Principal Engineer Engineering UK

What you'll be doing

As Thrive continues to grow rapidly, we're seeking a Principal Engineer to drive innovation, tackle our toughest technical challenges, and elevate our engineering standards. Reporting directly to the Head of Engineering, this role is essential for leading complex engineering initiatives, mentoring Lead and Senior Engineers, and advancing our technology roadmap.

In this role, you'll be the highest technical authority within your domain and discipline, helping shape strategic direction while collaborating with Product Managers, Delivery Managers, and other Engineers. Working within a matrix structure, you'll oversee the engineering function for one of our core products, embedded within a feature squad while providing technical guidance across all squads for that product. The role combines hands-on engineering and influential leadership, balancing the need for new developments with support for existing systems.

Key Responsibilities

• Technical Leadership & Guidance: Provide deep technical expertise and strategic direction to Lead Engineers, enabling them to effectively manage their teams and deliver high-quality, dependable features on time.
• Stakeholder Collaboration: Collaborate with senior stakeholders to prioritise and shape initiatives, ensuring alignment with broader company goals and technical roadmap requirements.
• Engineering Standards: Drive the evolution of best practices within engineering, maintaining high standards in code quality, architecture, design patterns, and performance optimization.
• Community Building: Foster a thriving engineering community, actively leading and contributing to a culture of shared knowledge, continuous improvement, and high standards.
• Line Management & Mentorship: Support the growth of Lead and Senior Engineers through structured development plans, clear goals, and regular one-on-one sessions.
• Technical Oversight: Facilitate technical discussions, code reviews, and architectural decisions to maintain engineering quality and accelerate delivery.
• Development Cycle Support: Actively support squads during development cycles to sustain momentum, address challenges, and ensure smooth, efficient delivery.

What We're Looking For

Essential Skills

• System Architecture & Scaling: Proven experience in architecting and scaling complex SaaS or enterprise-grade platforms.
• Backend Expertise: Proficiency in backend languages such as NodeJS and/or Python, with a strong foundation in microservices architecture.
• API & Messaging Proficiency: Strong knowledge of RESTful APIs, GraphQL, and asynchronous messaging, as well as familiarity with JSON and XML data formats.
• Cloud Platforms: Hands-on experience with cloud providers like AWS, GCP, or Azure, with expertise in cloud-native design and deployment strategies.
• CI/CD & IaC: Robust understanding of CI/CD practices, automated testing, and Infrastructure as Code (e.g., CloudFormation, Terraform).
• Leadership & Mentorship: Demonstrated ability to manage, inspire, and develop high-performing engineering teams.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Excellent communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex ideas and collaborate effectively across functions.
• Problem-Solving: Proactive and pragmatic problem-solver, adept at making sound decisions in fast-paced, dynamic environments.
• Remote Work Experience: Experience working effectively with distributed teams, using tools and processes that support virtual collaboration.

Desirable Skills

• Frontend Knowledge: Familiarity with frontend frameworks like React or Vue.js and component-based architecture.
• DevOps Experience: Knowledge of DevOps principles and experience with containerization technologies like Docker or Kubernetes.
• Agile Practices: Familiarity with Agile methodologies and a commitment to collaborative, iterative development.
• NoSQL Databases: Experience with NoSQL databases, including MongoDB, Elasticsearch, or DynamoDB.
• Continuous Learning: Appreciation for continuous learning, with a desire to stay up-to-date with emerging technologies and best practices.

About THRIVE

Benefits

Since starting the business in 2017 we've endeavoured to create a modern workplace, with team members working across the UK, enjoying the benefits of flexible working to create a positive work-life balance while achieving exciting goals as a team.

We appreciate the passion and professionalism that our team members bring to their work, and recognise that through schemes like offering unlimited holiday to everyone in the business. We also take pride in offering a strong pension scheme which is carefully managed to ensure it's giving good returns for our team.

Evolve and innovate

Because we're a growing business, the potential for you to progress your career with Thrive is limitless. Growth is a focal part of our business and it benefits our employees with fast-tracked career progression and opportunities to expand roles or learn something new.

Work with passionate and creative people

There's a wealth of experience at Thrive - you'll be working with a team that has great ideas, is passionate about the quality of its work, and likes finding creative solutions to problems and pushing the envelope to create something new.

With us, your individual effort has a direct impact on our organisation's success. Here you'll help to be a driving force in the continued success of our business and will receive the recognition you deserve.