Principal Engineer

RWS Group; Maidenhead; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading technology company is seeking a Principal Engineer to lead technical development and build new software services. This role requires significant backend experience with Java and some full-stack capability. The candidate will be involved in establishing engineering standards and mentoring teammates, contributing to a collaborative and innovative culture. Ideal candidates are curious and passionate about solving real problems with technology.

Qualifications

• Proven track record shipping production software in a hands-on engineering role.
• Experience mentoring engineers and contributing to a strong culture.
• Ability to influence technical direction without formal authority.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, and ship product capabilities while ensuring quality.
• Provide technical leadership and establish engineering standards.
• Work closely with various teams to shape roadmaps and solutions.

Skills

Backend experience with Java

Full-stack capability with TypeScript, React/Next.js

Experience in iterative/agile environments

Strong communication skills

Interest in LLMs and AI technologies

Tools

CI/CD tooling

Cloud platforms

Job description

Join to apply for the Principal Engineer role at RWS Group

This role is a hands‑on technical leadership position. You will design and build new services, drive engineering excellence, and help shape our modern delivery culture, delivering working software early and iteratively to real customers. You will set technical direction, establish engineering standards, and mentor engineers as our capability grows.

This is an individual‑contributor role today. As our product portfolio and teams scale, there is a clear pathway for the right person to move into line leadership if it aligns with your goals and business needs.

We’re looking for someone who is curious, delivery‑focused, collaborative and loves building great software. If you have an interest in LLMs and emerging AI/agentic frameworks, whether from professional work, experiments, or side projects; that’s a bonus.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, build, and ship new product capabilities with a modern, iterative, customer‑focused approach
• Provide technical leadership, setting direction across architecture, quality, and delivery practices
• Establish engineering standards for security, scalability, reliability, and automation
• Work closely with Product, Security, and business partners to shape roadmaps and solutions
• Drive adoption of modern engineering approaches, including CI/CD, cloud‑native practices and automation
• Mentor engineers and contribute to a strong, inclusive, learning‑first culture
• Explore and apply AI‑enabled development approaches where valuable
• Ensure delivery outcomes support the Protect mission and broader business goals

Skills & Experience

• Proven track record shipping production software in a hands‑on engineering role
• Strong backend experience, ideally with Java
• Some full‑stack capability with experience across TypeScript, React/Next.js
• Familiarity with modern cloud platforms and CI/CD tooling
• Experience in iterative/agile environments with fast feedback cycles
• Exposure to AI/LLM technologies or experimentation with agentic frameworks (nice to have)
• Strong communication skills and the ability to influence technical direction without formal authority
• Passion for building products that solve real problems and create customer value

Life at RWS

Our purpose is to unlock global understanding. This means our work fundamentally recognizes the value of every language and culture. So, we celebrate difference, we are inclusive and believe that diversity makes us strong. We want every employee to grow as an individual and excel in their career.

In return, we expect all our people to live by the values that unite us: to partner, putting clients fist and winning together, to pioneer, innovating fearlessly and leading with vision and courage, to progress, aiming high and growing through actions and to deliver, owning the outcome and building trust with our colleagues and clients.

RWS embraces DEI and promotes equal opportunity, we are an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind. RWS is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all employees and to providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions at RWS are based on business needs, job requirements and individual qualifications, without regard to race, religion, nationality, ethnicity, sex, age, disability or sexual orientation. RWS will not tolerate discrimination based on any of these characteristics.

Recruitment Agencies: RWS Holdings PLC does not accept agency resumes. Please do not forward any unsolicited resumes to any RWS employees. Any unsolicited resume received will be treated as the property of RWS and Terms & Conditions associated with the use of such resume will be considered null and void.

Seniority level

Mid‑Senior level

Employment type

Full‑time

Job function

Information Technology

Industries

Translation and Localization

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