Principal Software Engineer

Tech Principal | Digital Product Studio

London (Hybrid)

⌚️4 months + Likely Extensions

£110,000 – £130,000 (Pro Rata)

~£650 per day (Outside IR35)

FTC OR Contract

We’re partnering with an award-winning digital product studio known for building beautifully crafted, human-centred digital products for global clients. With a strong reputation across design, product and engineering, they deliver impactful work across the full product lifecycle — from early discovery through to large-scale builds.

In this role, you will serve as the overarching technical authority across cross-functional product teams spanning web, mobile, cloud, and AI-driven applications. Partnering closely with executive technology directors and senior enterprise stakeholders, you will define solution architectures, mentor engineering squads, and ensure the deployment of resilient, secure, and user-centric platforms.

This position perfectly balances high-level technical strategy, system architecture, and client-facing leadership. While your primary focus will centre on architectural design and engineering guidance, you maintain the technical credibility to provide hands-on direction when required.

Key Responsibilities

• System Architecture: Own the end-to-end solution design and technical blueprints for intricate, large-scale digital ecosystems.
• Technical Steering: Lead and mentor multidisciplinary engineering teams, serving as the ultimate point of escalation for complex technical challenges.
• Client Advisory: Act as a trusted advisor to senior stakeholders, translating ambitious business goals into pragmatic, scalable technology roadmaps.
• Ecosystem Oversight: Direct architectural strategy across frontend applications, native/cross-platform mobile, backend microservices, cloud infrastructure, and emerging AI integrations.
• Delivery Excellence: Balance rapid deployment pressures with long-term code quality, platform maintainability, and structural scalability.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with Product, Design, and Delivery counterparts to foster a cohesive, high-performing project environment.
• Strategic Communication: Articulate sophisticated technical concepts with clarity to both deeply technical developers and non-technical business executives.

What We Are Looking For

We need a seasoned technology leader who has a proven track record of architecting holistic digital products. Background experience within a fast-paced digital agency or technology consultancy is highly advantageous.

Rather than a niche specialist, we require a big-picture thinker who understands how web, mobile, backend systems, and intelligent workflows seamlessly connect.

Core Requirements:

• 10+ Years of Engineering Experience: A strong background in software development, with significant recent years operating as a Principal Engineer, Solution Architect, or Lead Developer.
• Backend Mastery: Deep expertise in modern backend stacks, particularly TypeScript/JavaScript (Java or .NET also highly valued).
• Cloud & Infrastructure: Advanced proficiency with AWS (GCP or Azure equivalents considered), alongside DevOps practices, CI/CD pipelines, and Infrastructure as Code (Terraform or equivalent).
• Data & Integration: Strong command of SQL/NoSQL data modeling, data ingestion strategies, and event-driven architectures.
• AI Capabilities: Practical experience incorporating Large Language Models (LLMs), AI-driven workflows, and AI-assisted development tools into enterprise application landscapes.
• Mobile & Web Familiarity: Comfort overseeing multi-platform rollouts, including frameworks like React Native, along with a firm grasp of app store release management and mobile security protocols.
• Governance & Strategy: Experience navigating formal information security reviews and evaluating build-versus-buy scenarios.

Leadership & Mindset:

• Pragmatic Thinker: Adept at making definitive architectural choices under tight delivery timelines.
• People First: Passionate about mentoring developers, leading through influence, and fostering collaborative team cultures.
• Consultative Approach: Confident, professional presence when engaging with client stakeholders at all levels.

Desirable Extras (Nice to Have):

• Direct experience designing and launching AI-native products.
• Prior tenure within a digital transformation consultancy or creative technology studio.

Apply via the link or reach out for a confidential conversation.