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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and innovate in AI-augmented software development, solving complex technical challenges.
- Company: Vitality, a forward-thinking company focused on health and technology.
- Benefits: Flexible working, competitive salary, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Why this job: Join a dynamic team and shape the future of software engineering with AI.
- Qualifications: 6+ years in software engineering, expertise in multiple programming languages, and AI tools.
- Other info: Hybrid work model with a focus on modern engineering practices.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.
About The Role
Team – UK Health, Adviser & Employer Engineering
Working Pattern - Hybrid – 2 days per week in the Vitality London, Bournemouth or Stockport Office - Full time hours. We are happy to discuss flexible working!
Top 3 skills needed for this role:
- AI‑Augmented Engineering
- Leadership
- Enterprise‑Scale Software Architecture
What this role is all about:
Our Software Engineers play a critical role in Vitality’s successful business model by building and maintaining software solutions, in line with quality and time parameters, to enable operation as a fully integrated composite business, offering brilliant products with seamless, intuitive customer journeys. The Principal Software Engineer leads and plans development across large or multiple teams, providing deep expertise in one technical specialism and strong capability across at least two others. In addition, this role is accountable for leading and embedding an AI-augmented software development lifecycle, where AI tools are used to amplify engineering effectiveness while maintaining clear human accountability for design, quality, security, and delivery outcomes. The role influences both internal teams and external third parties, ensuring that modern engineering practices, including AI-augmented development, are adopted responsibly, consistently, and in line with Vitality standards, governance, and risk appetite.
Key Actions:
- Implement the software development lifecycle (AI-augmented)
- Build, maintain, test, deliver, release and document user-friendly, customer-centric software solutions
- Lead on and solve large, complex technical problems, ensuring robust root-cause analysis and clear recommendations
- Take ownership of releases and ensure their success
- Take accountability for the successful technical operation of owned systems
- Embed AI-augmented development practices including AI-assisted coding, testing, refactoring, analysis and documentation
- Ensure AI usage enhances sound engineering judgement and design discipline
- Define and coach architectural and design patterns supporting safe and effective AI usage
- Deliver to standards
- Apply Vitality technical, security and process standards to manage risk and protect data
- Act as a subject-matter expert on engineering standards including AI-augmented development
- Help define, evolve and assure AI-in-Engineering standards and guardrails, including security, IP, data handling and auditability
- Champion modern engineering practices and lead by example
- Contribute to the creation, review and sign-off of AI-specific standards and control
What do you need to thrive?
- Recognised subject-matter expertise in at least two engineering specialisms.
- Minimum 6 years proven experience in Software Engineering.
- Advanced knowledge of multiple programming languages and platforms.
- Demonstrable hands-on experience with AI coding tools such as Claude Code and GitHub Copilot.
- Proven ability to lead an AI-augmented transformation within an engineering team, including guardrails and coaching.
- Sitecore CMS experience, minimum 2 years.
- .NET Core experience, minimum 2 years.
- Java Spring or Spring Boot experience, minimum 2 years.
- Experience with modern web application frameworks and integration technologies.
- Full stack development experience including web, microservices and databases.
Locations
Principal Software Engineer in City of London, London employer: Vitality
Contact Detail:
Vitality Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal Software Engineer in City of London, London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, attend meetups, and engage with online communities. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can refer you directly.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio showcasing your projects, especially those involving AI-augmented development. This will give potential employers a taste of what you can do and how you approach complex problems.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on your technical knowledge and soft skills. Practice common interview questions and scenarios related to software engineering and AI tools. Confidence is key!
✨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, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search.
We think you need these skills to ace Principal Software Engineer in City of London, London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that match the job description. Highlight your expertise in AI-augmented engineering and any relevant leadership roles you've held. We want to see how you can bring your unique flair to our team!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to tell us why you're passionate about this role and how your background aligns with our needs. Don't forget to mention your experience with AI tools and enterprise-scale software architecture – we love a good story!
Showcase Your Projects: If you've worked on any projects that demonstrate your skills in software engineering or AI-augmented development, make sure to include them. We’re keen to see real examples of your work and how you've tackled complex technical challenges.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website for a smoother application process. It helps us keep track of your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates. Plus, it’s super easy!
How to prepare for a job interview at Vitality
✨Know Your Tech Inside Out
Make sure you’re well-versed in the programming languages and frameworks mentioned in the job description, like .NET Core and Java Spring. Brush up on your hands-on experience with AI coding tools too, as they’ll likely ask you about your familiarity with tools like Claude Code and GitHub Copilot.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Principal Software Engineer, you'll need to demonstrate your ability to lead teams and projects. Prepare examples of how you've successfully led engineering transformations or coached teams in adopting new technologies, especially AI-augmented practices.
✨Understand the Business Impact
Vitality is all about delivering customer-centric solutions. Be ready to discuss how your technical decisions have positively impacted user experiences or business outcomes in previous roles. This shows you understand the bigger picture beyond just coding.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that assess your problem-solving skills and technical judgement. Think of complex technical problems you've solved in the past and be prepared to walk through your thought process, including root-cause analysis and recommendations.