At a Glance
- Tasks: Design and build innovative software solutions in a dynamic, agile environment.
- Company: Join the team at Very, a leading digital retailer focused on family empowerment.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, £1,000 benefits allowance, 30 days holiday, and Udemy learning access.
- Other info: Inclusive culture with excellent career growth opportunities and support for diverse backgrounds.
- Why this job: Make a real impact while mentoring others and shaping engineering best practices.
- Qualifications: Extensive Java experience and a passion for code quality and collaboration.
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). If you would like to know more about our interviews, you can find out here.
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: Very Group
At Very, we are dedicated to fostering a vibrant and inclusive work culture that empowers our employees to thrive both personally and professionally. As a Principal Software Engineer, you will benefit from a flexible hybrid working model, a generous £1,000 flexible benefits allowance, and access to continuous learning opportunities through Udemy. Join us in making a meaningful impact for millions of customers while enjoying 30 days of holiday and a supportive environment that champions diversity and growth.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal Software Engineer - Java in Liverpool
✨Tip Number 1
Get your networking game on! Connect with current employees at Very through LinkedIn or industry events. A friendly chat can give you insider info and maybe even a referral, which can really boost your chances.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews like a pro! Brush up on your Java skills and be ready to discuss your past projects. We want to see how you tackle challenges and lead teams, so have some examples up your sleeve.
✨Tip Number 3
Show off your passion for continuous learning! Mention any recent courses or certifications you've completed, especially in areas like AWS or CI/CD tools. It shows you're committed to staying ahead in the tech game.
✨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.
We think you need these skills to ace Principal Software Engineer - Java in Liverpool
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Coding:When you're writing your application, let your love for coding shine through! Share specific examples of projects you've worked on, especially those that highlight your Java skills and experience with complex software architectures.
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your application to fit the role. Highlight your experience with AWS components and CI/CD tools, and don’t forget to mention any mentoring you've done – we love seeing candidates who can lift others up!
Be Clear and Concise:Keep your application straightforward and to the point. Use clear language to describe your experiences and achievements, making it easy for us to see how you’d fit into our agile delivery squad.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it’s super easy to do!
How to prepare for a job interview at Very Group
✨Know Your Tech Stack
Make sure you’re well-versed in Java and any relevant AWS components. Brush up on your CI/CD tools like GitLab CI, as these will likely come up during the technical interview. Being able to discuss your hands-on experience confidently will show that you’re ready to hit the ground running.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Principal Software Engineer, you’ll be expected to mentor and guide less experienced engineers. Prepare examples of how you’ve successfully led teams or projects in the past. Highlight your ability to foster a culture of continuous improvement and collaboration within your squad.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
Expect questions that assess your soft skills and how you work within a team. Think about times when you faced challenges in a project and how you overcame them. Be ready to discuss your approach to collaboration with Product Owners and Business Analysts, as this is key to delivering successful systems.
✨Understand the Company Culture
Familiarise yourself with Very’s mission and values. They’re looking for high-performing, ambitious individuals who can make a difference. Be prepared to discuss how your personal values align with their purpose of helping families get more out of life, and how you can contribute to that goal.
