Principal Software Engineer

Aqovia, a pioneering consultancy based in London, thrives at the intersection of technology, media, and telecommunications. Since our inception in 2008, we've dedicated ourselves to guiding blue-chip clients through complex strategy, business transformation, and technological innovation. Our ethos is rooted in continuous improvement, a commitment to excellence, and an unwavering focus on delivering sustainable results that drive our clients and our team forward.

Aqovia is an equal opportunity employer, valuing diversity and inclusivity.

Job Description:

In the role of Principal Software Developer and Architectural Leader at Aqovia, you will stand at the forefront of technical innovation and leadership. This position is crafted for a seasoned developer who brings profound leadership and coding acumen with rich expertise in microservices, reusable web components, and a comprehensive grasp of the software development lifecycle. Your role will be dual-faceted: hands-on in coding and strategic in architectural design, embodying the principles of agile and eXtreme Programming environments with a passion that views software development as both a craft and a rigorous engineering discipline.

You will spearhead the technical direction, embodying our commitment to continuous learning, staying at the vanguard of industry trends, and advocating for superior tools and methodologies. Your enthusiasm for pair programming will be matched by your dedication to nurturing and leading our agile development teams towards innovative solutions and technical excellence across all our products and client projects.

Key Responsibilities:

• Strategic Leadership: Act as a pivotal figure in shaping the technology strategy and architectural vision, directly supporting the Chief Engineer. Guide the development practices to align with organisational goals, emphasising quality and innovation.
• Technical Mastery & Innovation: Lead by example in the adoption and mastery of microservices, reusable Web Components, C#, ASP.NET, NodeJS, and other cutting-edge technologies. Push the boundaries of what's possible in software development to enhance our products and delight our clients.
• Mentorship & Team Development: Foster a culture of excellence within the agile development teams. Mentor technical leads and team members, promoting continuous improvement and professional growth. Encourage an environment where learning new skills and technologies is the norm.
• Advocacy of Agile Practices: Champion agile and eXtreme Programming principles across teams, ensuring the adoption of practices like pair programming, continuous integration, and test-driven development to improve productivity and software quality.
• Industry Engagement: Stay ahead of technological advancements and software development trends. Lead the charge in integrating innovative tools and methodologies that solidify our competitive edge and technical prowess.
• Collaborative Excellence: Ensure effective collaboration between your teams, the Chief Engineer, and other stakeholders. Align development efforts with broader company objectives, facilitating a unified approach to project execution.

The Ideal Candidate will have:

The ideal candidate for the Principal Software Developer and Architectural Leader role at Aqovia will exhibit a blend of leadership prowess and deep technical expertise underpinned by a strong commitment to agile principles and a passion for software craftsmanship. Specifically, we are looking for:

Proven Leadership in Agile Environments:

• Demonstrable experience leading and mentoring teams in a professional agile software development setting. A track record of successfully managing projects from conception to deployment, with a keen ability to foster team growth and cohesion.

Technical Mastery:

• Profound knowledge of C# and the .NET Framework, particularly ASP.NET, demonstrating the ability to build scalable, secure, and maintainable applications.
• Solid understanding of HTML5, ECMAScript 6+, CSS3, and the modern Web Platform, capable of creating rich, interactive, and responsive web applications.
• Expertise in component-based web development using JavaScript or TypeScript, with experience in frameworks such as Web Components, React, VueJs, or Angular.

Specialised Skills:

• Experience with offline-first, mobile-first Progressive Web Applications, understanding the nuances and technologies that enable a seamless user experience in various connectivity scenarios.
• Proficiency in micro-front-end architectures, capable of architecting and implementing modular, scalable web applications that integrate seamlessly.
• Skills in performance monitoring and optimisation of browser-based applications, with a knack for diagnosing and resolving performance bottlenecks.

Architectural Acumen:

• Demonstrated ability in designing secure, performant public-facing, HATEOAS, RESTful web APIs.
• A strong interest and experience in microservices architecture, with the ability to design and implement robust, scalable, and loosely coupled services.
• Experience with event-driven applications in .NET or NodeJS, utilising a message bus such as RabbitMQ or Azure Service Bus.

Problem-Solving and Communication:

• An aptitude for tackling challenging problems, with a proven ability to propose and implement effective solutions.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex technical issues in simple, accessible terms of technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Additional Technical Proficiencies:

• Understanding of Ethernet and TCP/IP protocols, contributing to a robust foundation in networking principles relevant to application development.
• Experience with Azure Functions, enhancing our serverless architecture and cloud services capabilities.

Company Benefits

• Performance review in 6 months (Personal Development Plan)
• Learning program
• 25 days Holiday (excl. Bank Holidays)
• Laptop (Mac or Windows machine whichever you prefer)
• AXA Dental Care, Optical + Insurance (extends to family)
• AXA Health Care (extends to family)
• 100% of membership to a Gym of your choice* Price cap does apply!
• Cycle to work scheme (Help with buying a bike work or leisure)
• Interest free loans
• Perkbox - Pick and choose benefits you want, from cinema tickets, money off your weekly shop to meals out.
• Pension scheme

Interview Process

1. Screening with HR Manager
2. 1st Stage Interview & Technical Test
3. 2nd Stage Interview with Technical Lead
4. 3rd Stage Interview with CTO & COO