Instil

Software Engineering

PrincipalSoftwareEngineer

Belfast, United Kingdom FULL TIME
Market Sentiment
HIGH DEMAND

Neural analysis suggests this role is
optimal for Lead candidates.

The Brief

“Principal Software Engineer at Instil. Skills: Software Architecture, Cloud Platforms, Technical Leadership, Distributed Systems. Design and deliver robust, scalable software systems. Lead architectural decisions”

Industry & Context.

Software Engineering
Problems you'll solve

Problem-solving

What They're Looking For.

Must Have

Experience designing and delivering production-grade software systems using technologies such as Java, C#/. Net, TypeScript or Python, Significant experience working with cloud platforms such as AWS, Azure, or GCP, Background in system design, architecture, and building scalable distributed systems, Experience designing and building APIs, backend platforms, and event-driven services, Proven ability to make sound technical decisions and guide teams through complex engineering challenges, Comfortable working across the full software delivery lifecycle, from design through to deployment and operation, Grasp of software engineering fundamentals, patterns, and best practices, Experience adopting agentic ways of working, using AI tools to enhance engineering productivity and delivery, Ability to balance hands-on delivery with technical leadership and strategic thinking, Communication skills and the ability to work effectively with engineers, stakeholders, and cross-functional teams

Nice to Have

Experience with frontend technologies such as React, Angular, or Vue, Familiarity with infrastructure-as-code tools such as Terraform or CloudFormation, Experience with containerisation and orchestration using Docker and Kubernetes, Exposure to CI/CD tooling such as GitHub Actions, GitLab CI, or similar, Experience building or integrating AI-driven features or systems, Experience working in consulting, product, or cross-functional delivery environments, Interest in improving engineering standards, mentoring others, and shaping technical culture, Experience working across multiple teams or projects in a senior technical leadership capacity

What You'll Do.

Design and deliver robust

scalable software systems

Lead architectural decisions

Build and guide development of backend services

Work across cloud platforms

Apply agentic ways of working

Help teams adopt AI patterns

Provide technical leadership

Contribute hands-on where needed

Drive improvements in engineering practices

Support teams with technical mentoring

Collaborate with platform

Help define technical standards

How You'll Work.

Team & Collaboration

Collaborate with platform, product, and delivery teams; Work effectively with engineers, stakeholders, and cross-functional teams

Communication Scope

Communication skills

Full Job Description

The Role We’re looking for experienced Principal Software Engineers who enjoy solving complex technical problems, shaping architecture, and leading the design and delivery of high-quality software in production environments. This role is suited to someone who combines strong hands-on engineering capability with technical leadership. You’ll work across backend systems, cloud infrastructure, and distributed architectures, helping teams make sound technical decisions while staying close enough to the code to guide delivery in a practical way. It’s a strong fit for someone who takes ownership, sets a high engineering bar, and enjoys influencing how systems are designed, built, and evolved over time. What You’ll Be Doing - Design and deliver robust, scalable software systems using technologies like Java, C#/.Net, TypeScript or Python. - Lead architectural decisions across services, platforms, and cloud-native systems - Build and guide the development of backend services, APIs, and event-driven systems - Work across AWS, Azure, or GCP to design reliable and secure cloud-based solutions - Apply agentic ways of working, using AI tools to support design, development, testing, and delivery - Help teams adopt effective patterns for integrating AI into engineering workflows and systems - Provide technical leadership to engineering teams, helping shape direction and unblock delivery - Contribute hands-on where needed, particularly in complex or high-impact areas of implementation - Drive improvements in engineering practices, system design, deployment processes, and operational maturity - Support teams with technical mentoring, design reviews, and problem-solving across the software lifecycle - Collaborate with platform, product, and delivery teams to ensure systems are scalable, maintainable, and production-ready - Help define technical standards and influence how engineering is done across projects and teams Required - Strong experience designing and delivering production-grad

Free ATS check

Applying for this Principal Software Engineer role?

Most applicants get filtered before a human reads their resume. See if yours makes the cut.

How to Apply on Ashby

  • Ashby is a fast modern ATS — most applications take under 3 minutes.
  • The resume parser is strong; verify parsed experience dates and job titles.
  • Custom screening questions are often scored algorithmically — answer completely.
  • Location field affects geo-based screening; use your actual metro area.

ANONYMOUS · UNFILTERED

What do employees actually say about Instil?

Real rants from real employees. Read before you apply.

Read Company Rants →