At a Glance
- Tasks: Design and build innovative software solutions in a dynamic, agile environment.
- Company: Join the vibrant team at Very, a leading digital retailer.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, generous holiday, and a £1,000 benefits allowance.
- Other info: Be part of an inclusive culture that values diversity and continuous learning.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on millions of customers while advancing your career.
- Qualifications: Extensive Java experience and a passion for mentoring fellow engineers.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 90000 £ per year.
About us.
We’re the team behind digital retailer Very. Our purpose, helping families get more out of life, powers everything we do. And we want our people to get more out of life too! If you’re high-performing, ambitious and make the most of every opportunity, we want to hear from you. In return, you’ll enjoy heaps of flexibility, great perks and benefits, and the freedom to be yourself, keep learning and take your career wherever you want it to go. If you love making a difference, you’ll love making it sparkle for millions of Very customers.
About The Teams
We are currently hiring for multiple roles within our FS, Retail and Logistics and Fulfilment Squads. You will get the opportunity to meet with members of each squad throughout our process and we will decide which area we think your skills would fit best.
About the role.
As a Principal Software Engineer, you will be responsible for designing, building and running front-end and/or back-end software solutions in an agile delivery squad. This role is hands-on, you’ll be actively involved in designing, implementing and running the products and services that your squad are responsible for. You’ll help shape best practices in software engineering, then both work to and coach other Squad members into driving and ensuring high quality solutions.
What you'll be doing:
- Lead the full software development lifecycle, including coding practices, frameworks, technical debt, and operations within your squad.
- Collaborate with Engineers, Product Owners, Business Analysts, and Architects to design and deliver industry-leading systems.
- Influence and implement engineering standards and tools, driving adoption across squads and tribes.
- Design and build software that balances commercial needs with the future tech roadmap.
- Take ownership of code quality, non-functional requirements (performance, security, scalability), and best practices for logging, monitoring, and alerting.
- Drive improvements in continuous integration and deployment processes.
- Identify and mitigate risks, obstacles, and issues impacting technical products.
- Provide run support for technical products within your squad.
- Mentor and coach other engineers, fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
- Champion engineering successes internally and externally to build our brand and attract talent.
- Stay ahead of the curve by understanding the external technology landscape and applying insights to enhance our engineering practices.
About you
Extensive experience in building, integrating, and managing complex software architectures, ideally across multi-cloud environments. Strong hands-on experience with Java, AWS components, and CI/CD tools (e.g., GitLab CI). Proven ability to mentor and guide less experienced engineers. Passionate about code quality, testing, and engineering best practices. Skilled in building applications with security, reliability, scalability, and high availability from the ground up. Excellent collaboration and communication skills. Degree in Computer Science or equivalent experience. Comfortable sharing knowledge and stories internally and externally to strengthen our engineering brand.
Some of our benefits:
Flexible, hybrid working model
Inclusive culture and environment
£1,000 flexible benefits allowance to suit your needs
30 days holiday + bank holidays
Udemy learning access
Up to 25% discount on Very.co.uk
Matched pension up to 6%
More benefits can be found on our career site.
How to apply
Please note that the talent acquisition team are managing this vacancy directly, and if successful in securing this role, you will be required to undertake a credit, CIFAS, Right to Work checks and if a specific requirement of your role a DBS (criminal records) check. Should your application progress we require you to let the team know if there is anything you need to disclose in relation to any of these checks prior to them being undertaken, including any unspent criminal convictions.
What happens next?
Our Talent Acquisition team will be in touch if you’re successful so keep an eye on your emails! We’ll arrange a short call to learn more about you, as well as answer any questions you have. For this role after meeting our Talent Acquisition Team you can expect a 2 stage process.
First Stage - A Take Home Technical Interview.
Second Stage - Behavioural and Technical Interview, this interview focuses on your technical and softer skills, how you like to work as part of a Software Engineering Team (60 minutes onsite).
Diversity, inclusion and equal opportunities
We’re building a culture of everyday inclusion, and welcome applications from anyone who believes they can do the job. We don’t discriminate based on age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation. We want our recruitment process to be accessible to everyone. If you need reasonable adjustments to apply, interview, or perform a role, let us know via talentacquisition@theverygroup.com. We’ll be happy to support you. We’re proud to be a Disability Confident Committed Employer and have nine brilliant colleague networks - including DAWN (Disability Awareness at Very) and Think (Neurodiversity at Very) - that are helping us make Very an even more inclusive place to work.
Principal Software Engineer - Java in Liverpool employer: The Very Group
The Very Group is an exceptional employer that fosters a collaborative and innovative work culture, perfect for aspiring finance professionals. Located in the vibrant East Midlands, we offer comprehensive employee growth opportunities, including training and development programmes, alongside competitive benefits that support work-life balance. Join us to be part of a dynamic team where your contributions directly impact our financial success and operational excellence.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal Software Engineer - Java in Liverpool
✨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 Very Group 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 Very Group.
✨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 Very Group.
✨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 Very Group 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 Software Engineer - Java in Liverpool
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 Very Group.
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 Very Group 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 Very Group
✨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 Very Group 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.
