Principal Software Engineer

JR United Kingdom; Winchester; Hybrid; GBP 83,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading technology organization in the UK is seeking a Senior Principal Software Engineer to guide engineering standards and technical leadership. This role involves leading development across complex systems, mentoring engineers, and ensuring high-quality standards in a hybrid working environment with competitive salary and benefits.

Benefits

10% annual bonus

Private medical insurance

25 days annual leave

Wellness programs

Dental/travel insurance

Gymflex

Flexible working culture

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in senior software roles influencing architecture.
• Strong grasp of modern programming languages and frameworks.
• Proven leadership in engineering teams and mentoring.

Responsibilities

• Lead development across complex systems and teams.
• Define and promote best practices across the software lifecycle.
• Mentor and coach a cohort of ~10 engineers.

Skills

Python

Cloud-native development

CI/CD pipelines

Automated testing

React

Next.js

Infrastructure as Code

Observability

Education

Degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or equivalent

Job description

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2 days/week in Winchester or London office)

£83,000 base salary + 10% annual bonus + 6% pension contribution + Private medical insurance

We're looking for a Senior Principal Software Engineer to play a strategic role in guiding our engineering standards, architecture, and technical leadership.

This is a high-impact opportunity within a nationally recognised technology organisation that powers essential infrastructure across media and utilities in the UK.

What You’ll Do

• Lead development across complex systems and cross-functional teams
• Act as a key decision-maker and deputy to the Head of Software Engineering
• Define and promote best practices across the software development lifecycle
• Guide architectural choices to ensure scalable, sustainable solutions
• Champion modern tools, frameworks, and engineering practices
• Mentor and coach a cohort of ~10 engineers
• Contribute directly to hands-on coding when needed
• Review code and ensure high-quality standards across projects
• Stay current with industry trends and bring fresh insights into our platform

About You

• Extensive experience in senior software roles with influence over architecture and technical direction
• Strong grasp of modern programming languages and frameworks
• Proven leadership in engineering teams and mentoring individuals
• Excellent communication skills to engage technical and non-technical stakeholders
• Degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or equivalent practical experience
• A passion for quality, performance, and continuous improvement

Who we’re looking for

• Proficiency in Python
• Familiarity with cloud-native development (preferably AWS)
• Experience with CI/CD pipelines and automated testing
• Experience with frameworks like React, Next.js, or similar
• Understanding of accessibility and testing best practices
• Strong hands-on experience with AWS (certification a plus)
• Skilled in Infrastructure as Code (preferably Terraform)
• Solid grasp of CI/CD, observability, and modern cloud architectures

What’s on Offer

• Up to £83,000 base salary
• 10% annual bonus
• Private medical insurance
• 25 days annual leave
• Flexible benefits: wellness programs, dental/travel insurance, Gymflex, and more
• Hybrid working culture that supports work-life balance