Principal Software Architect

About the Role

Our client is seeking a visionary Principal Software Architect to lead architectural initiatives within their technology department in Southampton . This senior role is responsible for defining and evolving the technical strategy, ensuring the design and implementation of scalable, resilient, and secure software systems that align with business objectives. You will provide technical leadership across multiple engineering teams, establish architectural standards, and mentor engineers on best practices. This is a unique opportunity to influence the direction of technology, tackle complex challenges, and drive innovation within a forward-thinking organization that values technical leadership and strategic vision.

Key Responsibilities

• Define and communicate the overall software architecture strategy and technical roadmap.
• Lead the design of scalable, high-availability, and secure enterprise-level applications and systems.
• Establish and enforce architectural standards, patterns, and best practices across engineering teams.
• Evaluate and recommend new technologies and frameworks to drive innovation and efficiency.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to software engineers and architects.
• Collaborate with product management, business stakeholders, and engineering leaders to ensure alignment of technical solutions with business goals.

Requirements

• Master's or PhD in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in software engineering, with at least 5 years in an architectural role.
• Demonstrated experience in designing and implementing complex, distributed systems.
• Deep understanding of various architectural styles (microservices, event-driven, etc.) and design patterns.
• Expertise in cloud-native architectures (AWS, Azure, GCP) and containerization technologies.
• Excellent communication, leadership, and stakeholder management skills.

Benefits

• Highly competitive salary and bonus structure.
• Opportunity for remote work with occasional travel to the Southampton office.
• Comprehensive executive health benefits, including premium medical, dental, and vision.
• Generous stock options or equity grants.
• Significant budget for professional development, including conferences and training.