Principal Software Engineer – Hands-On Technical Leadership Location: Bristol or Cheltenham (Hybrid/Remote - bi-weekly visits to London) Salary: £80,000 - £95,000 excellent benefits Clearance: ELigable for SC Level hold British Passport Are you a Tech Lead/Principal Engineer looking for a fresh new challenge? SR2 are supporting one of our long term consultancy clients, to hire a critical role for the business whilst they embark on a lot of new projects!This is a role working for a software consultancy who are supporting central UK Gov customers with impactful work. We’re hiring a Principal Software Engineer to lead a multidisciplinary team within a software consultancy working on cutting-edge projects with AWS, Java, and React. This role is a mix of technical leadership (60-70%) and hands-on development (30-40%), perfect for someone who loves to stay close to the code while guiding and mentoring others. What you’ll be doing: Leading a team of 8-10 engineers, including developers, DevOps, and testers. Driving technical decisions and overseeing architecture – without being purely an architect. Staying hands-on with Java, React, and AWS, setting the technical direction. Engaging with stakeholders and customers to understand requirements and deliver exceptional solutions. Supporting large-scale greenfield projects with a strong emphasis on scalability and cloud-native design.What we’re looking for: Strong commercial experience with AWS, Java, and React (deep React knowledge is highly desirable). Previous experience in a technical lead, principal engineer roles Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills. Consultancy or client-facing experience is a bonus but not essential. Passion for mentoring and developing high-performing teams.Why join: Exciting growth period with 8-10 new hires planned over the next few months. Work on impactful projects in a supportive, collaborative environment. Flexible hybrid working and excellent career progression opportunities.If you’re a technical leader who still enjoys rolling up your sleeves and building great software, we’d love to hear from you. Apply now or reach out directly for a confidential chat. Call Settings Override From Record Yes No Always use these settings