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
At Very, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that champions flexibility and personal growth. Our inclusive culture fosters collaboration and innovation, allowing you to thrive as a Principal Software Engineer while enjoying a generous benefits package, including a £1,000 flexible benefits allowance and access to continuous learning through Udemy. Join us in making a meaningful impact for millions of customers, all while advancing your career in a supportive environment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal Software Engineer - Java in Liverpool
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the company! Research Very and its values. When you understand what makes them tick, you can tailor your conversations to show how you fit right in. Plus, it’ll help you ask insightful questions during interviews.
✨Tip Number 2
Network like a pro! Connect with current employees on LinkedIn or attend industry meetups. Building relationships can give you insider info about the role and even lead to referrals. We all know it’s not just what you know, but who you know!
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for those technical interviews! Brush up on your Java skills and be ready to showcase your problem-solving abilities. Practising coding challenges can really help you shine and demonstrate your expertise.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining the Very team. Let’s get you that Principal Software Engineer role!
We think you need these skills to ace Principal Software Engineer - Java in Liverpool
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Principal Software Engineer role. Highlight your experience with Java, AWS, and CI/CD tools, as well as any leadership roles you've had in software development. We want to see how your skills align with what we’re looking for!
Show Off Your Projects:Don’t forget to include examples of your past work! Whether it’s a GitHub repo or a project you led, showcasing your hands-on experience will help us understand your capabilities. We love seeing how you’ve tackled challenges and delivered high-quality solutions.
Be Yourself:We value authenticity, so let your personality shine through in your application. Share your passion for coding and engineering best practices, and don’t hesitate to mention what excites you about working at Very. We want to know what makes you tick!
Apply Through Our Website:For the best chance of success, make sure to apply directly through our careers page. This way, your application goes straight to our Talent Acquisition team, who are eager to find the right fit for our squads. Let’s get your journey started!
How to prepare for a job interview at The Very Group
✨Know Your Java Inside Out
As a Principal Software Engineer, you'll need to showcase your extensive experience with Java. Brush up on the latest features and best practices, and be ready to discuss how you've applied them in real-world scenarios. Prepare to demonstrate your coding skills during the technical interview.
✨Familiarise Yourself with Agile Methodologies
Since you'll be working in an agile delivery squad, it's crucial to understand agile principles and practices. Be prepared to discuss your experience in agile environments and how you’ve contributed to successful project deliveries. Think of examples where you’ve led or participated in sprints.
✨Showcase Your Mentoring Skills
This role involves mentoring less experienced engineers, so be ready to share your experiences in coaching and guiding others. Think of specific instances where you’ve helped team members improve their skills or overcome challenges, and how that fostered a culture of continuous improvement.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
The second stage of the interview will focus on your softer skills and how you work within a team. Reflect on past experiences that highlight your collaboration, communication, and problem-solving abilities. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses effectively.
