At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the evolution of a high-growth FinTech backend platform with cutting-edge technologies.
- Company: Exciting FinTech company focused on innovation and technical excellence.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, hybrid work model, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Join a dynamic team where your technical skills will shine and grow.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by shaping the future of backend architecture and engineering standards.
- Qualifications: Experience in backend engineering with NestJS, Node.js, and AWS.
The predicted salary is between 67500 - 82500 £ per year.
Principal Backend Engineer | London | Hybrid
We're working with an exciting high-growth Fin Tech looking for a Principal Backend Engineer to lead the technical evolution of their backend platform.
This is a deeply technical, hands-on role for someone who enjoys making difficult architectural decisions, setting a high engineering bar and building systems that can scale with confidence.
- What you'll be working with
- Type Script / Node. js / Nest JS
- AWS & Docker
- My SQL / relational databases
- High-volume data processing and distributed workflows
- Typed APIs and integration contracts
- Event-driven architecture and reliable processing
- Observability, resilience and operational excellence
- What you'll be doing
- Own the technical direction and architecture of the backend platform
- Design scalable systems capable of handling millions of records and events
- Establish clear boundaries between application, data and delivery layers
- Build robust, well-typed APIs and processing workflows
- Improve reliability through idempotency, retries, observability and failure isolation
- Lead technical design reviews and raise engineering standards
- Mentor engineers through code reviews and technical pairing
- Drive improvements across scalability, security and maintainability
- Use AI-assisted and agentic engineering tools to improve development, testing and technical workflows
What we're looking for
- Principal / Staff-level backend engineering experience
- Deep experience with Nest JS, Node. js and Type Script
- Strong AWS and Docker experience
- Experience designing high-scale backend and data systems
- Excellent API and systems architecture skills
- Strong understanding of distributed/event-driven systems
- Experience with relational databases such as My SQL
- Strong understanding of reliability, observability and failure modes
- Ability to influence technical direction without needing formal people management
- Excellent engineering judgement and a pragmatic approach to technical decisions
- An AI-native mindset and interest in using AI to increase engineering leverage
The opportunity
This isn't a traditional management role.
You'll remain highly technical and hands-on, while having significant influence over the architecture, engineering standards and future direction of the platform.
If you're a Principal/Staff Engineer who enjoys solving complex backend problems, scaling systems and shaping technical direction, this could be a great opportunity.
London Hybrid Interested? Drop me a message for more information. £120K - £150K.
Principal Product Engineer in London employer: SR2 | Socially Responsible Recruitment | Certified B CorporationTM
As a leading consultancy, we pride ourselves on fostering a dynamic and inclusive work culture that prioritises employee growth and development. With flexible working arrangements and a commitment to continuous learning through dedicated training budgets and career coaching, our team enjoys the unique advantage of working on impactful projects while maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Join us to take ownership of your work in a supportive environment that values innovation and collaboration.
Contact Details:
SR2 | Socially Responsible Recruitment | Certified B CorporationTM Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal Product Engineer in London
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We think you need these skills to ace Principal Product 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 SR2 | Socially Responsible Recruitment | Certified B CorporationTM.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at SR2 | Socially Responsible Recruitment | Certified B CorporationTM 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 SR2 | Socially Responsible Recruitment | Certified B CorporationTM
✨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 SR2 | Socially Responsible Recruitment | Certified B CorporationTM 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.
