Principal Software Engineer & Technical Lead - Consultancy

Leeds City Centre with Hybrid Working

£65,000-£90,000 + Benefits

Are you a hands-on technical leader who thrives on solving complex problems and shaping the future of digital innovation? Do you want to work with one of the best tech teams in the business?

WRK digital are delighted to be shortlisting for an exceptional Principal Software Engineer to join a growing technical consultancy, where you'll lead technical strategy on ambitious client projects whilst maintaining a hands‑on approach to development.

What You'll Do

• Lead by example – Design robust architectures whilst getting your hands dirty with code, building high‑quality features and mentoring fellow engineers
• Shape technical vision – Drive architectural decisions, establish best practices, and guide engineering teams through complex technical challenges
• Client collaboration – Work directly with clients during discovery phases, translating business requirements into elegant technical solutions
• Innovation focus – Work with cutting‑edge technologies including AI‑enabled features, modern JavaScript frameworks, and cloud‑native applications
• Team development – Conduct code reviews, and foster a culture of technical excellence and continuous learning

What We're Looking For

• Strong technical foundation – Expert‑level JavaScript & TypeScript with AWS, particularly Next.js, React or React Native
• AI experience – Demonstrable experience building AI‑enabled features or products
• Architecture expertise – Proven ability to design scalable APIs, distributed systems, and cloud‑native solutions
• DevOps proficiency – Hands‑on experience with CI / CD pipelines, infrastructure as code, and containerisation
• Quality champion – Passionate about TDD, automated testing, and engineering best practices
• Communication skills – Confident presenting to both technical and non‑technical audiences
• Leadership potential – Natural mentor with experience guiding technical teams and influencing stakeholders

Why You'll Love It

• Variety & challenge – Work across diverse industries with clients from ambitious SMEs to FTSE 100 companies
• Technical freedom – Influence technology choices and architectural decisions on greenfield projects
• Hybrid flexibility – 1‑3 days per week in modern Leeds city centre office with the flexibility to work from home
• Investment in you – Monthly professional development day plus quarterly hack days
• Excellent benefits – Private healthcare, 4% matched pension, enhanced parental leave, gym / streaming subsidy
• Genuine work‑life balance – 25 days holiday + bank holidays + loyalty days, flexible working arrangements

Ready to take on projects others think impossible?

Our client tackles the challenges that others shy away from, combining technical innovation with exceptional user experience. If you're excited by the prospect of leading technical excellence whilst remaining hands‑on with code, we'd love to hear from you. Please apply now for immediate consideration or contact James@wrkdigital.co.uk