Hargreaves Lansdown
Principal Software Engineer (Solution Architect) - Unified Client Experience (UCX) (Frontend & Mobile)
We know that sometimes people can be put off applying for a job if they don't tick every box. If you're excited about working for us and have most of the skills or experience we're looking for, please go ahead and apply. We’d love to hear from you!
About the role
About HL And The OpportunityWe’re building the next generation platform for one of the UK’s largest financial services companies, trusted by over 2 million clients and managing c.£150 billion in assets. This is your opportunity to shape technology that will redefine how people invest and achieve financial freedom.
You will contribute in building in our next generation Unified Client Experience (UCX) frontend platforms that will streamline client journeys across a range of products and services, in both web and mobile domains. It’s an opportunity to design, architect and build a modern web and mobile applications using latest technologies and best practices to transform our savings and investment platform.
The UCX team consolidates the efforts of the whole organisation, transforming client journeys and delivering on HL’s vision to give people financial freedom. You will work with like-minded people from business, product and engineering functions to develop and refine client journeys covering onboarding, KYC, account management and investment workflows in a secure and compliant environment.
By joining us, you’ll help deliver innovative and scalable solutions that make investing easier and more accessible to millions of users across the UK.
Be part of HL’s future. Be part of the future of investing. Shape it with us.
What You’ll Be Doing
- Set technical direction: Define & maintain Front-End/Web and mobile software architecture and patterns, engineering standards and the ‘right way’ to build greenfield HL state of the art web and mobile applications.
- Own a technical ‘opinionated’ architecture for front end and mobile applications: shape application designs, rail guards and make trade-offs and prevent regret spend.
- Define scalable and reusable UI component-based architecture, state management, routing/navigation, error handling, data fetching and modularization strategy.
- Design, publish and own engineering standards including coding standards, CI/CD strategy, deployment blueprint, testing automation strategy, observability design and security baseline.
- Design Integration strategies for HL web and mobile apps with existing and new systems to deliver a seamless client experience across a range of products and services.
- Tackle high-impact problems: performance bottlenecks, reliability issues, scaling limits, complex integration, tech debt hotspots.
- Lead through influence: Align stakeholders, run design reviews, drive decisions, own technical governance and unblock delivery teams.
- Mentor and level-up others: Coach senior/leads and set strong bar for engineering excellence.
- R&D: Stay at the forefront of the React/React Native ecosystem, evaluating new technologies, industry practises and guide the engineering delivery teams with adoption.
About You
- 10+ years of experience with Web / Front End & Mobile software engineering and at least 4+ years in a Principal Engineering or Solution Architect role or similar
- Deep understanding of Front End / Web and Mobile architecture approaches and design patterns including micro front ends, module federation, stateless, SPA and others
- Advanced knowledge of React and React Native Eco system and AWS technology stack.
- Strong API/integration experience: REST / GraphQL, auth flows, contract design and resilience patterns
- Well versed in latest CI/CD practises and tools, deployment methodologies and experienced in tools to enforce quality standards.
- Mastery of Webpack/Metro configurations, Babel and TypeScript
- Expertise in complex state management and understanding the nuances between DOM based and Native based styling/layouts.
- Demonstrated ability to create clear and well written documentation for architecture, design patterns, rail guards and lead design governance.
- Strong communication and articulation skills, capable of independently navigating an organization and able to negotiate and lead discussions across various levels and departments to develop consensus.
Interview Process
3 Stage Interview
Stage 1 – Discussion with our Hiring Manager (30mins):
A chance to talk with our Hiring Manager in more detail about the role, our tech stack and some of the problems we solve every day. Here, we’ll dig a bit more into some of your experiences, understand the processes you’re familiar with and the technologies you’ve used to deliver end user value.
Stage 2 – Technical (70mins):
For the technical part, we’d like you to sit down with some of your potential peers to work through a technical solution or a coding problem. We’ll be looking together at where a sample piece of technology / code has issues and how we might address them.
Stage 3 - Culture Fit (30mins):
In our Cultural Fit interview, we’ll be looking to learn more about your past experiences, what keeps you motivated, where we may be able to help you improve further, key decisions you’ve helped to make and issues you’ve resolved.
Salary & Package
We offer a competitive salary, depending on experience, alongside a generous performance-based bonus scheme.
Your total reward package includes:
- 💰 Up to 19% pension contribution - helping you plan confidently for the future
- 🏥 Private medical insurance - giving you peace of mind and access to top-tier healthcare
- 🎁 A wide range of excellent benefits, from lifestyle perks to wellbeing support, designed to help you thrive both in and out of work
We believe in recognising and rewarding the impact you make - and ensuring you feel valued every step of the way.
Working Schedule
We’re based in the stunning Paddington Central offices at 4 Kingdom Street, a modern workspace designed to energise your day and elevate collaboration.
What Makes It Special?
- 🌿 Landscaped rooftop gardens - perfect for a breath of fresh air or informal catch-ups.
- 🏀 London’s highest rooftop basketball court - yes, really!
- 🧘♀️ Wellness amenities including showers, lockers, hairdryers, and fresh towels.
- 🚲 Cyclist-friendly with secure bike storage and drying rooms.
- 🛋️ Stylish lounge areas, booths, and breakout spaces for focused work or relaxed chats.
- 🌊 Canalside location near Little Venice, with floating restaurants, coffee shops, and a seasonal pop-up garden bar.
- 🚆 Unbeatable transport links - just steps from Paddington Station and the Elizabeth Line.
We embrace a hybrid working model that gives you the best of both worlds:
- 2–3 days a week in the office to connect, collaborate, and enjoy everything the space has to offer.
- Remote flexibility for deep focus, work-life balance, and personal productivity.
This is a full-time role, working 37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday.
Please note, we do not offer sponsorship opportunities for this role.
Why us?
Here at HL, we’re the UK’s number 1 investment platform for private investors, based in Bristol. For more than 40 years we’ve helped investors save time, tax and money on their investments.
To achieve our mission, we believe we have a workplace like no other, with constant learning, dynamic teams, and a great ethos. We're steered by core values that promote service, quality, innovation, and opportunity in everything we do.
What's on offer?
- Discretionary annual bonus* and annual pay review
- 25 days* holiday plus bank holidays and 1-day additional Christmas closure
- Option to purchase an additional 5 days holiday**
- Flexible working options available, including hybrid working
- Enhanced parental leave
- Pension scheme up to 11% employer contribution
- Income Protection and Life insurance (4 x salary core level of cover)
- Private medical insurance*
- Health care cash plans - including optical, dental, and outpatient care
- Health screening programme
- Help@hand - confidential support including mental health counselling and remote GP
- Wellhub - unlimited access to fitness providers and wellness coach sessions
- Variety of travel to work schemes with bike storage and shower facilities
- Inhouse barista and deli serving subsidised coffee and sandwiches
- Two paid volunteering days per year
* dependant on role level
** only available to select during our annual benefits window, in November each year
Hargreaves Lansdown is an inclusive employer that values diversity in its workforce. We encourage applications from all individuals without regard to race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, disability or age.
This role may also be available on a flexible working or part time basis – please ask the Recruitment & Onboarding team for more information.
Please note, we are unable to provide employment sponsorship to candidates.
