Principal Software Engineer

Ocean Infinity

4d•€90,000•Hybrid

About The Position

We are using and creating technology to transform operations at sea to enable people and the planet to thrive. We are open-minded and fearless in our approach to innovation and don't believe in boundaries. We challenge everything and have massive ambitions to drag aging industries into the tech era. We take safety, equality and education very seriously, and our responsibilities don't stop at our front door. Our business is built on the belief that there's definitely a more environmentally responsible way to operate at sea. We employ people who share our core values. We expect our people to be courageous, trustworthy, and conscientious, driven by a desire to do the right thing. We strive for excellence, work collaboratively, and are genuinely excited by our work. We offer opportunities for our people to develop beyond their role and span a multitude of disciplines. These are open to all, regardless of background and experience level. Working with us means being part of a team that is harnessing technology and creativity to disrupt a traditional industry. We are not your average workplace. Ocean Infinity is seeking a Principal Software Engineer to provide technical leadership and hands-on engineering across our core software platforms. This role sits within our Software organisation and plays a critical part in driving technical excellence, solving complex engineering challenges, and mentoring teams to deliver high-quality, scalable software solutions. Reporting directly to the Head of Software, you will operate as a senior technical authority, bridging strategic direction and day-to-day delivery. This role is based in Porto, Portugal, with a hybrid working arrangement.

Requirements

Degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
Significant experience (typically 6+ years) operating at Senior, Staff, or Principal Engineer level.
Deep technical proficiency across modern programming languages, development tools, and frameworks.
Strong experience designing and building backend systems, including microservices and containerised applications (Docker, Kubernetes).
Solid understanding of relational and NoSQL databases.
Experience designing and consuming APIs, including RESTful architectures.
Experience with event-driven architectures or event-streaming platforms.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to resolve complex technical issues.
Proven ability to mentor engineers and influence technical direction across teams.
Working knowledge of Agile development methodologies.

Nice To Haves

Experience with distributed systems and real-time data processing.
Familiarity with application and platform security concepts.
Experience working with IoT technologies, including communication protocols and cloud platforms.
Knowledge of networking concepts and secure system design.
Fluent written and spoken English.

Responsibilities

Act as a hands-on technical leader, with a strong focus on coding, complex problem-solving, and setting engineering direction.
Design and deliver high-quality, efficient, and scalable software solutions across backend and distributed systems.
Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including Product, Architecture, Security, and Infrastructure, to define and align technical solutions with business strategy.
Set and uphold coding standards, engineering best practices, and quality benchmarks across teams.
Tackle the most complex technical challenges, providing innovative and pragmatic solutions.
Mentor and guide senior and junior engineers, fostering a culture of technical excellence and continuous improvement.
Work closely with delivery teams to understand technical challenges, remove blockers, and contribute directly to solving critical issues.
Ensure architectural and technical alignment is understood and followed consistently across teams.
Document technical solutions, patterns, and processes where appropriate to support knowledge sharing and long-term maintainability.