Principal Engineer in Leeds

Are you a highly experienced Engineer ready to lead complex technical change and shape the future of our technology platforms? We’re looking for a Principal Engineer to provide technical leadership across critical delivery initiatives, translating business needs into scalable, high-quality solutions. This is an opportunity to work at the forefront of engineering, influencing design, delivery and innovation across our technology landscape. This role will align into the Digital engineering teams who provide the API/Services that underpin our Digital Customer channels for Mobile App and Web. This is an exciting time as we are re-platforming more into Azure hosting from on-premise. This is a hybrid role, a mix of working from home plus time in our central Leeds & Bradford offices.

As a Principal Engineer, you’ll act as a technical lead across complex initiatives, shaping solutions and guiding delivery from design through to live service. You’ll work closely with engineering teams, stakeholders and third-party partners to ensure solutions are robust, scalable and aligned to business outcomes.

• Lead the design and delivery of complex technical solutions, translating business requirements into clear deliverables
• Own technical direction across projects, including solution design, build, testing and release planning
• Assess solution options and perform gap analysis to ensure alignment between current and future state systems
• Collaborate with stakeholders and 3rd party partners, acting as a key technical contact and subject matter expert
• Maintain awareness of technology trends, ensuring platforms remain supported, resilient and aligned to future needs
• Support live service stability by coordinating defect resolution and acting as an escalation point for risks and issues

You’re a senior engineering professional with deep technical expertise and a strong track record of leading complex delivery. You’re confident shaping solutions, influencing stakeholders and driving high-quality outcomes.

• Strong hands‑on experience with Java Spring Boot Microservice design/development
• Strong experience designing and delivering complex technical solutions across enterprise environments
• Ability to translate business requirements into scalable, well‑architected solutions
• Experience leading technical delivery across the full lifecycle, from design through to live service
• Strong analytical skills, including solution evaluation and gap analysis
• Experience working with suppliers and third‑party partners in delivery environments
• Awareness of emerging technologies and a proactive approach to continuous improvement
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence at all levels

At YBS we don’t have shareholders, we have members. We care about people and that includes you. So here, you’ll be respected for who you are, you’ll be able to bring your whole self to work, and you’ll have everything you need to build a long and rewarding career.

We offer a range of flexible working options without unsocial hours, which can help you find a healthy work‑life balance. Whether it’s finishing early for an appointment or fitting your studies and hobbies in around your working hours, we can help make it work for you. We’re happy to talk flexible working and you can reach out to us anytime during the recruitment process to discuss this.

We want you to feel challenged here. Whatever your ambitions, we’re committed to helping you develop your skills and move ahead in your career journey. From day one, we’ll set you up for success with a brilliant induction and full training plan, all designed to get you up to speed quickly.

We’re passionate about creating an inclusive environment where everyone is welcome and able to be themselves. If you’ll go the extra mile to help our members, you’ll fit right in and feel you belong here.

We offer lots of fantastic rewards that you can make the most of in and out of work, including:

• Holiday: You’ll get 25 days plus Bank Holidays, as well as the option to buy up to a further 5 days.
• Bonus: At YBS we work collaboratively and share in our success together, so when we reach our goals we’re all rewarded with an on target bonus of 7% of eligible pay (with the opportunity to earn up to a maximum 15%).
• Pension: We know how important it is to save towards the future, that’s why we’ll contribute up to 11% into your YBS pension.
• Healthcare: Health and wellbeing are an important part of life at YBS, when you join us you’ll have access to a range of health benefits to suit your life including private medical insurance, dental and healthcare plans.
• My Benefits: When you join YBS you’ll have access to our self‑service benefits portal, where you can access a range of retail, hospitality and health discounts.