Xpertise Recruitment
Principal Software Engineer / DevSecOps Security Specialist (AI-Enabled Development)
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Principal Software Engineer / DevSecOps Security Specialist (AI-Enabled Development)
North East | Contract | Outside IR35 | £750 per day | Hybrid
We're looking for a senior engineering professional with a strong background in software development, application security, DevSecOps, and modern AI-enabled development practices. This is a hands-on role for someone who understands how software is designed, built, secured, deployed, monitored, and continuously improved within modern cloud environments. You'll be comfortable operating across the full software delivery lifecycle, combining engineering expertise with a security-first mindset.
About the Opportunity
Joining a highly technical environment, you'll play a key role in shaping secure, scalable software solutions whilst driving best practice across engineering, security, and DevSecOps disciplines.
Why Join?
- Work on complex, large-scale software engineering challenges
- Influence security and engineering best practices
- Apply modern AI development tools within real-world delivery environments
- High-impact contract opportunity with significant technical ownership
Key Responsibilities
- Design and deliver secure, scalable software solutions
- Drive secure development practices and SSDLC adoption
- Contribute to application security, threat modelling, and risk mitigation
- Support the design and optimisation of CI/CD and DevSecOps pipelines
- Ensure applications are securely built, tested, released, and monitored in production
- Improve platform resilience, observability, and operational performance
- Utilise AI-assisted development tools to enhance engineering delivery
- Provide technical leadership across software engineering and security teams
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Requirements
- Strong software engineering background with experience in.NET, Java, Python, Go, Unix/Linux or similar technologies
- Experience building and delivering cloud-native applications and distributed systems
- Deep understanding of secure software development and secure coding practices
- Experience within cyber security, malware, application security, or secure SDLC environments
- Strong DevSecOps experience, including CI/CD, Infrastructure as Code, release engineering, and production operations
- Understanding of how applications are designed, secured, deployed, monitored, and supported in live environments
- Hands-on experience with AI development tools such as GitHub Copilot, Cursor, Claude Code, Codex, or equivalent
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Desirable Experience
- Threat modelling and application security testing
- Vulnerability management and remediation
- Cloud security architecture and controls
- AI-driven testing, code review, and automation
Key Details
- Location: North East
- Contract: Outside IR35
- Day Rate: £750 per day
- Working Pattern: Hybrid
If you're an experienced Software Engineer, Security Engineer, DevSecOps Architect, Principal Engineer, or Technical Lead with a passion for secure software delivery and modern engineering practices, we'd love to hear from you.
Apply now with your latest CV for immediate consideration. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds. Our Client are an equal opportunities employer. Xpertise is acting as an employment agency & business.
At Xpertise, we keep things human, your application will always be reviewed by a real person. We do not rely on AI or automated screening tools. Every candidate receives fair, considered attention from our team.
Right to work in the UK is required for this role.
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