Principal Software Engineer

About the RoleWe’re looking for a Principal Software Developer with strong C++ expertise to take a key leadership role within our Trading Surveillance team, working closely with our Principal Developer.This role is focused on leading and developing one of our largest engineering teams. You’ll take ownership of day-to-day technical direction, team standards, and developer growth, while playing a key role in shaping how large volumes of data are processed, queried, and leveraged across the platform.A core part of the role is enabling the team to work effectively with data at scale, ensuring performance, efficiency, and reliability, allowing the Principal to focus on new feature development and longer-term platform evolution.Key ResponsibilitiesTechnical LeadershipLead the day-to-day technical direction of the TS team, with a strong focus on C++ developmentGuide implementation and design decisions across both application logic and data layerEnsure systems are built with performance, scalability, and efficient data access in mindReview code and support developers in solving complex, data-driven technical challengeDatabase OwnershipOversee how data is structured, accessed, and queried across the platformDrive best practices in SQL, query optimisation, and database interactionWork closely with the team to improve performance of data-heavy workflows and reportingSupport design decisions around data modelling and large-scale data processingTeam Leadership & MentorshipTake ownership of mentoring and developing a large team of developers across varying levelsSupport onboarding and help new hires become productive quicklyAct as the primary technical leader within the team, providing clear guidance and directionDrive improvements in team capability, confidence, and outputDelivery Ownership & SupportWork closely with Product, QA, and stakeholders to ensure smooth and predictable deliveryHelp remove blockers, manage technical dependencies, and keep delivery on trackPlay an active role in sprint planning, estimation, and retrospectivesEnsure the team is operating efficiently and delivering consistentlyEngineering Standards & QualityOwn code quality, technical debt, and system maintainability across both code and data layersPromote best practices in testing, performance, and securityDrive continuous improvement in development processes, tooling, and workflowsWhat We’re Looking For8–12+ years in software development, with clear experience leading within a teamDeep, production-level experience in C++ as a primary language (essential)Strong experience working with SQL and data-intensive systemsA solid understanding of how to design and optimise data access and query performanceExperience working on large, complex or performance-critical systemsStrong understanding of software architecture, design patterns, and scalable systemsA track record of mentoring developers and improving team performanceComfortable working in Agile delivery environmentsNice to HaveExperience optimising database performance or tuning complex queriesExposure to large-scale or high-volume data platformsExperience with PostgreSQL, MySQL, or similar database technologiesExperience with cloud environments (AWS, Azure, GCP)Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines and modern engineering practicesExperience in regulated or financial services environmentsWhy This RoleTake ownership of one of our largest and most important engineering teamsPlay a central role in scaling a data-heavy, high-impact Trading Surveillance platformWork closely with senior technical leadership and shape how the team operatesEnable the Principal Developer to focus on forward-looking feature and platform workClear progression towards Principal-level leadership