Principal Engineer - Platform & Data

United States Digital Space LLC; United States; Remote; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days holiday plus 5 days

Private Healthcare

Life Insurance

Pension scheme

Training allowance

Job summary

United States Digital Space LLC seeks a Principal Engineer to join the Architecture team. You will shape platform and data architecture, lead multi‑team technical direction, and stay hands‑on when needed to deliver scalable services.

The role focuses on cloud design, API governance, and strategic tech decisions, with remote work options and occasional travel as required. Ideal candidates have strong experience in distributed systems and cross‑team leadership.

Qualifications

• Strong experience designing and evolving distributed systems and microservices architectures.
• Proven track record as Principal or Staff level shaping technical direction across teams.
• Willingness to stay hands-on in code, design and delivery when needed.
• Extensive experience with cloud platforms (AWS preferred) and modern infra practices.
• Experience with data architectures and large data stores; ability to translate problems into technical solutions.

Responsibilities

• Shape platform architecture, defining standards and best practices.
• Shape data architecture and strategy across the platform data stores and pipelines.
• Design and deliver scalable, cost-efficient services aligned with the platform blueprint.
• Remain hands-on in code and technical delivery through reviews and contributions.
• Address scalability, performance, resilience, and cost challenges across systems.
• Advise across engineering teams to align with company standards and direction.
• Contribute to technical roadmaps and prioritisation of platform improvements.
• Support RFP estimation and technical scoping for complex initiatives.
• Produce clear architecture artefacts and high-quality documentation.
• Improve how architecture is understood and applied across engineering and business.
• Contribute to architecture governance and technical forums.

Skills

Distributed systems

Microservices

Hands-on coding

Cloud platforms AWS

REST API design

Technical leadership

Architecture governance

Tools

Kotlin

Java

Terraform

GitLab CI/CD

DynamoDB

MySQL

Snowflake

Databricks

Spark

Job description

About Us_//

At the company, we’re driving the fare payment revolution, powering the journeys of millions all over the world. We build fare collection platforms that allow riders to seamlessly buy and present tickets for public transport either on their mobile phones, from a ticket machine, or even by tapping their bank card to travel.

Our Justride platform is used in over 250 locations globally, including some of the largest cities in the world. With our industry-first mobile ticketing SDK, we’ve partnered with large players in the transport space, including Uber, Moovit and Transit.

Your own journey is important to us too. Choosing a role here means joining a network of innovators from all walks of life; a group of passionate individuals who consistently deliver. Here, you’ll find the tools you need to build the career you want. Whether you’re taking the direct route or trying a new path, we’ll support you no matter what.

The Role_//

We’re looking for a Principal Engineer to join the company’s Architecture team.

Location_//

This role is available on a remote basis for candidates located anywhere in the UK. Candidates based in London may also work in a hybrid model, with occasional travel to the office.

Responsibilities_

• Shape the company’s platform architecture, including platform blueprint definition, standards and best practices
• Help shape the company's data architecture and strategy, including how we structure, store and make use of the data generated across our platform
• Design and deliver scalable, robust, cost efficient services aligned with platform blueprint
• Stay hands‑on in code and technical delivery, including reviews and targeted contributions
• Identify and work through complex platform challenges related to scalability, performance, resilience and cost
• Act as a senior technical advisor across engineering teams, supporting and influencing technical decisions and ensuring the company standards are followed
• Shape and contribute to technical roadmap planning and prioritisation of platform improvements
• Support RFP estimation and technical scoping for complex initiatives
• Produce clear, high-quality technical documentation and architecture artefacts
• Improve how architecture is understood and applied across engineering and the wider business
• Contribute to and help shape technical forums and working groups, including areas such as API and architecture governance

About You_

• You bring strong experience designing and evolving distributed systems and microservices architectures
• You’ve operated at Principal or Staff level, shaping technical direction across multiple teams or domains
• You are comfortable staying hands‑on, contributing in code, design and delivery when needed
• You have strong experience with cloud platforms (AWS preferred) and modern infrastructure practices
• You’ve worked on systems where scale, reliability, performance and cost trade‑offs matter, and can navigate those decisions thoughtfully
• You have proven experience in data architecture (e.g. data platforms, pipelines, warehousing or data lakes) and working on products built on top of large data stores
• You can take loosely defined (early stage) business or technical problems and turn them into clear, actionable technical approaches
• You communicate complex ideas clearly and effectively, and produce structured documentation that helps both technical and non‑technical audiences make decisions
• You’ve contributed to engineering standards, architecture patterns or platform direction
• Strong experience with REST API design in complex, multi‑service environments, ideally including how APIs are consumed on the front end
• Interest in or exposure to AI‑enabled systems, particularly understanding architectural implications in production

Nice To Have_

• Experience breaking monolithic applications into microservices architectures
• Experience with event‑driven architectures (e.g. Kafka, schema governance)
• Experience improving cloud cost and system efficiency at scale
• Familiarity with a range of tools and technologies including:
• Development: Kotlin, Java
• Data storage/processing: DynamoDB, MySQL, Snowflake, Databricks, Spark
• Infrastructure as code and CI/CD: Terraform, GitLab CI/CD

Some of Our Benefits_

• 25 days of holiday per year plus the option to buy another 5 days pro‑rated
• Private Healthcare via AXA, including pre‑existing conditions and mental health
• Life Insurance
• Menopause support
• Choice of workstation
• Ability to work for up to 3 months per year from any country in the world (certain limitations)
• Pension scheme
• Training allowance of up to £1000 per year
• £200 annual allowance for any home office need or improvement
• Enhanced family leave pay
• Cycle to work scheme
• Regular social gatherings with a monthly allowance for each employee
• Fun and collaborative environment with a focus on making a difference in the world

Careers at the company are for people going places - driven by a mission to make transit fair and accessible for all.

// We are a network of innovators from all walks of life, passionate about making a difference. At the company, we operate with openness and trust, creating an environment where everyone feels empowered to bring their whole, authentic selves to work.

Whoever you are, just be yourself.// We welcome applications from underrepresented groups, including disabled and neurodivergent people, and can make adjustments at any stage of the process. You’re also welcome to share your pronouns whenever you feel comfortable. Together, we simplify journeys, remove barriers, and improve daily life for millions.

Why Join the company?

Driven by Purpose – We believe in journeys made simple. The work isn’t always easy, but the best things never are. Encouraged to Accelerate – the company is going places and our people are in the driving seat. Whether you’re taking the direct route or exploring new paths, we support your journey.Advancing with Empathy – We put people first and foster a culture of learning, not blame. No matter your cargo, we share the load.

We’re already powering journeys - are you ready to join us?