Principal Software Engineer

Codurance; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent software consultancy in Manchester is searching for a Principal Software Engineer to join their team. This role involves coaching, mentoring, and working on a variety of projects, both internal and client-focused. The successful candidate will collaborate remotely while occasionally traveling to client sites. Ideal candidates will have deep hands-on experience in software engineering and the ability to influence stakeholders effectively, contributing to the company's collaborative culture and goals.

Benefits

Uncapped training support

Personal learning budget

Private medical cover & life assurance

Pension plan with employer top-up

Employee assistance program

Enhanced parental leave

Electric Vehicle and Cycle to Work Scheme

Qualifications

• Experience in modernisation of software systems.
• Ability to influence senior stakeholders.
• Proven track record in guiding teams on technology decisions.

Responsibilities

• Build relationships with clients as an advisor.
• Lead and shape delivery on complex projects.
• Identify opportunities for account growth.

Skills

Building relationships with stakeholders

Deep hands-on experience in software engineering

Leading complex client engagements

Effective communication and empathy

Continuous learning and mentoring

Job description

We are looking for a Principal Software Engineer (we call them Principal Software Craftspeople) who shares the same values of pragmatism, professionalism and transparency as us to join our team. You'd be utilising your expertise with clients, helping to shape Codurance, and being involved in coaching and mentoring across the company.

We support our clients in many ways, and you will have the opportunity to work on a wide range of different internal and client projects. You’ll primarily work remotely as part of a collaborative team, with occasional travel to client sites or in-person sessions when it adds value to delivery or relationships. This may be a greenfield project for a startup or helping to build a mission-critical system for a large enterprise client. Perhaps you’ll work as an embedded Consultant, working within our client's existing team to help them tackle complex challenges within their own software. Or maybe you're more interested in helping to introduce the values of software craftsmanship and extreme programming practices to an organisation through coaching & mentoring.

Location: We are open to this role being hybrid, with occasional travel to client sites. Please note that we are not able to offer visa sponsorship at this time.

Requirements

As someone performing this role, these are some of the things we are looking for:

• You are able to actively build relationships with strategic stakeholders within the client, acting as an advisor and partner in helping them identify and solve problems. You are good at helping people come up with a vision and helping them get aligned behind it
• You bring deep hands-on experience in software engineering, particularly modernisation, with a track record of guiding teams to build well-crafted, reliable, and maintainable systems.
• You’re comfortable leading complex client engagements — shaping delivery through discovery, navigating ambiguity, and ensuring that technical decisions align with business goals.
• You communicate with clarity and empathy, adapting your style to influence senior stakeholders, collaborate with peers, and support those you mentor.
• You look beyond the code, identifying opportunities to add value, support account growth, and contribute to the broader success of our clients and Codurance.
• You’re continuously learning and evolving, and you help others do the same, whether by fostering inclusive team environments, sharing knowledge, or challenging ideas constructively.

It would be an added bonus if you have:

• Experience working in consultancy, agency, or client-facing delivery environments, especially where you've helped shape solutions or build long-term relationships.
• Exposure to commercial conversations such as proposals, pricing, or contract scoping, or a desire to develop confidence in this area.
• Familiarity with platform thinking, service design, or systems architecture across complex domains.
• Contributed to internal initiatives, technical communities, or mentoring programmes — within your organisation or externally.
• Awareness of private equity-backed or mid-market tech environments, and how technology decisions can support business scaling or transformation.

Benefits

• Uncapped training support – No fixed training budget: if it’s relevant and you share your learnings, we’ll cover the cost. We encourage continuous development at all levels.
• Personal learning budget - Use Learnerbly to access curated courses, books, and coaching resources to support your growth and progression.
• Transparency – From day one, you’ll have access to company financials and salary bandings, reflecting our commitment to openness and trust.
• Private medical cover & life assurance – Includes dental and optical. Life cover provides a lump-sum payment for additional peace of mind.
• Pension (4% top-up) and income protection - Option to choose from an employer pension top-up to 5% or a holiday voucher for the value of £1000 after 5 years of service. 8% pension top-up or a holiday voucher for the value of £2000 after 8 years of service
• Employee assistance program (EAP), including access to wellbeing support (counselling, therapy)
• Enhanced parental leave – Supporting you and your family with more time and flexibility when it matters most.
• Electric Vehicle and Cycle to Work Scheme

Everyone should have the right to bring their whole self to work and be celebrated for who they are. Our people are hired purely on their commitment to these values and their ambition to deliver outstanding results for our clients. Codurance is proud to be an Equal Opportunities Employer and is committed to fostering an inclusive workplace.