Principal Engineer in Reading

Principal Engineer in Reading

Reading Full-Time 36000 - 60000 ÂŁ / year (est.) No home office possible
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead technical vision and drive engineering excellence in a dynamic environment.
  • Company: Join Primark, a people-first company with a rich history and global presence.
  • Benefits: Enjoy 27 days leave, healthcare, pension, fitness perks, and a subsidised cafeteria.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact while developing your skills in a supportive team.
  • Qualifications: Strong engineering principles, Agile experience, and excellent communication skills required.
  • Other info: Inclusive workplace with opportunities for personal and professional growth.

The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 ÂŁ per year.

Because we strive to put people first. Culture, our way.

Technology at Primark

What’s a career at Primark all about? The positive impact you’re making, the experiences you’re having and the people you’re with. You’re our inspiration. Embrace what sets you apart, own your career and develop in ways you never expected. Leave your mark. And do it your way.

What You’ll Get

People are at the heart of what we do here, so it’s essential we provide you with the right environment to perform at your very best. Let’s talk lifestyle: Healthcare, pension, and potential bonus. 27 days of leave, plus bank holidays and if you want, you can buy 5 more. Because Primark is all about tailoring to you, we offer Tax Saver Tickets, fitness centre, and a subsidised cafeteria.

What You’ll Do as a Principal Engineer

  • Define and drive the technical vision, ensuring engineering best practices, roadmap alignment, automation, and pragmatic decision‑making that accelerates delivery and improves software quality.
  • Establish engineering excellence frameworks across observability, monitoring, resilience, reliability, and agile delivery, including Kanban workflows, WIP management, and transparency across teams.
  • Strengthen delivery performance by managing technical debt, improving engineering metrics, and overseeing partner and vendor contributions to ensure seamless technology operations.
  • Foster a high‑performing engineering culture through coaching, developing talent, enabling cross‑functional collaboration, and building communities of practice.
  • Champion governance, security, and compliance, promoting accountability in Security, GDPR, IT controls, business continuity, and disaster recovery practices.
  • Build strong internal and external stakeholder relationships, providing leadership and staying ahead of industry trends to ensure best‑in‑class technology capabilities.

What You’ll Bring

Here at Primark, we want everyone to feel valued so please bring your authentic self to work, of course with some other key experience and abilities for this role in particular:

  • Strong understanding of engineering principles, system design concepts, and modern software development practices.
  • Experience using the Atlassian Suite or equivalent engineering and collaboration tooling.
  • Working knowledge of scalable Agile SDLCs, distributed systems, and contemporary delivery methodologies. Familiarity with high‑availability architectures, disaster recovery processes, and business continuity planning.
  • Proven track record leading teams through enterprise‑grade software delivery and operational excellence.
  • Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder‑management skills with the ability to influence at all levels.

Does this sound like you? Great, because we can’t wait to see what you’ll bring. You’ll be supported within a team of equally capable people, celebrating who you are and aiding you reach your potential. At Primark, we’re excited about our future - and we’re excited to develop yours.

About Primark

At Primark, people matter. They’re the beating heart of our business and the reason we’ve grown from our first store in Dublin in 1969 to a £9bn+ turnover business and over 80,000 colleagues and over 440 stores in 17 countries today. Our values run through everything we do. In essence, we’re Caring and always strive to put people first. We’re also Dynamic, bravely pushing the boundaries to stay ahead. And finally, we succeed Together.

If you need any reasonable adjustments or have an accessibility request, during your recruitment journey, such as extended time or breaks between online assessments, a sign language interpreter, mobility access, or assistive technology please contact your talent acquisition specialist.

All offers of employment are subject to background checks, including right to work, reference education and for some roles criminal, and financial checks. If you have any concerns, please reach out to our talent acquisition team to discuss.

Primark promotes equal employment opportunity, we strive to create an inclusive workplace where people can be themselves, access opportunities and thrive together.

If you require extra support at any stage of the selection process, please get in touch with our team at removingbarriers@primark.co.uk.

Principal Engineer in Reading employer: Primark Stores Limited

At Primark, we prioritise our people, fostering a vibrant work culture that encourages personal growth and innovation. As a Principal Engineer, you'll enjoy a supportive environment with comprehensive benefits including healthcare, generous leave, and opportunities for professional development, all while being part of a dynamic team that values your unique contributions. Join us in shaping the future of technology at Primark, where your career can flourish in an inclusive and collaborative setting.
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Contact Detail:

Primark Stores Limited Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Principal Engineer in Reading

✨Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, attend meetups, and engage on platforms like LinkedIn. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know that can land you that Principal Engineer role.

✨Tip Number 2

Prepare for those interviews by practising common questions and scenarios related to engineering principles and team leadership. We recommend doing mock interviews with friends or using online resources to boost your confidence and refine your answers.

✨Tip Number 3

Showcase your projects! Whether it’s through a portfolio or a GitHub account, let us see your work. Highlighting your experience with scalable Agile SDLCs and modern software practices can really set you apart from the competition.

✨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 love seeing candidates who are genuinely interested in joining our Primark family.

We think you need these skills to ace Principal Engineer in Reading

Technical Vision Development
Engineering Best Practices
Automation
Agile Delivery
Kanban Workflows
WIP Management
Stakeholder Management
Engineering Principles
System Design Concepts
Software Development Practices
Atlassian Suite Proficiency
Scalable Agile SDLCs
High-Availability Architectures
Disaster Recovery Processes
Communication Skills

Some tips for your application 🫡

Be Authentic: When you're writing your application, let your true self shine through. We want to see the real you, so don’t hold back on sharing your unique experiences and perspectives.

Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your application to highlight how your skills and experiences align with the role of Principal Engineer. Show us how you can contribute to our engineering excellence and culture.

Showcase Your Achievements: Don’t just list your responsibilities; share your successes! Use specific examples to demonstrate how you've led teams or improved processes in previous roles. We love seeing tangible results.

Apply Through Our Website: For the best chance of success, make sure to apply directly through our website. It’s the easiest way for us to keep track of your application and get back to you quickly!

How to prepare for a job interview at Primark Stores Limited

✨Know Your Engineering Principles

Make sure you brush up on your understanding of engineering principles and system design concepts. Be ready to discuss how you've applied these in past projects, especially in relation to modern software development practices.

✨Familiarise Yourself with Agile Methodologies

Since the role involves scalable Agile SDLCs, it’s crucial to demonstrate your experience with Agile methodologies. Prepare examples of how you've implemented Kanban workflows or managed WIP in previous roles to showcase your hands-on experience.

✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills

As a Principal Engineer, you'll need to lead teams effectively. Think of specific instances where you've fostered a high-performing culture or coached team members. Highlight your ability to influence stakeholders at all levels during the interview.

✨Build Relationships and Communicate Well

Strong communication and stakeholder management skills are key for this role. Practice articulating your thoughts clearly and confidently. Be prepared to discuss how you've built strong relationships with both internal and external stakeholders in your previous positions.

Principal Engineer in Reading
Primark Stores Limited
Location: Reading
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