W1 Principal Engineer

Principal Engineer, Waitrose Commercial: An Opportunity to Shape the Future of Retail Technology

This Principal Engineer role within Waitrose Commercial presents a significant career opportunity for experienced engineering leaders looking to make a tangible impact on the UK's most successful omnichannel retailer. At the heart of this position lies the exciting challenge of modernising and simplifying a complex, heritage technology stack that underpins the operations of two beloved brands.

What Awaits You: A Role of Influence and Transformation

As the Principal Engineer for Waitrose Commercial, you will be instrumental in driving strategic change. Your responsibilities will extend beyond technical implementation to encompass:

• Strategic Alignment: You will play a pivotal role in aligning the engineering strategy and roadmap for Waitrose Commercial with overarching business objectives. This means your technical vision directly influences business success.
• Modernisation & Simplification: A core focus will be on modernising and simplifying a complex heritage tech stack. This is a chance to move away from outdated systems and embrace cutting-edge solutions.
• Agile Transformation: You will lead the uplift of engineering capability, championing the adoption of Product teams and agile practices, and transitioning from project-based work to more fluid, iterative methodologies.
• Supplier Relationship Management: Rethinking how the business engages with its third-party suppliers will be a key aspect of your role, fostering more effective and collaborative partnerships.
• Technical Leadership: You will guide decision-making on key operational systems and influence how engineering drives change across a multifaceted business area.
• Team Development: This role involves influencing team structure, balance, and resource models, contributing to the maturity and optimal performance of engineering capabilities.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: You'll work closely with a diverse range of stakeholders, including Product Leads, Business Owners, Delivery Managers, Infrastructure Leads, Enterprise Architects, and other Principal Engineers across the wider Partnership.

Key Advantages for Your Career Path:

• Impactful Modernisation: This is a rare chance to lead the transformation of critical retail systems. Your contributions will be visible and directly impact the business's agility and productivity.
• Strategic Influence: The role offers significant autonomy and influence over engineering strategy, allowing you to shape how technology is leveraged for business advantage.
• Agile and Product-Centric Development: You will be at the forefront of implementing modern engineering practices, including agile methodologies and product-focused team structures, which are highly sought after skills in the market.
• Exposure to Complex Environments: Working with a blend of third-party platforms, bespoke in-house systems, and legacy mainframe applications provides invaluable experience in managing diverse and interconnected technology landscapes.
• Career Growth within a Leading Retailer: The John Lewis Partnership is a renowned organisation. This role offers stability as a permanent position and the opportunity to grow within a company that values its Partners.
• Employee Ownership: As a Partner in the John Lewis Partnership, you are a co-owner. This unique model fosters a sense of shared responsibility, rewards, and belonging, contributing to a positive and engaging work environment.

Considerations for Aspiring Candidates:

• Complex Technical Landscape: Be prepared to navigate and modernise a multifaceted technology environment that includes legacy systems alongside newer platforms.
• Transformational Leadership: This role requires strong leadership to drive cultural and procedural change, particularly in moving towards agile ways of working and evolving supplier relationships.
• Stakeholder Management: Effective collaboration and communication with a broad range of internal and external stakeholders will be crucial for success.
• Hands-On Experience: While a leadership role, a solid foundation as a hands-on software engineer is essential for credibility and effective technical guidance.
• Hybrid Working Model: This is a hybrid role, requiring a balance between working from home (in the UK) and attending the Bracknell Head Office. Occasional travel to other locations may also be necessary.

Ideal Candidate Profile:

We are seeking an engineering leader with a robust engineering background, demonstrated experience with modern software engineering techniques (e.g., Continuous Delivery, Domain Driven Design), and a track record of leading teams delivering complex, high-quality software. Experience with package solutions, various architectural styles, integration patterns, and techniques for enhancing system resilience and scalability will be highly valued. Familiarity with Lean and Systems Thinking, as well as experience working with legacy systems and third-party development suppliers, are also key.

This Principal Engineer position offers a compelling opportunity for those looking to shape the technological future of a leading retail giant, drive significant transformation, and grow their career within a unique employee-owned business. If you are passionate about modernising technology and leading teams through change, this role could be an excellent next step in your professional journey.