Principal Engineer - Technology Consulting - Java / Spring

Reed; Leeds; Hybrid; GBP 87,000 - 118,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading technology consultancy is seeking a Principal Engineer to lead complex projects and mentor engineers. This role requires deep expertise in Java and Spring, along with strong skills in API and data engineering. The position offers a salary range of £87,000–£118,000, alongside up to 20% bonus and exceptional benefits including a £2,000 training budget and private health cover. Collaborative team environment with flexible working options.

Benefits

Up to 20% bonus

£2,000 annual training budget

Personal life insurance & income protection

9% non-contributory pension

Private health cover

25 days holiday

Travel insurance

Optional payroll giving

Bike loan

Season ticket loan

Qualifications

• Eligible for UK security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Leading engineering delivery on complex client engagements.
• Setting and embedding best practices: CI/CD, cloud-native, DevOps.
• Mentoring and managing engineers.
• Staying hands-on with coding and emerging technologies.
• Collaborating with clients and stakeholders.

Skills

Proven experience leading engineering teams

Expertise in Java

Expertise in Spring

Strong background in API and data engineering

Proficiency with AWS

Proficiency with Azure

Proficiency with GCP

Passion for mentoring and coaching

Job description

Principal Engineer – Technology Consulting – Java / Spring London, Leeds, Manchester or Newcastle | Permanent | Hybrid (3 days onsite) £87,000–£118,000 + up to 20% bonus + exceptional benefits

Join a forward-thinking technology consultancy as a Principal Engineer and take the lead on delivering complex, high-impact solutions for clients across the UK. This is a unique opportunity to combine deep technical expertise with leadership, working hands‑on with modern technologies while shaping engineering standards and mentoring high-performing teams.

This role sits within a growing Software Engineering function and offers the chance to work across a variety of industries and projects. You’ll collaborate with architects, consultants, and stakeholders to design and deliver scalable, secure, and innovative systems — all while contributing to a strong internal engineering culture.

Within this role:

• Leading engineering delivery on complex client engagements
• Setting and embedding best practices: CI/CD, cloud‑native, DevOps, test automation, AI‑assisted development
• Mentoring and managing engineers, shaping frameworks and engineering culture
• Staying hands‑on with coding, prototyping, and emerging technologies
• Collaborating with clients and stakeholders to design end‑to‑end solutions

What we’re looking for:

• Proven experience leading engineering teams and delivering enterprise‑grade solutions
• Deep expertise in Java and Spring
• Strong background in API and data engineering
• Proficiency with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or GCP)
• Passion for mentoring, coaching, and continuous improvement
• Eligible for UK security clearance

Benefits

Core Benefits:

• Up to 20% bonus (performance + objective‑based)
• £2,000 annual training budget
• Personal life insurance & income protection
• 2 CSR days per year to give back

Flexible Perks:

• 9% non-contributory pension
• Private health cover (including family)
• 25 days holiday (flexible by ±5 days)
• Travel insurance (business cover)
• Optional payroll giving, bike loan, and season ticket loan

This is a fantastic opportunity to join a collaborative, forward‑thinking team where your voice matters and your impact is visible. Flexible and part‑time working options are available.

Ready to lead, innovate, and inspire? Please send your CV to Siobhan at Reed –