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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the evolution of backend systems and mentor engineers in a dynamic environment.
- Company: Join a fast-growing tech scale-up creating innovative real-time software products.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, bonus, share scheme, and a collaborative culture.
- Why this job: Shape foundational systems while working in a forward-thinking, impactful engineering team.
- Qualifications: 6–10+ years in Java development with expertise in microservices and distributed systems.
- Other info: This is a hybrid role based in Belfast, perfect for tech leaders ready to make a difference.
The predicted salary is between 68000 - 76000 £ per year.
We’re working with a fast-growing technology scale-up that’s building next-generation, real-time software products used across complex, high-impact environments. They’re now hiring a Principal Java Engineer to take ownership of their backend evolution as they transition from a legacy monolith to a scalable, event-driven microservices architecture.
What You’ll Do
- Architect and build high-performance Java-based microservices
- Lead the technical transformation of core systems from monolith to distributed architecture
- Work cross-functionally with product, design, and platform teams to translate business goals into scalable backend solutions
- Mentor engineers, shape coding standards, and champion technical excellence across the team
- Balance short-term delivery with long-term platform stability and innovation
What You Bring
- 6–10+ years of hands-on Java development experience
- Deep expertise in building and deploying microservices within event-driven systems
- Strong understanding of distributed systems, system design, and cloud-first infrastructure
- Experience modernizing legacy platforms
- Proven ability to lead technically and influence architecture, tooling, and process decisions
- A pragmatic mindset — someone who balances innovation with maintainability
What’s On Offer
- Base salary up to £95k plus bonus and share scheme
- An opportunity to lead and shape foundational systems in a well-funded, product-focused scale-up
- A collaborative, forward-thinking engineering culture that values autonomy and impact
Ready to architect real change in a high-growth environment? Apply now or reach out for a confidential conversation - contact Carol on carol@vivatechtalent.com
Principal Java Engineer employer: ViVA Tech Talent
Contact Detail:
ViVA Tech Talent Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal Java Engineer
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the company's tech stack and recent projects. Understanding their current systems and challenges will help you demonstrate how your experience aligns with their needs during discussions.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare to discuss your leadership style and experiences in mentoring engineers. This role requires not just technical skills but also the ability to inspire and guide a team, so be ready to share specific examples.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your knowledge of microservices and event-driven architecture by discussing relevant projects you've worked on. Be prepared to explain the decisions you made and the impact they had on system performance.
✨Tip Number 4
Engage with the company’s culture and values. Research their approach to innovation and collaboration, and think about how you can contribute to that environment, as cultural fit is often as important as technical skills.
We think you need these skills to ace Principal Java Engineer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights your 6–10+ years of Java development experience and your expertise in building microservices. Use specific examples that demonstrate your ability to lead technical transformations and modernise legacy platforms.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for transitioning from monolithic to microservices architecture. Mention how your pragmatic mindset aligns with the company's goals and how you can contribute to their collaborative engineering culture.
Showcase Leadership Skills: Emphasise your experience in mentoring engineers and shaping coding standards. Provide examples of how you've influenced architecture and tooling decisions in previous roles, as this is crucial for the Principal Engineer position.
Highlight Relevant Projects: Include details about specific projects where you've successfully implemented event-driven systems or distributed architectures. This will demonstrate your hands-on experience and ability to balance short-term delivery with long-term stability.
How to prepare for a job interview at ViVA Tech Talent
✨Showcase Your Technical Expertise
Be prepared to discuss your hands-on experience with Java and microservices in detail. Highlight specific projects where you've successfully transitioned from monolithic architectures to event-driven systems, as this will demonstrate your capability to lead the technical transformation.
✨Demonstrate Leadership Skills
Since this role involves mentoring engineers and influencing architectural decisions, be ready to share examples of how you've led teams or projects in the past. Discuss your approach to fostering a culture of technical excellence and collaboration.
✨Balance Innovation with Practicality
The company values a pragmatic mindset, so prepare to discuss how you balance short-term delivery with long-term platform stability. Share instances where you've made decisions that prioritised maintainability while still driving innovation.
✨Engage with Cross-Functional Teams
As the role requires working closely with product, design, and platform teams, think of examples where you've successfully collaborated across different functions. This will show your ability to translate business goals into scalable backend solutions effectively.
