Principal Java Developer

Ocho People; Remote; GBP 85,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global payments company in Belfast is seeking a Principal Java Engineer. The role involves leading backend development and shaping architecture in a remote-first environment. Ideal candidates will have over 10 years of experience in backend engineering, specializing in Java, and a strong grasp of microservice architecture. This position offers the chance to influence high-impact projects and work collaboratively in a product-led engineering team with a flexible working culture.

Benefits

Flexible working

High-impact projects

Collaborative culture

Qualifications

• 10+ years of backend engineering experience with a deep focus on Java or Groovy.
• Proven experience designing and delivering scalable, secure systems in a high-volume environment.
• Hands-on experience with REST APIs, message queues, distributed systems, and caching.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and development of distributed backend services and APIs in Java.
• Set technical direction across projects and coach developers.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to translate business needs into scalable solutions.

Skills

Java

Backend engineering

OO design

Microservice architecture

REST APIs

CI/CD workflows

SQL

Leadership

Job description

Principal Java Engineer - NI 100% remote

Salary: up to £100k + bonus+ benefits

About the Company

Our client is a leading global payments business with a strong engineering presence in Northern Ireland. Their mission is to radically and responsibly deliver value to merchants by building a next‑gen, merchant‑first ecosystem. With a product‑centric culture and a focus on technical excellence, they empower small teams to deliver big outcomes free from red tape and bureaucracy.

They're looking for a Principal Java Engineer to help shape the architecture, lead development efforts, and mentor other engineers across high‑impact initiatives.

The Role

As a Principal Java Engineer, you'll drive backend development across complex distributed systems, helping to define and deliver merchant‑focused products. You'll be trusted to lead design discussions, introduce best practices, and work closely with Product and DevOps teams to ensure scalable, secure, and high‑performing systems are built from the ground up. You'll balance strategic thinking with hands‑on coding and technical delivery.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design and development of distributed backend services and APIs in Java
• Set technical direction across projects and coach developers on architecture and design patterns
• Collaborate with stakeholders to translate business needs into elegant, scalable solutions
• Define and enforce software quality standards, including test automation and CI/CD pipelines
• Continuously evaluate and improve engineering practices, tooling, and technical processes
• Contribute to deployment strategies and support production systems when required

Essential Criteria

• 10+ years of backend engineering experience with a deep focus on Java or Groovy
• Proven experience designing and delivering scalable, secure systems in a high‑volume environment
• Strong understanding of OO design, design patterns, refactoring, and microservice architecture
• Hands‑on experience with REST APIs, message queues, distributed systems, and caching
• Solid grasp of modern CI/CD workflows and cloud‑native development
• Deep experience with SQL and relational database design
• Strong leadership, mentoring, and collaboration skills
• Ability to work independently, navigate ambiguity, and drive technical decisions

Why Join

• Principal‑level influence in a product‑led engineering team
• Empowered to shape architecture and technical direction
• Flat structure, collaborative culture, and fast decision‑making
• Flexible working, remote‑first team, and modern Java stack
• High‑impact projects solving real merchant problems

How to Apply

If you're a hands‑on technical leader ready to shape the future of merchant‑focused payments technology, apply via the link. Or reach out to Phil Gamble directly via LinkedIn or WhatsApp for an informal conversation.

About Phil Gamble

Phil Gamble has over 20 years of experience in the Tech recruitment industry, successfully delivering on challenging IT recruitment campaigns in global software companies across the US, UK, and Ireland. He takes a personalised approach to understanding candidates and has garnered praise for his professionalism and dedication to their career goals.

Recent LinkedIn Testimonials

"Phil was by far the best recruiter I have ever dealt with..."

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