Principal Software Engineer - Squad Lead Engineer

RELX International; City Of London; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

RELX International in London is seeking a Technical Lead to balance hands-on software development with engineering leadership. You will shape technical direction, guide delivery planning, and collaborate with Product, Architecture, QE, SRE, and partner squads to deliver secure, reliable, and scalable solutions.

In this role you will establish and uphold quality standards, drive a pragmatic test strategy, define Definition of Ready/Done, and own CI/CD pipelines and release processes.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience leading through influence across design, delivery, and operations.
• Strong track record in at least one domain: distributed services, data platforms, or high-throughput web/mobile applications.
• Advanced knowledge of Agile/Lean practices including backlog refinement, technical grooming, and risk-based planning.
• Experience with test strategy, test automation, CI/CD quality gates, and release readiness.
• Proficiency in one or more: Java/JVM, JavaScript/TypeScript, .NET/C#, Python, C/C++, SQL, Linux, or Windows.
• Experience with relational and non-relational data stores, performance tuning, and data modelling.
• Knowledge of CI/CD platforms, containers, cloud technologies, observability, and monitoring practices.
• Understanding of secure coding, performance optimisation, reliability engineering, and incident response.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the first line of technical escalation for the squad’s services/components.
• Facilitate team ceremonies (refinement, technical grooming, sprint planning, design reviews) with a focus on flow and outcomes.
• Translate product objectives into sound technical designs and testable acceptance criteria; decompose epics into implementable stories.
• Design and implement complex features; complete complex bug fixes and performance improvements.
• Define and uphold Definition of Ready/Done including code quality, automated test coverage, security checks, and observability.
• Establish/maintain CI/CD pipelines, quality gates, and sensible branching/release strategies.
• Drive a pragmatic quality strategy: test pyramid balance, contract tests, data management, environments, and non‑functional testing.
• Partner with TIO on SLOs, alerting, runbooks, incident response, and post‑incident learning.

Skills

Leadership influence

Agile/Lean

Test strategy

CI/CD

Release readiness

Cross-functional collaboration

Security awareness

Architectural thinking

Tools

CI/CD platforms

Containers

Cloud technologies

Observability tools

Job description

Are you passionate about leading technical excellence while remaining hands-on in building high-quality software? Do you enjoy influencing teams, shaping engineering practices, and delivering reliable, secure, and observable solutions in a collaborative environment?

About our Team

Our global team support products education electronic health records that introduce students to digital charting and prepare them to document care in today’s modern clinical environment. We have a very stable product that we’ve worked to get to and strive to maintain. Our team values trust, respect, collaboration, agility, and quality.

About the Role

As a Technical Lead, you will act as the technical facilitator and engineering leader for a cross-functional squad, balancing hands‑on software development with leadership through influence. You will help shape technical direction, guide delivery planning, drive quality strategy, and collaborate closely with Product, Architecture, QE, SRE/Platform teams, and partner squads to deliver secure, reliable, and scalable software solutions.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the first line of technical escalation for the squad’s services/components
• Facilitate team ceremonies (refinement, technical grooming, sprint planning, design reviews) with a focus on flow and outcomes
• Translate product objectives into sound technical designs and testable acceptance criteria; decompose epics into implementable stories
• Design and implement complex features; complete complex bug fixes and performance improvements
• Define and uphold Definition of Ready/Done including code quality, automated test coverage, security checks, and observability
• Establish/maintain CI/CD pipelines, quality gates, and sensible branching/release strategies
• Drive a pragmatic quality strategy: test pyramid balance, contract tests, data management, environments, and non‑functional testing
• Partner with TIO on SLOs, alerting, runbooks, incident response, and post‑incident learning

Requirements

• Demonstrated experience leading through influence (tech lead, feature lead, guild lead, or similar) across design, delivery, and operations
• Strong track record in at least one domain: distributed services, data platforms, or high‑throughput web/mobile applications
• Advanced knowledge of Agile/Lean practices including backlog refinement, technical grooming, and risk‑based planning
• Experience with test strategy, test automation, CI/CD quality gates, and release readiness
• Proficiency in one or more of the following: Java/JVM, JavaScript/TypeScript, .NET/C#, Python, C/C++, SQL, Linux, or Windows
• Experience with relational and non‑relational data stores, performance tuning, and data modelling
• Knowledge of CI/CD platforms, containers, cloud technologies, observability, and monitoring practices
• Understanding of secure coding, performance optimisation, reliability engineering, and incident response

Work in a Way That Works for You

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 Pattern 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.

About the Business

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. We know your well‑being and happiness are key to a long and successful career. We are delighted to offer country specific benefits. Click here to access benefits specific to your location. We are committed to providing a fair and accessible hiring process. If you have a disability or other need that requires accommodation or adjustment, please let us know by completing our Applicant Request Support Form or please contact 1-855-833-5120. We are an equal opportunity employer: qualified applicants are considered for and treated during employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, citizenship status, disability status, protected veteran status, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law. USA Job Seekers: EEO Know Your Rights. RELX is a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers, enabling them to make better decisions, get better results and be more productive. Our purpose is to benefit society by developing products that help researchers advance scientific knowledge; doctors and nurses improve the lives of patients; lawyers promote the rule of law and achieve justice and fair results for their clients; businesses and governments prevent fraud; consumers access financial services and get fair prices on insurance; and customers learn about markets and complete transactions. Our purpose guides our actions beyond the products that we develop. It defines us as a company. Every day across RELX our employees are inspired to undertake initiatives that make unique contributions to society and the communities in which we operate.