Principal Engineer

We are seeking an exceptional Principal Engineer to serve as a technical advisor and problem-solver for our diverse client base. This role requires technical versatility to support both early-stage startups needing hands-on implementation and larger enterprises requiring strategic direction. You'll diagnose technical challenges, unblock teams, and collaborate with client leadership to align technology approaches with business objectives. We value pragmatic architecture that prioritises simplicity, maintainability, and business outcomes over unnecessary complexity—advocating for well-designed monoliths when appropriate and avoiding vendor lock-in.

Requirements

Key Responsibilities

• Key Responsibilities
  • Serve as a technical advisor to clients, diagnosing and resolving complex frontend challenges impacting team productivity or project success
  • Adapt your approach based on client size and maturity - providing hands-on frontend development for smaller clients while focusing on architecture and governance for larger enterprises
  • Work directly with client executives to translate business requirements into pragmatic frontend technical strategies
  • Establish technical standards, best practices, and architectural principles for React applications that promote scalability and maintainability
  • Evaluate existing applications and codebases, identifying technical debt and developing remediation strategies
  • Provide technical leadership and mentorship to distributed frontend engineering teams
  • Design and implement improvements to frontend development workflows, CI/CD pipelines, and developer experience
  • Lead technical discovery sessions and architectural reviews with client teams
  • Develop frontend performance optimisation strategies and component design systems
  • Advocate for and implement security best practices across frontend ecosystems
  • Facilitate communication between technical teams and business stakeholders
  • Collaborate with existing technical leadership while respecting their decision-making authority
  • Ensure knowledge transfer to client teams for long-term sustainability
  • Interview and qualify React developer candidates for internal and external teams
• Technical Skills
  • Demonstrated proficiency with React and its ecosystem (Redux, React Router, , etc.)
  • Experience with modern JavaScript/TypeScript, HTML5, and CSS3/SASS/LESS
  • Strong understanding of frontend build tools, module bundlers, and testing frameworks (Webpack, Vite, Jest, Cypress, etc.)
  • Expertise in frontend performance optimisation, accessibility standards, and responsive design
  • Experience with backend integration, RESTful APIs, GraphQL, and state management patterns
  • Proficiency with version control systems (Git) and collaborative development workflows
  • Knowledge of DevOps practices, CI/CD pipelines, and containerisation for frontend applications
  • Experience with both monolithic and micro-frontend architectural patterns, with the wisdom to know when each is appropriate
  • Understanding of cross-browser compatibility, progressive enhancement, and graceful degradation
  • Ability to evaluate technology choices based on total cost of ownership, not just initial implementation
• Required Skills
  • 8+ years of frontend development experience, with at least 4+ years of React experience and 3+ years in a senior technical leadership role
  • Proven experience working directly with business stakeholders to develop frontend technical strategy
  • Deep expertise in frontend architecture, component design systems, and technical standards development
  • Experience leading distributed teams and working in cross-cultural environments
  • Strong understanding of cloud platforms, infrastructure architecture, and scalable frontend systems
  • Problem-solving mindset with a track record of unblocking teams and resolving technical impediments
  • Excellent communication skills, with ability to explain complex technical concepts to diverse audiences
  • Experience with stakeholder management and communication
  • Experience assessing and rescuing over-engineered/troubled frontend systems/projects
  • Experience in an agency or consulting environment managing multiple client projects simultaneously
• Preferred Skills
  • Track record of successfully simplifying complex frontend systems and reducing technical complexity
  • Experience working across multiple industries and frontend technology stacks
  • Demonstrated ability to balance future flexibility with current simplicity
  • Background in building sustainable frontend architecture that doesn't require constant maintenance
  • Experience in mentoring and upskilling offshore/distributed engineering teams in India or the Philippines
  • Understanding of cross-cultural communication dynamics in technical environments
  • Experience with design systems and component libraries that scale across multiple applications
  • Background in UX/UI design principles and collaboration with design teams
  • Experience with multi-tenant applications and white-labelling solutions

Benefits

• Flexibility in work hours and location, with a focus on managing energy rather than time.
• Access to online learning platforms and a budget for professional development
• A collaborative, no-silos environment, encouraging learning and growth across teams
• A dynamic social culture with team lunches, social events, and opportunities for creative input
• Private Health insurance.

If you possess the required skills and are eager to contribute to our team's success, we encourage you to apply for this exciting opportunity. Apply now