Principal Software Engineer - Strategic Tech Leadership £87,000-£118,000

Reed; Newcastle upon Tyne; Hybrid; GBP 87,000 - 118,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading consultancy is seeking a Principal Software Engineer to drive technical excellence across impactful projects. In this senior, hands-on role, you will lead engineering efforts, mentor teams, and set standards in modern software development. The position offers a salary of £87,000–£118,000 and a hybrid working model, allowing for flexibility while working at various UK office locations.

Benefits

Hybrid working model

Opportunity to shape engineering strategy

Work on cutting-edge projects

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading high-performing engineering teams.
• Deep expertise in one major tech stack (Java, Python, Node.js, .NET).
• Excellent communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead technical delivery on complex, multi-disciplinary projects.
• Mentor and manage engineers to foster growth.
• Stay hands-on with development and prototyping.

Skills

Leading high-performing engineering teams

Deep expertise in Java

Strong background in API engineering

Fluent in agile delivery practices

Experience with AWS

Job description

Principal Software Engineer – Strategic Tech Leadership | £87,000–£118,000Permanent | Hybrid | Locations: London, Manchester, Leeds, Newcastle

We’re recruiting on behalf of a leading consultancy that’s scaling its engineering capability and looking for a Principal Software Engineer to drive technical excellence across high-impact client projects.

This is a senior, hands-on leadership role for someone who thrives on solving complex problems, mentoring teams, and shaping how modern software is built. You’ll be at the forefront of delivery, guiding engineering standards, influencing strategy, and staying close to the code.

What You’ll Be Doing:

• Leading technical delivery on complex, multi-disciplinary projects
• Setting engineering standards across CI/CD, cloud-native design, DevOps, and test automation
• Mentoring and managing engineers, fostering a culture of growth and innovation
• Collaborating with consultants, architects, and stakeholders to design scalable solutions
• Staying hands-on with development, prototyping, and emerging tech (including AI tools)
• Supporting business development through technical input on proposals and solution design

What You’ll Bring:

You’re a seasoned engineering leader with a passion for building great software and great teams. You combine technical depth with strategic thinking and know how to inspire others through your work.

Skills:

• Proven experience leading high-performing engineering teams
• Deep expertise in one major tech stack (Java, Python, Node.js, .NET) and flexibility across others
• Strong background in API and data engineering
• Fluent in modern delivery practices: agile, CI/CD, DevOps, cloud-native development
• Experience across major cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP)
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills

Desirable:

• Experience with enterprise integration patterns
• Use of AI-powered tools in engineering workflows
• External engagement through talks, articles, or community involvement

Why Apply?

• Salary: £87,000–£118,000 depending on experience
• Hybrid working: 3 days onsite (client or local office)
• Opportunity to shape engineering strategy and culture
• Work on cutting-edge projects with real-world impact

This is a permanent opportunity with flexible UK office locations. Due to client requirements, candidates must be eligible for UK security clearance and applicantswith active SC clearance will be preferential.