At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead innovative tech solutions and tackle complex engineering challenges.
- Company: Join Liberty Blume, a fast-growing tech-enabled services provider.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, 25 days leave, wellbeing perks, and career development opportunities.
- Other info: Hybrid work model with a collaborative team culture.
- Why this job: Make a real impact with AI and cloud-native technologies in a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: Proven engineering experience and strong problem-solving skills required.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 90000 £ per year.
We’re looking for a Principal Engineer to join our team in Bradford or Leeds on a permanent basis, with some travel required. This is a hybrid role, with two days in the office and three days working remotely each week.
As a Principal Engineer you will report directly to the CTO and serve as a senior technical problem‐solver embedded within various business units and functional teams across Liberty Blume. Operating as a high‐autonomy individual contributor, you will diagnose operational challenges, design technology solutions, and lead their delivery by leveraging a central pool of shared engineering resources. This role is focused on identifying and unlocking high‐value business outcomes through technology, with a strong emphasis on AI‐enabled workflows, intelligent automation, and a cloud‐native development approach. You will partner closely with transformation teams within each function, converting operational pain points into practical, scalable solutions built on the organisation’s core platforms and standards. You will be expected to work with minimal supervision while consistently upholding the principles, guardrails, and standards defined by the CTO function.
What will you be doing?
- Analyse business processes and data flows to quickly pinpoint operational bottlenecks.
- Identify high‐impact opportunities for AI, automation, and data‐driven workflow improvement.
- Develop clear solution designs outlining architecture, delivery plans, and expected outcomes.
- Present recommendations to senior leaders, including C‐suite stakeholders.
- Design AI‐enabled workflows such as intelligent document processing, decision support, and LLM‐powered automation.
- Lead cross‐functional engineering teams and set technical direction and standards.
- Ensure solutions are cloud‐native, secure, observable, and aligned with enterprise patterns (GCP).
- Act as the primary technical partner for business teams, translating complex concepts into actionable insights.
- Build trust quickly and collaborate closely with transformation leads.
- Document reusable patterns and share learnings to strengthen the organisation’s technology capability.
We tend to look for people with:
Essential:
- Significant hands‐on engineering experience with a strong record of designing and delivering complex technical solutions.
- Deep technical expertise across cloud‐native architecture (GCP preferred), AI/ML integration, API design, data engineering, or automation.
- Proven ability to operate as a senior individual contributor in fast‐moving, ambiguous, high‐stakes environments.
- Strong architectural thinking, including microservices, event‐driven systems, API‐first design, and modern data patterns.
- Practical, real‐world experience with AI and LLM technologies, such as prompt engineering, RAG architectures, document intelligence, and integrating AI models into workflows.
- Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to explain complex technical concepts to senior, non‐technical audiences.
- Experience working within or alongside back‐office functions such as finance, HR, procurement, compliance, or shared services.
- Comfortable working in a consulting-style delivery model—rapid onboarding, time‐boxed engagements, and outcome‐focused execution.
Desirable:
- Strong hands‐on experience with GCP services including Cloud Run, BigQuery, Vertex AI, DocAI, and Apigee.
- Familiarity with RPA platforms and intelligent automation patterns.
- Understanding of compliance and regulatory frameworks such as ISO 27001, GDPR, SOC 1, or the EU AI Act.
- Background in transformation or management consulting.
- Experience collaborating with offshore or nearshore engineering teams.
What’s in it for you?
- Competitive salary + bonus
- 25 days annual leave with the option to purchase 5 more.
- Enjoy your birthday off, plus receive an additional 3 days of annual leave once you reach 5 years of service.
- Access to wellbeing and mental health benefits such as the Calm app, personal medical, critical illness cover and dental insurance, plus many more.
- Matched pension contribution up to 10%
- Access to our car benefit scheme
- Access to our online learning platform to continue to develop and grow your career with us
- The chance to join an innovative, fast-paced and passionate team
Who we are:
Liberty Blume, a Liberty Global company, is a rapidly growing business services provider, specialising in tech-enabled back-office solutions. Our mission is to deliver efficiency, scale and value to our customers through Business, Procurement and Financial Solutions. If you’re curious, customer centric and enjoy being one step ahead, join us on our scale up journey and unlock your freedom to grow!
Principal/Staff Engineer in Leeds employer: Virgin Media Business Ireland
Liberty Blume is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment in Bradford or Leeds where innovation thrives. With a strong focus on employee well-being, competitive salaries, and generous leave policies, we empower our team members to grow through continuous learning opportunities and a supportive culture that values collaboration and autonomy. Join us to be part of a passionate team dedicated to transforming business solutions with cutting-edge technology.
Contact Details:
Virgin Media Business Ireland Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal/Staff Engineer in Leeds
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, attend meetups, and engage on platforms like LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews by practising common questions and scenarios related to the role. Think about how your experience aligns with the job description and be ready to showcase your problem-solving skills and technical expertise.
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t just wait for job postings—be proactive! Research companies you admire and reach out directly. Express your interest in their work and how you could contribute, even if they’re not actively hiring.
✨Tip Number 4
Finally, 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 our team at Liberty Blume.
We think you need these skills to ace Principal/Staff Engineer in Leeds
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Principal Engineer role. Highlight your experience with cloud-native architecture and AI/ML integration, as these are key areas we're looking for.
Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills:In your application, give examples of how you've tackled complex technical challenges in the past. We want to see your ability to diagnose issues and design effective solutions.
Communicate Clearly:Remember, you'll be explaining complex concepts to non-technical stakeholders. Use clear, straightforward language in your application to demonstrate your communication skills.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands and shows your enthusiasm for joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Virgin Media Business Ireland
✨Know Your Tech Inside Out
As a Principal Engineer, you'll need to demonstrate your deep technical expertise. Brush up on cloud-native architecture, AI/ML integration, and API design. Be ready to discuss specific projects where you've successfully implemented these technologies.
✨Prepare for Stakeholder Engagement
You'll be presenting recommendations to senior leaders, so practice explaining complex concepts in simple terms. Think about how you can translate technical jargon into actionable insights that resonate with non-technical audiences.
✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills
Be prepared to discuss how you've diagnosed operational challenges and designed technology solutions in the past. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers and highlight your impact.
✨Familiarise Yourself with the Company Culture
Research Liberty Blume's mission and values. Understand their focus on tech-enabled back-office solutions and be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their goals. This will show that you're not just a fit for the role, but also for the company.
