Principal Engineer - Forward Deployed Engineer

<h1><strong>Principal Engineer — Forward Deployed</strong></h1> <p><strong>UK-based | Edinburgh or London | Approximately 1 day per week</strong></p> <h3><strong>Build the future, in the real world.</strong></h3> <p>We’re looking for a <strong>Principal Engineer</strong> to join us in a Forward Deployed role — working directly with teams to turn emerging technology and platform capabilities into real, production-ready outcomes.</p> <p>This isn’t a role where you sit on the sidelines writing recommendations. You’ll get close to the problem, work alongside the people experiencing it, build the solution, and help them become self-sufficient.</p> <p>You’ll combine deep engineering expertise with strong consulting skills, curiosity and a practical bias towards delivery.</p> <h3><strong>What you'll do</strong></h3> <ul> <li>Work directly with teams to understand the outcomes they need to achieve.</li> <li>Identify where technology can create the most leverage and turn ideas into working solutions.</li> <li>Build and demonstrate capabilities, often ahead of wider adoption.</li> <li>Work alongside technical teams, transferring knowledge so they can continue independently.</li> <li>Feed reusable patterns, lessons and platform improvements back into the wider engineering team.</li> <li>Act as a trusted technical partner, challenging assumptions and making pragmatic decisions.</li> <li>Help teams make effective use of AI and emerging technology without compromising engineering quality.</li> </ul> <h3><strong>What we're looking for</strong></h3> <p>We’re looking for a <strong>T-shaped Principal Engineer</strong>: broad engineering capability across the full stack, with deep expertise in at least one relevant area.</p> <p>You’ll bring:</p> <ul> <li>Strong engineering fundamentals and architectural judgement.</li> <li>Experience building production systems across areas such as backend, cloud, data, web or AI.</li> <li>Strong awareness of modern AI capabilities and the ability to turn them into practical outcomes.</li> <li>A hands-on approach — you still want to build, review and get into the detail.</li> <li>Excellent communication and consulting skills, with the ability to work with both engineers and senior stakeholders.</li> <li>A pragmatic, outcome-focused mindset. You care more about solving the right problem than building the cleverest solution.</li> <li>The ability to operate comfortably in ambiguity, learn quickly and build trust with unfamiliar teams.</li> <li>A genuine interest in transferring knowledge and raising the capability of those around you.</li> <li>Experience working in regulated environments would be valuable.</li> </ul> <h3><strong>AI is part of the job</strong></h3> <p>AI isn't a side skill here. We expect our Principal Engineers to be fluent in using AI to accelerate engineering while understanding where it can fail.</p> <p>That means