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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 85000 - 95000 £ 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 previous experiences in transitioning from monolithic to microservices architectures. Be ready to share specific examples of challenges faced and how you overcame them, as this will showcase your leadership capabilities.
✨Tip Number 3
Highlight your mentoring experience. Since this role involves shaping coding standards and influencing team practices, be prepared to talk about how you've successfully guided junior engineers in the past.
✨Tip Number 4
Demonstrate your understanding of balancing innovation with maintainability. Prepare to discuss how you've implemented new technologies while ensuring system stability, as this is crucial for the role's responsibilities.
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 of balancing innovation with maintainability.
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 to demonstrate your leadership capabilities.
Highlight Cross-Functional Collaboration: Discuss your experience working with product, design, and platform teams. Illustrate how you have successfully translated business goals into scalable backend solutions, showcasing your ability to work collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.
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. Highlight specific projects where you've successfully transitioned from monolithic to microservices architecture, 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 in the past. Discuss your approach to fostering a culture of technical excellence and collaboration.
✨Understand the Business Goals
Research the company and its products thoroughly. Be prepared to explain how you can align technical solutions with their business objectives, particularly in building scalable backend solutions that meet real-time demands.
✨Balance Innovation with Maintainability
The ideal candidate should have a pragmatic mindset. Prepare to discuss how you balance short-term delivery with long-term platform stability. Share examples of how you've implemented innovative solutions while ensuring maintainability in previous roles.
