Principal Software Engineer

ITSearch · Recruitment agency
Full-time•Full-stack•Ireland · Remote within Ireland
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TechJobs.ie Job Insights

At a glance

Employment type
Full-time
Workplace
Remote
Category
Full-stack

Technologies & skills

Primary technologies

.NETC#

Cloud & infrastructure

Azure

Other technical skills

SQLMongoDBRedis

What you'll be doing

Principal Software Engineer role for a mature, business-critical platform. Hands-on focus on software architecture, complex problem-solving, performance optimisation, and mentoring developers. Influence technical decisions and drive platform improvements. Fully remote within Ireland or UK.

Key requirements

Must-have

  • Extensive experience with C#
  • .NET Framework and/or .NET Core
  • Strong knowledge of software architecture and design patterns
  • Advanced SQL Server experience
  • Expertise in performance profiling, debugging, and optimisation
  • Experience with desktop and web application development
  • Ability to influence architectural decisions and mentor engineers
  • Interest in AI tools and emerging technologies

Nice-to-have

  • DevExpress experience
  • WinForms experience
  • Exposure to Redis
  • Exposure to MongoDB
  • Exposure to Azure DevOps

Role signals

Technical focus
software architecture, performance optimisation, mentoring
Leadership
Mentoring
Architecture / system design
Indicated in the listing
Hands-on vs management
Hands-on

Full job description

Principal Software Engineer

Fully Remote | Ireland or UK

Highly competitive salary package with an excellent benefits offering.

I’m working with an established software business looking for a Principal Software Engineer to shape the technical direction of a mature, business-critical software platform.

This is a hands-on engineering role focused on software architecture, complex problem-solving and performance optimisation. You’ll influence key technical decisions, drive improvements across the platform and mentor developers, without formal people-management responsibilities.

Technical Requirements

  • Extensive experience with C#, .NET Framework and/or .NET Core.

  • Strong knowledge of software architecture, design patterns and scalable, maintainable enterprise applications.

  • Advanced SQL Server experience within database-driven systems.

  • Expertise in performance profiling, debugging, optimisation and resolving complex technical challenges.

  • Experience developing across desktop and web applications within established software products.

  • Proven ability to influence architectural decisions, lead complex development initiatives and mentor engineers.

  • Interest in AI tools and emerging technologies, with experience applying them to improve development workflows or engineering practices.

Desirable: DevExpress and WinForms experience, alongside exposure to Redis, MongoDB and Azure DevOps.

If this sounds like your next move, apply via the link or contact Graeme King at IT Search for a confidential chat.

Apply Now

Interview prep pack

Grounded in this listing. Use it to prepare examples before you apply.

Your interview focus

Based on this listing, the Principal Software Engineer role is a hands-on, architecture-focused position requiring deep expertise in .NET, SQL Server, and performance optimisation, with responsibilities for technical leadership and mentoring within a mature software platform.

  • Technical leadership without formal management·High
  • Hands-on architecture and optimisation·High
  • Full-stack .NET and SQL expertise·High
  • Interest in AI and emerging tech·Medium

Only have 30 minutes?

Follow a focused preparation plan based on this job.

Start 30-minute prep

Your 30-minute plan

  1. Review .NET and SQL Server Expertise

    0–8 min

    Refresh your knowledge of advanced .NET features, C# best practices, and SQL Server performance tuning.

  2. Prepare Architectural Case Studies

    8–15 min

    Select 1-2 examples where you led architectural decisions or major technical initiatives, focusing on outcomes and lessons learned.

  3. Reflect on Mentoring Experiences

    15–20 min

    Identify specific instances where you mentored or influenced other engineers, and be ready to discuss your approach.

  4. Research AI Tools and Emerging Technologies

    20–25 min

    Explore recent AI tools or frameworks relevant to software engineering and consider how you have or could apply them.

  5. Draft Role-Specific Questions

    25–30 min

    Prepare thoughtful questions about the platform, team structure, and technical challenges to ask during the interview.

Likely questions

, 6 items

Priority reflects how strongly this topic is emphasised in the job listing, not whether it will be asked.

Talking points

, 5 items

  • Architectural Decision-Making

    Prepare examples where you influenced or led architectural choices, as the role expects you to shape technical direction.

  • Performance Profiling and Optimisation

    Demonstrate your ability to identify and resolve performance bottlenecks in enterprise applications.

  • Mentoring and Technical Leadership

    Showcase how you have guided or upskilled other engineers, as mentoring is a key aspect of this position.

  • Full-stack Development with .NET and SQL Server

    Highlight your experience building and maintaining both desktop and web applications using .NET technologies and advanced SQL.

  • Applying AI Tools and Emerging Technologies

    Discuss how you have leveraged AI or new technologies to improve engineering workflows or product capabilities.

What to research

, 4 items

  • .NET and C# Technical Deep Dive

    Review advanced features of .NET Framework/Core and C#, focusing on areas relevant to both desktop and web development.

  • SQL Server Performance Tuning

    Refresh knowledge of advanced SQL Server optimisation techniques, indexing, and query profiling.

  • Software Architecture Patterns

    Study modern architectural patterns (e.g., microservices, layered architecture) and how they apply to enterprise systems.

  • AI Tools in Software Engineering

    Research current AI tools and frameworks that can enhance development workflows or code quality.

Questions to ask

, 6 items
  1. What are the current architectural challenges facing the platform?

    Why ask this? To understand where your expertise will have the most impact.

  2. How is technical mentorship structured within the engineering team?

    Why ask this? To clarify expectations around your mentoring responsibilities.

  3. What is the team's approach to adopting new technologies or AI tools?

    Why ask this? To gauge openness to innovation and your potential influence.

  4. How are performance issues typically identified and prioritised?

    Why ask this? To learn about the team's processes and your role in optimisation.

  5. What does success look like for this role in the first 6-12 months?

    Why ask this? To align your contributions with the company's expectations.

  6. Can you describe the balance between desktop and web application development in the current roadmap?

    Why ask this? To understand where to focus your technical efforts.

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Apply NowApply before: 30 Nov 2026