Principal Software Engineer

Summary

Join our client, a UK-based company specializing in property wealth, as a Principal Software Engineer to lead and establish their new engineering team in the Philippines. You will provide technical leadership and architectural guidance across their TypeScript-based platforms, including Node.js backends, React Native mobile app, and React web portal. This role involves designing and implementing scalable, secure systems, establishing development standards, mentoring the team, and ensuring effective knowledge transfer from the London team. You will also collaborate with London-based leadership to align technical direction with business goals and ensure compliance with financial regulations. This is an excellent opportunity for professional development and working with cutting-edge technologies within a supportive work culture.

Requirements

• At least 5 years of software development experience, with at least 3 years in senior level role
• Deep expertise in TypeScript/JavaScript ecosystem, including Node.js, React, and React Native
• Strong understanding of cloud architecture, particularly AWS services
• Experience designing and implementing secure, scalable, and observable architectures
• Strong understanding of software development lifecycle and agile methodologies
• Excellent problem-solving, decision-making, and analytical skills
• Outstanding communication abilities in English, with experience bridging remote teams
• History of successfully implementing DevOps practices and CI/CD pipelines, preferably with Github Actions

Responsibilities

• Partner with London leadership to establish our engineering presence in the Philippines
• Lead the recruitment and hiring process for our initial Philippines-based engineering team
• Provide technical leadership and architectural guidance across our TypeScript ecosystem (Node.js backends, React Native mobile app, and React web portal)
• Design and implement scalable, secure system architecture that meets financial regulatory requirements
• Establish development standards, best practices, and security protocols for the new team
• Manage, mentor, and develop the growing team of software engineers in the Philippines
• Oversee knowledge transfer from London to the offshore team, ensuring smooth collaboration
• Collaborate with London-based leadership to align technical direction with business goals
• Lead technical planning sessions and contribute to product roadmap development
• Ensure compliance with financial industry regulations and data protection standards
• Implement and maintain security measures appropriate for financial data handling

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field
• Experience with Terraform and DevOps pipelines
• Experience working in fintech or handling sensitive financial data
• Knowledge of financial industry security standards and regulatory compliance (e.g., GDPR, PCI)
• Proven track record of leading technical teams and managing developers
• Experience establishing new development teams or offices
• Prior success in building engineering teams from scratch
• Background in financial services or property technology
• Experience working within financial regulatory frameworks
• Certifications in cloud architecture, security, or project management
• Experience with microservices architecture and containerization