Principal Developer

Version 1; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Profit sharing

Career progression

Flexible/remote working

Private healthcare

Pension plan

Wellbeing programs

Education support

Awards program

Job summary

Version 1 in the UK is seeking an experienced Full Stack Java Technical Lead to guide our Digital & Cloud Practice on large-scale transformation and migration projects across public and private sectors.

You will lead technical design, mentor senior and junior engineers, own delivery quality and CI/CD practices, and collaborate with stakeholders to shape solutions.

The role offers hybrid working, generous professional development, and exposure to AWS, Oracle, and modern cloud-native architectures.

Qualifications

• Experience in leading full-stack Java development teams.
• Strong background in microservices and event-driven/ message-driven architectures.
• Experience delivering secure, scalable cloud-based solutions.
• Hands-on with modern development practices including code reviews and SOLID/DRY principles.

Responsibilities

• Lead technical direction for large-scale transformation and migration projects.
• Coach and develop team members across multiple disciplines.
• Ensure high-quality delivery with CI/CD, testing, and security best practices.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to translate business goals into technical designs.

Skills

Technical leadership

Java / Spring Boot

CI/CD

Cloud experience

Frontend: JS/TS

API design

Security awareness

Team development

SC Eligible clearance

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/related

Tools

Docker

Kubernetes

CI/CD pipelines

Job description

Company Description

Version 1 has celebrated 30 years in business and continues to be trusted by global brands to deliver technology and transformation solutions that drive customer success. Our deep expertise enables our customers to navigate the rapidly evolving technology landscape. We foster strong partnerships with global technology leaders including Microsoft, AWS, Oracle, Red Hat, OutSystems, Snowflake, ensuring that our customers are provided with the highest quality solutions and services.

We’re an award‑winning employer reflecting how our employees are at the very heart of what we do:

• UK & Ireland's premier AWS, Microsoft & Oracle partner
• 3300+ strong, €350/£300m revenue business
• 10+ years as a Great Place to Work in Ireland & UK
• Best Workplace for Women in the UK & Ireland by GPTW
• Best Workplace for Wellbeing in the UK by GPTW

We’re a core values driven company, we hire people who share our values, and we reward those who display and foster them, it’s deeply embedded within our DNA. Invest in us and we’ll invest in you!.

Job Description

We are seeking an experienced Full Stack Java Technical Lead to join our UK Digital & Cloud Practice. Our Digital Practice is expanding rapidly, offering opportunities to achieve medium and long‑term career goals. You will work on challenging and large‑scale transformational and migration projects within both public and private sectors.

Key Responsibilities

• Technical Leadership: Provide technical leadership within a team to coordinate and deliver scalable, secure solutions in line with industry best practices (code quality, CI/CD, security, etc.)1.
• Project Management: Work within a project management/agile delivery methodology to ensure timely and high‑quality delivery of software applications.
• Technical Ownership: Take technical ownership of a product or software solution, covering design, estimation, shaping, and user story/requirement creation.
• Solution Documentation: Document solutions, including architecture, configuration, release, and support handover.
• Stakeholder Collaboration: Collaborate and liaise with other stakeholders/end users in the software development lifecycle, including PMs, BAs, Testing, Product, etc.
• Communication: Clearly communicate technical designs in conversation, documentation, and presentations to stakeholders of various technical abilities.
• Knowledge Transfer: Provide effective knowledge transfer to team members and customers.
• Team Development: Manage, coach, and develop junior members of your team and the wider community.
• Team Collaboration: Foster a positive working environment and facilitate team collaboration and communication.

Qualifications

• Coding Best Practices: Deep understanding of coding best practices and modern architectural patterns, including microservices and message‑driven architectures.
• Non‑Functional Requirements: Experience developing applications with non‑functional requirements in mind.
• Application Design: Experience in application/digital services design.
• Software Engineering Practices: Proficiency in software engineering practices like code reviews, CI/CD pipelines, and SOLID/DRY principles.
• Technical Skills: Hands‑on experience with the following technologies:
• Frontend: JavaScript/TypeScript, Angular, React, Node.
• Backend: Java, Spring Boot, Hibernate. Desirable Kotlin.
• Estimation and Sizing: Experience in estimation and sizing.
• Integration and API Design: Experience in integration and API design.
• Cloud Experience: Proficiency in cloud technologies.
• Emerging Technologies: Appetite to work with emerging AI technologies.
• Security Clearance: SC Eligible.

Additional Information

Why Version 1?

• Share in our success with our Quarterly Performance‑Related Profit Share Scheme, where employees collectively benefit from a share of our company's profits
• Strong Career Progression & mentorship coaching through our Strength in Balance & Leadership schemes with a dedicated quarterly Pathways Career Development programme
• Flexible/remote working, Version 1 is tremendously understanding of life events and people’s individual circumstances and offer flexibility to help achieve a healthy work life balance
• Financial Wellbeing initiatives including: Pension, Private Healthcare Cover, Life Assurance, Financial advice and an Employee Discount scheme
• Employee Wellbeing schemes including Gym Discounts, Bike to Work, Fitness classes, Mindfulness Workshops, Employee Assistance Programme and much more. Generous holiday allowance, enhanced maternity/paternity leave, marriage/civil partnership leave and special leave policies
• Educational assistance, incentivised certifications, and accreditations, including AWS, Microsoft, Oracle, and Red Hat
• Reward schemes including Version 1’s Annual Excellence Awards & ‘Call‑Out’ platform.
• Environment, Social and Community First initiatives allow you to get involved in local fundraising and development opportunities as part of fostering our diversity, inclusion and belonging schemes.

Version 1 is an equal opportunities employer.

We are committed to building a diverse, inclusive and respectful workplace where everyone feels valued and able to thrive. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, identities and lived experiences, and we value the different perspectives people bring including those shaped by disability and neurodiversity.

We want every candidate to have a positive and accessible recruitment experience. If you need reasonable adjustments at any stage of the process, please contact your recruiter at Version 1. We will consider all requests carefully, respectfully and confidentially.

Video links: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_d3ELTH5zo