iO Associates
Principal Product Engineer
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Principal Product Engineer
Manchester
We're working with a long-established organisation undergoing an exciting technology transformation. We are looking for a Principal Product Engineer to help elevate engineering standards and shape how modern software is built across the business.
This isn't a traditional line management role. It's about providing technical leadership, coaching engineers, improving engineering practices, and helping teams build better products.
You'll work closely with Product leadership, Engineering, and AI Enablement to embed modern engineering principles across two product squads.
The Role
You'll provide technical direction while remaining close enough to the code to guide the teams when needed.
Areas you'll influence include:
- Coaching and mentoring engineers across two squads (around 10 developers)
- Driving engineering best practice across architecture, delivery, and product development
- Working closely with the AI Enablement Lead to embed AI-first engineering practices across the teams
- Helping shape the move from a monolithic platform towards modern cloud-native microservices
- Advising teams on containerisation, AWS architecture, and engineering standards
- Raising the overall capability of the engineering function rather than acting as another delivery manager
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We're looking for someone with experience in:
- Modern cloud engineering (AWS)
- Docker and containerisation
- Microservices architecture
- CI/CD and DevOps practices
- Kubernetes
- Strong product engineering mindset
- Coaching and mentoring engineers
- AI-assisted software development (e.g., Claude, GitHub Copilot, or similar)
Experience with AWS Aurora, database administration, FinOps, or platform engineering would be advantageous.
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Why join?
- Opportunity to shape engineering culture rather than inherit it
- Strong partnership with Product leadership and AI Enablement
- Genuine influence over technical direction
- Modernisation programme already underway with significant investment
Package: £70,000-80,000
Hybrid (5 days onsite during 6 month probation then hybrid model of 3 days remote)
This role would suit a Staff Engineer, Principal Engineer, or hands-on Engineering Lead who enjoys coaching others, improving engineering capability, and helping teams embrace modern software engineering practices.
If you are a talented and motivated Principal Product Engineer seeking a challenging role where you can make a real impact, we invite you to submit your CV.
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