Principal Software Engineer - C++ And Rust

Principal Software Engineer – C++ and Rust

Highly successful and fast‑growing technology consultancy specializing in data, AI and software solutions for clients across a broad range of industries, tackling demanding problems in challenging environments.

This is a hands‑on Principal Software Engineer role focused on C++ and Rust development. You will lead a team of 6 to 12 engineers, own end‑to‑end delivery, spend a meaningful share of your time writing code, reviewing designs, and unblocking the team. It’s a delivery role, not a strategy role. You will shape how we build things and how the team grows around you.

• Lead the delivery of complex software projects
• Work alongside other leads to set direction for the defence function
• Stay hands‑on: set technical direction, design software and write code, leaning in where needed
• Mentor engineers across experience levels
• Plan and estimate delivery, manage technical debt, and make pragmatic trade‑offs between speed, quality and long‑term maintainability
• Work directly with clients to shape requirements, manage expectations and build trust
• Run code and design reviews, set the bar for quality, and hold the team to it
• Embed strong testing practices in the team’s workflow, from unit tests through to integration and acceptance testing

• A track record of technically leading complex software deliveries
• Excellent programming skills in C++ or Rust
• Experience of modern end‑to‑end software engineering workflows, including requirements management, design, development, testing, deployment, and maintenance
• Experience integrating AI‑assisted tools into development workflows without compromising on quality, security or compliance
• Experience developing for Linux, ideally with exposure to industrial computing platforms, single‑board computers or real‑time environments
• A leader who enjoys delivery and makes the engineers around them better
• Comfortable operating in ambiguous environments and making decisions with incomplete information
• Excellent communicator, equally at home in a code review, a client meeting or a one‑to‑one with a junior engineer
• Strong academic foundations, typically a first‑class degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Physics or Mathematics from a leading university
• Experience in defence or national security is a strong plus

• Work alongside high‑calibre colleagues from organisations known for engineering excellence
• High‑impact work on complex problems with direct consequences for clients
• A flat structure and a small, growing team, where you’ll help shape how we work
• Newcastle base with international exposure across our global office network
• 25 days’ holiday allowance plus bank holidays
• Matching pension contributions up to 6%
• Private health insurance through Bupa
• Discretionary bonus

Excellent training and career development opportunities exist for the right candidate.

Basic salary £(phone number removed) + bonus + excellent benefits

Based Newcastle upon Tyne