principal Software engineer

Pearson; Chennai; Hybrid; INR 4,000,000 - 7,000,000; Full time

Job summary

Pearson PSG-CP is seeking a Principal Engineer to shape architecture and execution of AI-native capabilities across the Content Platform. You will lead technical feasibility reviews, guide multiple squads, and drive architecture decisions with a focus on scalability and maintainability.

You will partner with Engineering Managers, Staff Engineers, Product, and DevOps, mentor senior engineers, and contribute code when needed, while maintaining high standards of engineering excellence.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in computer science or equivalent experience.
• 15+ years of experience building and scaling full-stack applications.
• Proven experience operating at a staff or principal level across multiple teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead technical feasibility reviews and share architecture for enterprise-scale AI-native PSG-CP capabilities.
• Provide hands-on technical leadership across multiple squads, focusing on high-impact initiatives and critical path work.
• Unblock complex technical challenges that span systems, teams, or domains.
• Lead and contribute to architecture and system design decisions, ensuring scalability and maintainability.
• Drive technical consistency and best practices across teams.
• Partner with Engineering Manager and Staff Engineers to support delivery.
• Contribute directly to code when needed, especially in high-risk areas.
• Mentor and guide senior engineers through coaching and knowledge sharing.

Skills

Full-Stack

Frontend frameworks

Backend tech

Cloud platforms

API design

DevOps

Security

Architectural thinking

Cross-team leadership

Mentoring engineers

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science

Tools

React

Angular

Java

Spring

Node.js

Python

AWS

GCP

Job description

About PSG-CP

Pearson is the world's lifelong learning company, and PSG-CP (Pearson Software Group - Content Platform) is the organization powering how that learning gets created, enriched, delivered, and measured. PSG-CP's focus is on content. We handle authoring, semantic enrichment, transformation, delivery, assessment, and analytics, serving every Pearson line of business and millions of learners worldwide. We are reshaping the platform around AI in a serious way, and this Principal Engineer role is pivotal in shaping the vision, strategy, and execution of technology and architecture.

This is a high-impact, hands-on technical leadership role focused on improving engineering effectiveness, accelerating delivery, and ensuring technical excellence across the organization. You will not be embedded within a single team; instead, you will work across teams on PSG-CP initiatives, complex technical challenges, and architectural decisions.

You will partner closely with Engineering Managers, Staff Engineers, Product, and DevOps to assess technical feasibility, and drive architecture decisions for future high-impact, AI-native PSG-CP capabilities.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead technical feasibility reviews and share architecture for enterprise-scale AI-native PSG-CP capabilities
• Provide hands-on technical leadership across multiple squads, focusing on high-impact initiatives and critical path work
• Unblock complex technical challenges that span systems, teams, or domains
• Lead and contribute to architecture and system design decisions, ensuring scalability, simplicity, and long-term maintainability
• Drive technical consistency and best practices across teams (design patterns, standards, tooling)
• Partner with the Engineering Manager and Staff Engineers to support delivery without taking on people management responsibilities
• Contribute directly to code when needed, especially in high-risk or high-priority areas
• Mentor and guide senior engineers and technical leads through coaching, design discussions, and knowledge sharing
• Partner with internal and external stakeholders to identify, assess, and co-develop Ai-native innovative capabilities to PSG-CP

Required Skills and Competencies:

• Prior experience building content authoring / management platforms is a must
• Full-Stack Engineering, Modern Development Tools (Advanced): Build and prototype end-to-end across frontend, backend, and infrastructure. Experience with at least one of the following: Front End like React, Angular; Back End like Java, Spring, Node JS, Python
• Cloud Computing, API Management, DevOps, Data Security, Information Security (Advanced): Lead technical execution and ensure compliance. Prior working experience in a cloud computing environment like AWS/GCP is highly desired
• Collaboration, Innovation, Cross-Functional Working, Technical Acumen, Problem Solving (Advanced): Influence across teams and partners, shape ideas, and drive differentiated solutions.
• Comfort with Ambiguity, Builder Mindset (Advanced): Operate effectively in undefined, fast-moving, early-stage environments.
• Ability to operate as a force multiplier across teams, elevating overall engineering quality and speed
• Strong architectural thinking with a focus on scalability, simplicity, and business impact
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to influence without authority both technical and non-technical stakeholders
• Self-starter who thrives in a fast-paced, and evolving environment
• Demonstrated ability to work with global teams across time zones

Qualifications (Education & Experience):

• Bachelor's degree in computer science or equivalent experience
• 15+ years of experience building and scaling full-stack applications
• Proven experience operating at a staff or principal level, influencing multiple teams or large systems
• Strong background in system design, distributed systems, and API architecture using event driven microservices
• Demonstrated ability to solve ambiguous, cross-cutting technical problems
• Experience driving technical strategy, standards, and architecture across teams

Who we are:

At Pearson, our purpose is simple: to help people realize the life they imagine through learning. We believe that every learning opportunity is a chance for a personal breakthrough. We are the world's lifelong learning company. For us, learning isn't just what we do. It's who we are. To learn more: We are Pearson.

Pearson is an Equal Opportunity Employer and a member of E-Verify. Employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit and business need. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status or any other group protected by law. We actively seek qualified candidates who are protected veterans and individuals with disabilities as defined under VEVRAA and Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act.

If you are an individual with a disability and are unable or limited in your ability to use or access our career site as a result of your disability, you may request reasonable accommodations by emailing [e-mail].

Job: Engineering

Job Family: TECHNOLOGY

Organization: Direct to Consumer

Schedule: FULL_TIME

Workplace Type: Hybrid

Req ID: 26484