Principal Software Engineer

Elsevier B.V.; City of Westminster; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A global information and analytics leader is looking for a Principal Software Engineer in Westminster, UK, to lead the architecture and development of their Backstage platform. You will design full-stack TypeScript solutions, mentor teams, and establish engineering standards. The role requires exceptional communication skills, a strong product mindset, and at least 5 years of software engineering experience. Benefits include a comprehensive pension plan, flexible working hours, and generous leave policies.

Benefits

Comprehensive Pension Plan

Flexible working hours

Generous vacation entitlement

Employee Assistance Program (global)

Qualifications

• 5+ years of professional software engineering experience, including leadership of multi-team initiatives.
• Expert proficiency in TypeScript, Node.js, and React.
• Experience with cloud-native delivery patterns (Docker, Kubernetes).

Responsibilities

• Lead the architecture, development, and adoption of the Backstage platform.
• Design high-quality, secure, and maintainable full-stack TypeScript solutions.
• Define and uphold engineering standards across the platform.

Skills

TypeScript

Node.js

React

OAuth/OIDC/SSO

Jest

Cypress

Docker

Kubernetes

Education

BS in Engineering/Computer Science or equivalent experience

Advanced degree preferred

Job description

Overview

We are seeking an experienced, hands‑on Principal Software Engineer to lead the architecture, development, and adoption of our Backstage platform. You will design and deliver core capabilities and plugins, set engineering standards, and guide teams across Elsevier in how they use and contribute to the portal. This role blends deep technical execution with consulting, stakeholder engagement, and community leadership. You will help define the roadmap, drive platform governance, and create the patterns that make our developer portal reliable, scalable, and delightful to use.

Responsibilities

• Owning the technical vision, architecture, and delivery of Backstage platform capabilities, plugins, and backend services.
• Designing and building high‑quality, secure, and maintainable full‑stack TypeScript solutions (React/Node.js) within Backstage's monorepo and plugin architecture.
• Defining and upholding engineering standards, patterns, and governance for contributed plugins, templates, and documentation across the platform.
• Partnering with product managers, UX, business analysts, and non‑technical stakeholders to translate needs into clear roadmaps, outcomes, and acceptance criteria.
• Mentoring engineers and contributors; conducting design and code reviews; elevating best practices in reliability, security, performance, and accessibility.
• Contributing back to the Backstage open‑source community where appropriate, tracking ecosystem changes, and guiding internal adoption.
• Expert proficiency in TypeScript, Node.js, and React; strong command of modern full‑stack patterns, state management, and component design.
• Authentication and authorisation: OAuth/OIDC/SSO, token management, session handling, role‑based access control.
• Testing at multiple layers: unit/integration/e2e (Jest, Cypress).
• Observability and reliability: logging, metrics, tracing, performance profiling, and resilience patterns.
• Experience with containers and cloud‑native delivery (Docker, Kubernetes) and infrastructure‑as‑code patterns.
• Good years of professional software engineering experience, including leadership of complex, multi‑team initiatives.
• BS in Engineering/Computer Science or equivalent experience required; advanced degree preferred.

Non‑Technical Skills

• Exceptional communication and the ability to interface with non‑technical stakeholders; translate complex technical concepts into clear narratives and decisions.
• Strong product mindset: clarify outcomes, define acceptance criteria, and align solutions with business goals.
• Proven leadership in planning and road mapping; ability to balance strategic investments and near‑term value.
• Mentorship and coaching: elevate team practices through feedback, documentation, and example‑driven leadership.

Company Overview

A global leader in information and analytics, we help researchers and healthcare professionals advance science and improve health outcomes for the benefit of society. Building on our publishing heritage, we combine quality information and vast data sets with analytics to support visionary science and research, health education and interactive learning, as well as exceptional healthcare and clinical practice. At Elsevier, your work contributes to the world's grand challenges and a more sustainable future. We harness innovative technologies to support science and healthcare to partner for a better world.

Work‑Lifestyle and Benefits

We promote a healthy work/life balance across the organisation. We offer an appealing working prospect for our people. With numerous wellbeing initiatives, shared parental leave, study assistance and sabbaticals, we will help you meet your immediate responsibilities and your long‑term goals.

Working flexible hours - flexing the times when you work in the day to help you fit everything in and work when you are the most productive.

Benefits

These are some of the benefits we are delighted to offer:

• Comprehensive Pension Plan
• Home, office, or commuting allowance.
• Generous vacation entitlement and option for sabbatical leave
• Maternity, Paternity, Adoption and Family Care leave
• Flexible working hours
• Personal Choice budget
• Internal communities and networks
• Various employee discounts
• Recruitment introduction reward
• Employee Assistance Program (global)