- Company Name
- 8th Light
- Job Title
- Principal Software Engineer (London Only)
- Job Description
-
**Job title**
Principal Software Engineer
**Role Summary**
Lead architectural design, development, and delivery of high‑impact software for enterprise clients. Serve as a trusted advisor and technical strategist, driving scalable solutions, AI integration, and modernization initiatives while mentoring engineers and collaborating across stakeholder layers.
**Expectations**
- Minimum 10 + years of demonstrable success in complex consulting engagements across diverse technologies.
- Proven track record with modern programming languages (Python, Java, JavaScript/TypeScript, Go, Ruby, Scala, etc.) and frameworks (React, etc.).
- Experience in end‑to‑end AI/ML lifecycle: data ingestion, model deployment, and performance monitoring.
- Strong strategic thinking, problem‑solving, and communication skills to influence client CTOs and executive teams.
**Key Responsibilities**
- Architect and deliver production‑grade software, ensuring quality, scalability, security, and performance.
- Lead modernization of legacy systems to align with business objectives.
- Mentor and coach client engineering teams, fostering best practices and continuous improvement.
- Evaluate and implement AI‑assistive development tools to accelerate delivery.
- Build high‑level technical roadmaps for large engagements and advocate for innovative solutions.
- Facilitate retrospectives, strategy sessions, and technical deep‑dives; document outcomes and action items.
- Maintain client relationships, participate in account planning, and identify new opportunities.
**Required Skills**
- Deep expertise in multiple programming languages and modern frameworks.
- Strong background in automated testing, continuous integration, and CI/CD pipelines.
- Experience with AI/ML feature integration (recommendation engines, NLP, computer vision, predictive analytics).
- Proficiency in evaluating new tooling, trends, and incorporating them into production workflows.
- Leadership capability: technical direction, mentorship, stakeholder collaboration, and cross‑function communication.
**Required Education & Certifications**
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field.
- Certifications in relevant technologies (e.g., AWS Certified Solutions Architect, Azure Solutions Architect, or equivalent) preferred but not mandatory.