java and Python skills. Practice coding challenges and be ready to discuss your architectural decisions and how they align with business goals.
✨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, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining the team.
We think you need these skills to ace Principal Engineer in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience with complex software systems, especially in Java and Python. We want to see how your skills align with the role of Principal Engineer at HighQ.
Showcase Your Technical Leadership:In your application, emphasise any past experiences where you've set architectural direction or mentored teams. We’re looking for someone who can raise the engineering bar, so let us know how you’ve done that before!
Communicate Clearly:Articulate your technical ideas in a way that’s easy to understand. Remember, we value strong communication skills, so make sure your application reflects your ability to explain complex concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences.
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensure you’re considered for this exciting opportunity at HighQ.
How to prepare for a job interview at PowerToFly
✨Know Your Tech Inside Out
As a Principal Engineer, you'll need to demonstrate your deep understanding of Java, Python, and modern backend ecosystems. Brush up on your knowledge of containerised services and distributed systems patterns, and be ready to discuss how you've applied these in past projects.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
This role requires you to set architectural direction and mentor teams. Prepare examples of how you've led engineering initiatives, improved processes, or mentored others. Highlight your ability to communicate complex ideas clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.
✨Be Ready to Discuss AI Integration
With a focus on AI and agent platforms, make sure you can talk about your experience with AI/LLM integration patterns. Be prepared to discuss how you've ensured reliability and performance in production systems, as well as any innovative ideas you've generated in this area.
✨Align with Company Values
Thomson Reuters values customer obsession, competition, and collaboration. Familiarise yourself with these values and think of examples from your career that align with them. Showing that you resonate with their culture can set you apart from other candidates.
