Principal Software Engineer (Java)

TL;DR

Principal Software Engineer (Java): Providing technical leadership and architectural direction for high-scale digital retail platforms with an accent on cloud-native systems and complex integrations. Focus on driving engineering excellence, mentoring teams, and balancing business scalability with robust software design.

Location: Must be based in or able to commute to Liverpool, UK (Hybrid role).

Company

A leading digital retailer dedicated to helping families get more out of life through innovative technology and customer-focused services.

What you will do

• Design and build scalable software solutions for millions of customers.
• Lead technical decision-making and influence engineering standards across squads.
• Solve complex architectural challenges and balance business needs with technical sustainability.
• Drive improvements in software quality, reliability, and security.
• Champion modern engineering practices and automation within CI/CD pipelines.
• Coach and mentor engineers to support their professional development.

Requirements

• Strong hands-on experience with Java and AWS.
• Proven track record of designing and evolving complex systems at scale.
• Experience mentoring engineers and raising technical standards.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to explain complex ideas simply.
• Must have the right to work in the UK.

Nice to have

• Experience operating as a Principal Engineer or a Senior Engineer ready for a bigger challenge.
• Curiosity for emerging technologies and a desire for continuous learning.

Culture & Benefits

• Flexible, hybrid working model.
• 30 days holiday plus bank holidays.
• £1,000 flexible benefits allowance.
• Matched pension contributions up to 6%.
• Up to 25% discount on Very.co.uk.
• Access to LinkedIn Learning.

Hiring process

• Initial call with the Talent Acquisition team.
• Take-home technical interview.
• Behavioural and technical interview (60 minutes onsite).