Principal Software Engineer, Backend - Full or Part Time

About us You've probably heard of Autotrader, but do you know what we're all about? We're the most trusted, most visited automotive marketplace in the UK. A heritage brand and a tech innovator. We bring together vehicle buyers and sellers to give them real choices. Cars may be what we're best known for but we’re also the place for pretty much everything else on wheels, from e-bikes to caravans.  In the automotive world, change is a constant, that’s why we take our job of untangling the complex car-buying journey very seriously.    At our core, we’re all about people. We go our own way while embracing diversity and celebrating our differences. We dedicate ourselves to the idea that we work better together.  Autotrader is a beautiful, surprising and vibrant place to work. We might not be for everyone, but we could be perfect for you.  About the job We’re looking for Principal Full Stack Engineers to join us! Our technology teams combine a diverse set of technologies to meet the needs of our users, handling millions of requests a day across over 600 systems. We build these systems with industry standard frameworks and tools, such as React and Angular on the front end and Java, Spring Boot, Cloud SQL and Apache Kafka on the back end. All of this runs on our cutting edge cloud delivery platform, facilitating over 60k releases to production a year. We’re a close-knit tech community where collaboration and knowledge sharing are at the core of what we do. Regular pair programming, code reviews, and stand-ups ensure that our engineers stay connected and aligned. As a Principal Engineer, you’ll play a visible, strategic role in driving system design and architecture decisions, mentoring team members, and helping our teams deliver high-quality solutions at scale. You might think that "Autotrader" means we’re looking for car enthusiasts, but that’s not the case. We’re looking for people who are passionate about technology, thrive in a collaborative environment, and have a genuine curiosity about solving complex problems. What we’re looking for: * Strong experience working across the stack, from designing scalable back-end systems to developing responsive front-end applications * You should be comfortable working with Java, Spring Boot and the Java ecosystem / JVM * Ability to architect and design complex, distributed systems that are scalable, maintainable, and performant * Experience with modern front-end technologies (e.g., React or Angular, TypeScript/Modern JavaScript), along with proficiency in building RESTful APIs and web services. * Strong knowledge of relational databases (SQL), along with experience working with document-based storage solutions (e.g., MongoDB) * Experience with Kafka or other event-driven architectures * A structured approach to development and testing (including Test-Driven Development) with a focus on continuous delivery and automation * Proven experience leading and mentoring teams, helping others grow technically while delivering high-impact projects During our application process, you will be asked two questions to help us learn more about you and how you align with our values. These will be used as part of our selection criteria, to determine if we progress your application further Benefits We’re offering a salary of £60,000 – £80,000, plus an additional 10% of your salary awarded to you in shares each year. These awarded shares will become yours in yearly instalments over the next three years, and you can choose to either sell them or keep them as shares. And you'll receive 28 days holiday, plus bank holidays and comprehensive private medical cover.  That’s not all. You'll be enrolled in our pension scheme, where our standard contributions are 7% and employee contributions are 5%. We also have comprehensive private medical cover, enhanced family leave provisions, a car salary sacrifice scheme, share-save options, and much more.   We always want to give you the support you need and help prioritise your wellbeing, that’s why we provide access to 24/7 online GP and dentist, as well as specialist support for assisted fertility, gender dysphoria, menopause, period care plans and lots more.   On top of all that, our hybrid model, Connected Working, combines the best of both worlds – office and home working. You'll spend a minimum of 3 days a week in the office with your team, focused on collaboration and connection. Additionally, we have our remote-first periods at set times during summer and winter. During these periods, you can work remotely anywhere in the UK and from certain locations abroad. Discover more about our hiring process and explore our Engineering Blog. #LI-CI1 #LI-Hybrid

