At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the evolution of our core platform with hands-on coding and architectural decisions.
- Company: Join a forward-thinking tech company in London or Manchester.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, flexible working, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Dynamic role with mentorship opportunities and a focus on DevSecOps.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on cloud-native architecture and innovative systems.
- Qualifications: 7+ years in software engineering with strong C#/.NET and Azure experience.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
We're looking for a Principal Engineer to take a hands-on lead role across our core platform, working deep in both application code and cloud architecture. This is a builder role first, not a step away from code into pure management. You'll be writing and reviewing code, owning architectural decisions, and driving how we deploy and run things in production.
You'll be the technical anchor for our platform's evolution: cloud-native architecture, event-driven systems, and API modernisation, with real ownership of how it's built and how it runs.
Tech Stack- C# / .NET (Core / .NET 6+)
- Microsoft Azure: App Services, Azure Functions, Service Bus, Azure SQL, AKS
- Azure DevOps (CI/CD pipelines, policy as code, quality gates, security scanning)
- Infrastructure as Code (ARM / Bicep or equivalent)
- Microservices and event-driven architecture
- Own architectural decisions across microservices and event-driven systems, and stay hands-on writing and reviewing production code
- Own CI/CD pipeline design and standards: automation, quality gates, security scanning
- Drive DevSecOps and SRE practice: SLOs/SLIs, error budgets, incident response, post-mortems
- Work directly with Product to shape delivery roadmap and technical trade-offs
- Mentor engineers through hands-on pairing and code review, not just process
- Ensure the platform meets relevant regulatory and security requirements for financial services
- 7+ years in software engineering, with deep hands-on C#/.NET experience
- Strong, current Azure platform experience: not just deployment, but architecture decisions (App Services, Service Bus, AKS, Functions)
- Experience owning CI/CD and DevSecOps practice end to end, not just using someone else's pipeline
- Comfortable operating at both code level and architecture level; this is not a pure management role
- Financial services or other regulated industry experience is a strong plus, not a hard requirement
- Experience with real-time or high-throughput systems (payments, trading, messaging) a plus
Principal Engineer in London employer: SW5 Consulting
Join a forward-thinking company that values innovation and technical excellence, where as a Principal Engineer, you'll have the opportunity to shape the future of our core platform in vibrant London or Manchester. We foster a collaborative work culture that encourages continuous learning and mentorship, providing you with ample opportunities for professional growth while working on cutting-edge technologies in a supportive environment. Enjoy competitive benefits, a focus on work-life balance, and the chance to make a real impact in the financial services sector.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal 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 SW5 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 SW5 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 SW5 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 SW5 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 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 SW5 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 SW5 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 SW5 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 SW5 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.
