At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the development of high-performance software solutions in a dynamic environment.
- Company: Join a well-loved household name known for award-winning delivery.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, excellent benefits, and remote-first work culture.
- Other info: Remote role with flexible working and opportunities for career growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by driving innovative technology changes at scale.
- Qualifications: 10+ years in software engineering with expertise in C# or Java.
The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 £ per year.
We have been exclusively retained by our client, a well-loved household name, known for their award-winning delivery in the B2C2B space, to help them with their search for a Principal Engineer. We are supporting the appointment of this key technical authority for a mission-critical area of their business that is transactionally high throughput and performance-wise low latency.
This is mission-critical software for this business. At the crux of the successful Principal Software Engineer is a tech-savvy, pragmatic, authentic and compassionate technology leader who sees programming languages as tools to address challenges, rather than being hung up on the tooling itself. In order to build empathy with your team, there is an expectation that you will have risen into your current position from a foundation of hands-on OO programming.
We are hoping to find an innovative Principal for this client, a change maker who can spot opportunities to improve the status quo and support this business' continued successes at scale. The company continues on a rapid trajectory of fast growth.
Essential skills for the role:
- Minimum 10 years' experience working in software engineering with either C# or Java.
- Deep expertise with cloud technology - AWS, GCP, Azure or equivalents.
- Demonstrable competency in the build and delivery of high throughput, low latency solutions within a commercial setting; we are looking for an ability to deliver systems that scale! This client is anticipating 3x growth, the platform already supports billions of transactions daily.
- Strong full stack view of the world.
- Thorough understanding of microservices architecture / SOA.
- Experience working with Kafka / other streaming platforms also of interest.
- Strong grasp of the developers' perspective on SDLC from TDD, through to CI/CD pipeline implementation and monitoring.
- Experience overseeing the learning and development needs of your team ensuring their skills are current and fit for the technical challenges at hand.
- This is an Individual Contributor role and there is an expectation that you will present as an empathetic, compassionate leader with demonstrated experience of technical mentorship of high performing teams sharing the technology 'art of the possible'.
- Comfortable influencing stakeholders at all levels to effect positive technology change and gain buy-in in terms of the direction you set.
- Experienced hosting and moderating technical discussions with development teams.
- Experience working with Agile / SOLID / DRY / Kanban etc.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Skilled at motivating and inspiring a diverse remote-first technology team.
If you are into delivering resilient, highly throughput software, that integrates seamlessly into a number of endpoints with an underlying design built to scale, we would love to hear from you.
Interested candidates are encouraged to apply. Promising applicants can be assured of a response within 24 hours, to include full details of the role, progression and the excellent benefits package on offer. The client is open to applicants living anywhere in the UK, but not living overseas. This is a remote-first role that will require in-office attendance 2 days a month.
The Difference Engine is a recruitment agency working exclusively in support of our client.
Principal in London employer: The Difference Engine
Contact Detail:
The Difference Engine Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the tech industry, especially those who might know someone at The Difference Engine. A friendly chat can open doors that a CV just can't.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! If you’ve got a portfolio or GitHub with projects that highlight your experience in C# or Java, make sure to share it. It’s a great way to demonstrate your hands-on expertise and innovative thinking.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for the interview by brushing up on your knowledge of microservices and cloud technologies. Be ready to discuss how you've tackled high throughput and low latency challenges in past roles—this will show you're the change maker they need!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we promise to get back to you within 24 hours—so you won’t be left hanging!
We think you need these skills to ace Principal in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Principal Engineer role. Highlight your experience with C# or Java, cloud technologies, and any high throughput, low latency solutions you've delivered. We want to see how your skills align with what we're looking for!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to showcase your passion for technology and leadership. Share specific examples of how you've mentored teams and driven positive change in previous roles. We love a good story!
Showcase Your Technical Skills: Don’t just list your skills; demonstrate them! If you’ve worked with microservices, Kafka, or have experience in Agile methodologies, make sure to include relevant projects or achievements. We’re keen to see your hands-on experience!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother process. It helps us keep track of your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates. Plus, we promise to get back to you within 24 hours!
How to prepare for a job interview at The Difference Engine
✨Know Your Tech Inside Out
Make sure you’re well-versed in the technologies mentioned in the job description, especially C# or Java, and cloud platforms like AWS, GCP, or Azure. Brush up on your knowledge of microservices architecture and high throughput, low latency solutions, as these will likely come up during technical discussions.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
As a Principal Engineer, you'll need to demonstrate your empathetic and compassionate leadership style. Prepare examples of how you've mentored teams and influenced stakeholders positively. Think about specific instances where you’ve motivated a diverse team or led technical discussions.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect scenario-based questions that assess your problem-solving skills and ability to deliver scalable systems. Practice articulating your thought process when faced with challenges, particularly in high-pressure situations. This will show your pragmatic approach to technology.
✨Communicate Clearly and Confidently
Excellent communication is key, especially in a remote-first environment. Practice explaining complex technical concepts in simple terms. Be ready to discuss your experience with Agile methodologies and how you ensure your team's skills are current and relevant to the challenges at hand.