Secure Every Identity, from AI to Human Identity is the key to unlocking the potential of AI. Okta secures AI by building the trusted, neutral infrastructure that enables organizations to safely embrace this new era. This work requires a relentless drive to solve complex challenges with real-world stakes. We are looking for builders and owners who operate with speed and urgency and execute with excellence. This is an opportunity to do career-defining work. We're all in on this mission. If you are too, let's talk. GET TO KNOW OKTA Okta is The World’s Identity Company. We free everyone to safely use any technology—anywhere, on any device or app. Our Workforce and Customer Identity Clouds enable secure yet flexible access, authentication, and automation that transforms how people move through the digital world, putting Identity at the heart of business security and growth.  At Okta, we celebrate a variety of perspectives and experiences. We are not looking for someone who checks every box - we’re looking for lifelong learners and people who can improve us with their unique experiences.  Join our team! We’re building a world where Identity belongs to you. Company Description: Okta is the leading independent provider of enterprise identity. The Okta Identity Cloud enables organizations to securely connect the right people to the right technologies at the right time. With over 6,500 pre-built integrations to applications and infrastructure providers, Okta customers can easily and securely use the best technologies for their business. Over 7,950 organizations, including 20th Century Fox, JetBlue, Nordstrom, Slack, Teach for America and Twilio, trust Okta to help protect the identities of their workforces and customers Access Management Foundation Team The Access Management Pillar at Okta is on a mission to seamlessly and securely authorize users to access any resource they need to get their work done. Our goal is to lead the industry in Zero Trust identity management.  The Access Foundation Backend Team is at the core of this mission, building and maintaining the foundational components and frameworks that power Okta's identity and access management solutions. We develop Okta cloud services and client software that allow users to seamlessly login to devices and use Okta authenticators to access applications securely. Learn more about Okta’s Engineering on our blog. About You We are looking for a seasoned Principal Engineer to join our team and help us build the future of identity and access management. Ideal candidate should be * A strong Java developer with a passion for building high-quality, secure, and performant applications and frameworks.  * Excited by the opportunity to work on cutting-edge security and identity management challenges and are a thought leader who can drive technical strategy and mentor other engineers. * A collaborative individual with excellent communication skills, capable of working with cross-functional teams to deliver on a shared vision.  * Not just be a builder; but a force multiplier who can create frameworks and solutions that enable other teams to be more productive. Job Duties and Responsibilities: * Design, develop, and maintain core components of the Okta Access Management platform * Lead the architectural design and implementation of new features and services, with a focus on scalability, performance, and security. * Build and maintain frameworks that enable other engineering teams to ship modular and secure code quickly. * Collaborate with product managers, architects, and other engineering teams to define the technical strategy and lead the prototyping of framework components * Following best practices, contribute to technical designs, proposals, and architectural decisions. * Drive a culture of quality and continuous improvement, with a focus on robust testing, monitoring, and operational excellence. * Stay up-to-date with the latest industry trends and technologies in identity, security, and distributed systems. Minimum Requirements: * 12+ years of experience building and scaling Java-based web applications and services. * A deep understanding of design patterns, scalability patterns, security engineering, and object-oriented principles. * Experience working in a fast-paced, agile environment, with a strong understanding of CI/CD practices. * Strong communication skills and the ability to work across functions Nice to have: Experience with identity and access management (IAM) protocols such as SAML, OAuth, FIDO, and WebAuthn * Experience with security best practices and threat modeling Experience with one or more UI technologies such as Angular, ReactJS, Backbone, and Vue.  * Knowledge of cybersecurity principles, secure coding practices, and certifications like CISSP or Security+. Education and Training: * Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or equivalent experience. * 12+ years of software development experience #LI-Hybrid P24162_3334963 The Okta Experience * Supporting Your Well-Being  * Driving Social Impact  * Developing Talent and Fostering Connection + Community We are intentional about connection. Our global community, spanning over 20 offices worldwide, is united by a drive to innovate. Your journey begins with an immersive, in-person onboarding experience designed to accelerate your impact and connect you to our mission and team from day one. Okta is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, ancestry, marital status, age, physical or mental disability, or status as a protected veteran. We also consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and convictions records, consistent with applicable laws. If reasonable accommodation is needed to complete any part of the job application, interview process, or onboarding please use this Form to request an accommodation. Notice for New York City Applicants & Employees: Okta may use Automated Employment Decision Tools (AEDT), as defined by New York City Local Law 144, that use artificial intelligence, machine learning, or other automated processes to assist in our recruitment and hiring process. In accordance with NYC Local Law 144, if you are an applicant or employee residing in New York City, please click here to view our full NYC AEDT Notice.