At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead hands-on Java engineering to enhance software security and reliability.
- Company: Join a diverse, woman-owned global tech consulting firm.
- Benefits: Enjoy a hybrid work model, competitive salary, and a supportive culture.
- Other info: Collaborative atmosphere with excellent career growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by solving complex technical challenges in a fast-paced environment.
- Qualifications: 10+ years of Java experience and strong problem-solving skills required.
The predicted salary is between 63000 - 77000 £ per year.
Principal Java Engineer – Deployment Security & Software Reliability
We are seeking an experienced, hands-on Principal Java Engineer to join a newly established Deployment Security and Software Reliability Engineering team supporting one of the world’s largest financial institutions.
This is not a traditional development, support, or operations role.
You will work directly with development teams to make software releases faster, safer, and more secure, identifying what is preventing teams from releasing effectively and helping solve those problems hands-on.
The role is highly hands-on, with a focus on Java engineering, CI/CD, dependency modernization, automated testing, software supply-chain security, containerization, release automation, and vulnerability remediation.
As a Principal Engineer, you will remain deeply hands-on while providing technical direction and influencing engineering practices across multiple teams.
This is a technical leadership position, not a people-management role.
Key Responsibilities
- Design, develop, troubleshoot, and improve large-scale enterprise Java applications and services.
- Work directly with development teams to identify and resolve technical barriers to safe and rapid software delivery.
- Lead application modernization through dependency upgrades and automated code transformation, using tools such as Renovate and Open Rewrite.
- Define and improve CI/CD build and release practices, including release branches, cascading merges, semantic or calendar versioning, and deployment automation.
- Improve automated, local, integration, and smoke testing to increase release confidence.
- Provide technical guidance across build and package ecosystems including Gradle, Maven, npm, and related tooling.
- Define and improve static code analysis, code quality gates, and application security scanning practices.
- Guide integrations with tools such as Snyk, Black Duck, and Checkmarx.
- Drive adoption of SARIF, SBOM tooling, and Cyclone DX to improve software supply-chain visibility and security.
- Support and improve containerized and Kubernetes-based application deployments.
- Troubleshoot complex engineering issues across application code, dependencies, builds, configuration, testing, security tooling, and deployment processes.
- Develop reusable engineering patterns, automation, and practices that can be adopted across multiple teams.
- Provide hands-on technical leadership, architectural guidance, code reviews, and mentorship.
- Influence engineering standards and approaches that make software changes safer, more secure, and easier to deliver.
- Required Skills & Experience
- 10+ years of professional software engineering experience, with deep hands-on expertise in Java.
- Strong experience designing, developing, troubleshooting, and modernizing large-scale enterprise applications.
- Strong understanding of modern Java / Spring Boot development and architecture.
- Deep hands-on experience with CI/CD, build pipelines, and software release processes.
- Strong experience with Gradle and/or Maven, dependency management, and application upgrades.
- Experience with automated testing and improving release confidence across complex systems.
- Strong understanding of application security, vulnerability remediation, and software supply-chain security.
- Experience with static analysis, code quality gates, SAST/SCA tooling, or platforms such as Snyk, Black Duck, or Checkmarx.
- Familiarity with SBOM concepts, Cyclone DX, and SARIF.
- Experience with containerized applications and Kubernetes environments.
- Ability to work across application code, configuration, builds, testing, security, and deployment processes.
- Proven ability to operate at a Staff/Principal engineering level, influencing technical decisions, tooling, and engineering practices across multiple teams.
- Strong communication skills and the ability to work directly with engineering teams to understand problems and drive solutions through implementation.
- Nice to Have
- Deep experience with Renovate and Open Rewrite, including automated dependency upgrades and large-scale application modernization.
- Experience with semantic versioning, calendar versioning, release branches, and cascading merge strategies.
- Experience across additional ecosystems such as Node. js/npm, Python/Py PI, . NET/Nu Get, or Go.
- Experience with Shell, Bash, Power Shell, or Pkl.
- Experience working in Software Reliability Engineering, Dev Sec Ops, Platform Engineering, or deployment engineering environments.
- Experience developing engineering tooling, standards, or processes adopted across multiple development teams.
- Experience helping teams modernize existing applications and software delivery practices.
- Experience working within large, complex engineering organizations.
- Financial services or banking experience is beneficial but not required.
The Opportunity
We are looking for more than strong Java developers.
We need senior technical problem solvers and engineering advocates who can walk into a development team, understand what is preventing them from releasing software safely and quickly, and then help solve both the immediate problem and the underlying systemic issue.
For engineers who enjoy solving difficult technical problems, influencing engineering practices across teams, and building reusable capabilities from the ground up, this is a unique opportunity.
- Location & Work Environment
- Hybrid work model
- Collaborative, fast-paced, engineering-driven environment
- Strong emphasis on hands-on engineering, technical autonomy, problem solving, and cross-team impact
Join Our Global Team
We invite you to apply for the position at RE Partners.
Join us in shaping the future of business technology consulting and transforming the way organizations thrive in a digital world.
As a diverse, woman-owned global business, we pride ourselves on keeping talent happy – our 7% attrition rate speaks volumes.
Bring your talented friends along and earn a referral bonus
Equal Opportunity Employer
We are an equal opportunity employer and welcome applications from all qualified individuals regardless of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, or veteran status.
Principal Java Engineer in London employer: RE Partners Consulting
At RE Partners, we are committed to fostering a dynamic and inclusive work environment where innovation thrives. As a Frontend Engineer (Angular), you will have the opportunity to collaborate with talented professionals on cutting-edge projects while enjoying a supportive culture that prioritises employee growth and well-being. With our impressive 7% attrition rate, we take pride in our ability to keep talent happy and engaged, making us an excellent employer for those seeking meaningful and rewarding careers in technology consulting.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal Java Engineer 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 RE Partners Consulting 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 RE Partners Consulting.
✨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 RE Partners Consulting.
✨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 RE Partners Consulting 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 Java Engineer 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 RE Partners Consulting.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at RE Partners Consulting 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 RE Partners Consulting
✨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 RE Partners Consulting 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.
