Principal Software Engineer

Sanderson; City Of London; On-site; GBP 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Sanderson is hiring a Principal Software Engineer to scale AI-native engineering across the business. This is not an AI/ML role; the focus is on using AI agents to reshape software design, delivery and quality. You’ll own architecture while staying hands-on with C#, .NET, React and TypeScript and mentor engineers.

You’ll build cloud-native solutions in Azure, orchestrate APIs and microservices, apply Spec-Driven Development and review AI-generated code to accelerate delivery.

Qualifications

• Senior software engineering with architecture/solution design experience.
• Expertise in APIs, microservices and distributed systems.
• Hands-on with C#, .NET, React and TypeScript.
• Experience with CI/CD, Docker, Kubernetes and IaC.
• Proven AI-native engineering experience using AI agents.

Responsibilities

• Own technical architecture and engineering direction.
• Build scalable APIs, microservices and distributed systems.
• Use AI agents across the SDLC and review AI-generated code.
• Mentor engineers and set technical standards.
• Build cloud-native solutions in Azure.

Skills

Architectural leadership

C#, .NET

React

TypeScript

AI-native engineering

CI/CD

Docker

Kubernetes

Azure

APIs & microservices

Tools

Claude Code

GitHub Copilot

Codex

Job description

We’re hiring a Principal Software Engineer to join a technology team scaling AI-native engineering across the business.

This is not an AI/ML role. We’re looking for a senior engineer who uses AI agents to fundamentally change how software is designed, built and delivered.

What you’ll do

• Own technical architecture and engineering direction
• Remain hands‑on with C#, .NET, React and TypeScript
• Build scalable APIs, microservices and distributed systems
• Use AI agents across the SDLC
• Apply Spec-Driven Development
• Turn requirements into technical specifications using AI
• Review and validate AI-generated code
• Improve engineering speed, quality and productivity
• Mentor engineers and influence technical standards
• Build cloud‑native solutions, primarily in Azure

What we’re looking for

• Principal, Staff, Lead or strong Senior Software Engineering experience
• Architecture and solution design experience
• APIs, microservices and distributed systems
• CI/CD, Docker, Kubernetes and Infrastructure‑as‑Code
• Genuine AI-native engineering experience

You should be able to clearly explain how AI has changed the way you build software, including how you use tools such as Claude Code, GitHub Copilot, Codex or similar agents to accelerate delivery.

Occasional ChatGPT or Copilot usage alone won’t be enough.