At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead innovative Edge Delivery & Observability projects and enhance cloud capabilities.
- Company: Join the Financial Times, a global leader in business news with a strong digital presence.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, extensive learning opportunities, generous leave, and a robust pension plan.
- Other info: Hybrid work model with a focus on collaboration and a commitment to diversity.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by improving systems and collaborating with diverse teams.
- Qualifications: Experience in leading technical teams and a passion for reliable cloud infrastructure.
About usThe Financial Times is one of the world’s leading business news organisations, recognised internationally for its authority, integrity and accuracy. The FT has a record paying readership of one million, three-quarters of which are digital subscriptions. which provides a broad range of information, news and services for the global business community.The FT is looking for a Principal Engineer (Individual Contributor) to lead our Edge Delivery & Observability work. The Edge Delivery & Observability (EDO) team looks after the cloud edge capabilities like CDNs, DNS etc, along with the monitoring and observability infrastructure at the FT. Providing self service APIs and tools that enable other delivery teams to utilise the monitoring solutions.Providing support to other delivery teams at the FT and helping them utilise core SaaS infrastructure products effectively.Ensuring our solutions have high engineering standards (robust, fit for purpose, include synthetic testing and/or application monitoring) and meet our quality standards.The API Gateway team is a contract team, based in Bulgaria, who work on our API Gateway stack. Both teams are part of the Infrastructure & Operations Group at the Financial Times. We have a devops culture of empowered teams who take full responsibility for their systems. We are responsive, we support change, and always aim for high performance. Each principal engineer looks after one or two feature teams, leading them to deliver quality tooling and products that reduce developer toil for all engineering teams at the FT.In addition to steering their immediate teams, Principal Engineers play a key role in the management of the department,Work closely with the people manager within the teamsEngage with other disciplines (e.g.delivery, product management) and teams across FT to make sure we are all working together effectivelyModel and help set and reinforce our inclusive, respectful, multidisciplinary and open cultureHelp continuously improve our technology, process and culture, take ownership of problems and see solutions through to completionManage and maintain strong relationships with vendorsGain a deep understanding of the FT as a business and use that knowledge to communicate clearly with your peers, reports, and senior managementActively collaborate across teams both within and outside of I&OContribute to company-wide processes, frameworks, and guidelinesAbout youYou love collaborating with others to solve technical problems.You have experience technically leading teams and projects.You are customer focused, with a strong focus on building and running reliable, stable and secure systems.You are enthusiastic about operability & monitoring of systems and Cloud infrastructure. AWSObservability and monitoring tools: A competitive bonus incentive scheme.Extensive learning and development opportunities including 10% time, tech talks, internal conferences and opportunities to attend external conferences and training.25 days annual leave, increasing to 30 days after 2 years’ service.Generous parental leaveVery competitive pension plan, with the company doubling your contribution.We currently operate a hybrid model which requires staff to work onsite 50% of the time, subject to role requirements & regular review. While flexible working requests will be considered, not all patterns are suitable for all roles. We believe this balanced approach supports flexibility and protects our culture, making collaboration and communication easier, building stronger relationships and team cohesion, and supporting peer learning. Our commitment to diversity and inclusion in the workplaceAt the FT, we believe that a supportive workplace is one where employees feel they can be themselves at work and have the flexibility they need to meet their personal needs. We are determined to create a diverse group at all levels of our Company and we welcome all members of the community we serve to apply for openings with us.#
Principal Engineer | Head Of Engineering in London employer: The Financial Times
The Financial Times is an exceptional employer, offering a vibrant and collaborative work culture that fosters curiosity and ambition. As a Companies Writer for Investors Chronicle, you'll have the opportunity to engage with a diverse community of experts, enjoy generous benefits including flexible working arrangements, and access numerous growth opportunities that empower you to shape your career in impactful journalism.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal Engineer | Head Of Engineering 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 The Financial Times 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 The Financial Times.
✨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 The Financial Times.
✨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 The Financial Times 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!
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 The Financial Times.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at The Financial Times 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 The Financial Times
✨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 The Financial Times 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.
