At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the development of scalable cloud solutions and mentor engineering teams.
- Company: Join Very, a digital retailer focused on helping families thrive.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, generous holiday, and a £1,000 benefits allowance.
- Other info: Inclusive culture with opportunities for continuous learning and career growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on technology and customer experiences for millions.
- Qualifications: Experience in Java and AWS, with strong leadership and mentoring skills.
The predicted salary is between 63000 - 77000 £ per year.
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.
This is one of the most influential engineering roles within Very. You'll be the person teams turn to for technical leadership, guidance and direction. Working closely with Product Managers, Architects, Engineering Managers and fellow Engineers, you'll help shape both what we build and how we build it. You'll have the opportunity to tackle challenges that don't exist in smaller organisations. From highly scalable customer-facing applications to complex integrations and cloud-native platforms, you'll be solving problems that have a tangible impact on the business and the customers we serve.
What makes this role particularly exciting is the balance of ownership and influence. You'll remain close to the code while helping define engineering strategy, champion best practices and drive technical excellence across multiple teams. This is a chance to leave a lasting impact on our technology, our teams and the way we engineer products at Very.
You’ll be helping shape the future of engineering at Very by:
- Designing and building software that delivers exceptional experiences for millions of customers
- Leading technical decision-making within your squad while influencing engineering standards across the wider organisation
- Solving complex architectural challenges and balancing today's business needs with tomorrow's opportunities
- Driving improvements in software quality, reliability, scalability and security
- Championing modern engineering practices that help teams deliver faster and with greater confidence
- Working closely with Product, Architecture and Engineering teams to turn ambitious ideas into brilliant products
- Enhancing our CI/CD capabilities and helping to create a culture of automation and continuous improvement
- Coaching and mentoring engineers, supporting their development and helping them achieve their potential
- Identifying technical risks early and guiding teams towards practical, sustainable solutions
- Sharing your knowledge both internally and externally, helping strengthen our engineering community and reputation
About you
You'll be an experienced software engineer who enjoys solving difficult problems and helping others succeed. You may already be operating as a Principal Engineer, or perhaps you're a Senior Engineer who naturally provides technical leadership and is ready for a bigger challenge. You'll bring deep technical expertise alongside the ability to influence, collaborate and inspire. You're passionate about engineering excellence and care just as much about the people around you as the technology itself.
We're particularly interested in engineers who have:
- Strong hands-on experience building modern software solutions using Java and AWS
- A track record of designing and evolving complex systems at scale
- A passion for clean code, quality engineering and continuous improvement
- Experience mentoring engineers and raising technical standards across teams
- Strong communication skills and the ability to explain complex ideas in a simple way
- A curiosity for emerging technologies and a desire to continually learn and evolve
Most importantly, you'll enjoy being the person who makes teams stronger, products better and technology more impactful.
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
- LinkedIn learning access
- Up to 25% discount on Very.co.uk
- Matched pension up to 6%
- More benefits can be found on our career site
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: Lead Scalable Cloud Solutions in Liverpool employer: The Very Group
The Very Group is an exceptional employer located in the vibrant city of Liverpool, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters creativity and collaboration. With a strong emphasis on employee growth, you will have access to flexible working arrangements, a competitive bonus structure, and a range of additional benefits that enhance your overall well-being. Join us to be part of a forward-thinking team where your contributions to knowledge management will make a meaningful impact.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal Software Engineer: Lead Scalable Cloud Solutions 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: Lead Scalable Cloud Solutions 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.
