Principal Software Development Engineer (Enabling Functions - Colleague)

Tesco Poland; Kraków; On-site; PLN 350,000 - 600,000; Full time

Job summary

Tesco Poland is seeking a Principal Software Developer to lead the Enabling Functions - Colleague technology team. You will steer architecture, design, and delivery across HR, payroll, learning & development, and workforce management platforms, while mentoring engineers and driving best practices.

You will collaborate with product managers and stakeholders to shape roadmaps, improve system availability, performance, and data integrity through robust DevOps and modern engineering approaches.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in software development with senior/principal experience
• Proven hands-on expertise in modern web tech and cloud platforms
• Strong grasp of microservices, APIs, and scalable architectures

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and implementation of strategic systems enabling HR, Payroll, Learning & Development, and Workforce Management platforms.
• Drive architecture and design across multiple systems to ensure scalable, secure, and maintainable software solutions.
• Mentor engineers and tech leads; promote engineering best practices and continuous improvement.

Skills

JavaScript/TypeScript

React

Node.js

Microservices

RESTful APIs

Event-driven

Azure

Docker

Kubernetes

CI/CD

Test automation

Infrastructure as code

Enterprise apps

Job description

At Tesco, technology is at the heart of everything we do – powering the way millions of colleagues and customers live, work, and shop. We are looking for a Principal Software Developer to join our Enabling Functions - Colleague technology team, which plays a key role in delivering intuitive, reliable, and innovative solutions for our 300,000+ colleagues globally.

As a Principal Software Developer, you’ll lead the design and implementation of strategic systems that enable our HR, Payroll, Learning & Development, and Workforce Management platforms – ensuring every colleague experience is simple, efficient, and empowering.

• Technical Leadership: Drive architecture and design across multiple systems, ensuring scalable, secure, and maintainable software solutions.
• Cross-functional Collaboration: Partner with product managers, architects, and business stakeholders to understand colleague needs and shape technology roadmaps accordingly.
• Innovation: Introduce new tools, frameworks, and approaches that enhance development speed, quality, and performance across the colleague tech space.
• Team Empowerment: Mentor and guide software engineers and tech leads across squads; promote engineering best practices and continuous improvement.
• System Ownership: Lead the evolution of core colleague platforms, including integrations with internal services and third‑party systems.
• Operational Excellence: Ensure high system availability, performance, and data integrity through robust DevOps practices and incident management.

Experience and Skills:

• 10+ years in software development with proven experience in a senior or principal engineering role.
• Strong hands‑on expertise in JavaScript / TypeScript, React, Node.Js
• Strong understanding of microservices architecture, RESTful APIs, event‑driven systems, and distributed computing.
• Experience working with cloud platforms (preferably Azure), Docker, Kubernetes.
• Hands‑on knowledge of CI/CD pipelines, test automation, and infrastructure‑as‑code.
• Proven experience designing and building scalable mobile and web applications with a focus on usability, performance, and responsiveness.
• Demonstrated ability to operate effectively in large, enterprise environments.
• Familiarity with enterprise HR or colleague‑focused systems is a plus (e.g., Oracle HCM, Zellis).

Soft Skills:

• Passion for building technology that improves the colleague experience.
• Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Strategic thinker with a pragmatic, delivery‑focused mindset.
• Comfortable navigating ambiguity and driving change across complex environments.

Our colleagues work with one goal in mind, helping to make every day a little better for our customers, colleagues and communities all over the world. No two customers are the same, neither are our colleagues.

At Tesco, we champion a balance that lets you thrive both in and out of work. Spend 60% of your week collaborating with colleagues at our office locations or local sites and the rest remotely. Whether you're just kicking off your career, juggling passions, or navigating big life events, we're here to support you.

Tesco is committed to celebrating diversity and everyone is welcome at Tesco. As a Disability Confident Employer, we’re committed to providing a fully inclusive and accessible recruitment process, allowing candidates the opportunity to thrive and inform us of any reasonable adjustments they may require.

What our colleagues like the most at Tesco:

• We develop our own products
• We make an impact; large scale of operation
• Accountability and respect are given to us
• We cooperate and support each other
• There are great colleagues who are divided into small teams here
• We can develop and learn new things

Discover how our colleagues shape Tesco’s tomorrow.