Principal Java Engineer - Backend Platform

Key Responsibilities

• Design and build backend services and APIs (REST/WebSocket) supporting data ingestion, transformation, and delivery to frontend and downstream consumers, with particular attention to latency and throughput given real-time processing requirements.
• Own data storage and pipeline architecture, including integration with streaming/event infrastructure.
• Implement authentication and authorisation in line with the team's chosen cloud identity and access management approach.
• Provide technical direction and review for frontend development (React/TypeScript), working closely with frontend engineers to align on approach, component contracts, and data shapes - this is a collaboration and oversight function rather than day-to-day frontend delivery.
• Collaborate closely with computer vision/data science engineers to define and consume data contracts.
• Participate in technical decision-making for a product in active development, including architecture choices with long-term implications for scale, latency, and maintainability.
• Contribute to technical leadership of the wider engineering team, given the seniority of this role.

Skills and Experience

• Strong backend engineering background with production experience in Java (required).
• Demonstrated experience building low-latency, high-throughput systems - this is a core requirement, not a nice-to-have.
• Working knowledge of a modern frontend framework such as React/TypeScript, sufficient to review and direct frontend work rather than deliver it independently.
• Experience with cloud infrastructure and event-driven architectures (e.g. Kafka or equivalent streaming technology).
• Experience designing and evolving API contracts (OpenAPI or similar) in a fast-moving, still-evolving product environment.
• Familiarity with modern cloud identity and access management approaches (e.g. AWS Cognito or equivalent) is a plus.
• Strong communication skills - able to work directly with product and cross-functional stakeholders, and to mentor or direct engineers outside their own core discipline.
• Comfortable with ambiguity: this is a build-phase product with evolving scope and infrastructure decisions still being finalised.

Benefits and Perks

• 25 days annual leave (excluding bank holidays)
• Enhanced pension scheme with 5% matching
• Hybrid working model
• Complimentary Unmind wellbeing app
• Onsite gym (Basingstoke)
• Access to sporting events and tickets
• Sony Group Company discounts

Equal Opportunity Employer

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