Principal Software Development Engineer (Enabling Functions - Colleague)
About the role
At Tesco, technology is at the heart of everything we do – powering the way millions of colleagues and customers live, work, and shop. We are looking for a Principal Software Developer to join our Enabling Functions - Colleague technology team, which plays a key role in delivering intuitive, reliable, and innovative solutions for our 300,000+ colleagues globally.
As a Principal Software Developer, you’ll lead the design and implementation of strategic systems that enable our HR, Payroll, Learning & Development, and Workforce Management platforms – ensuring every colleague experience is simple, efficient, and empowering.
What is in it for you
Hybrid working
We know life looks a little different for each of us. That’s why at Tesco, we always welcome chats about different flexible working options. Some people are at the start of their careers, some want the freedom to do the things they love. Others are going through life-changing moments like becoming a carer, adapting to parenthood, or something else. So, talk to us throughout your application about how we can support.
This role requires you to be based in or near Kraków, as you will spend 60% (3 days) of your week collaborating with colleagues at our office locations or local sites and the rest remotely.
Our benefits
Tesco is a diverse and exciting employer, dedicated to being #aplacetogeton, providing career-defining opportunities to all of our colleagues. If you choose to join our business, we will provide you with:
Up to 45% yearly salary bonus – based on both individual and business performance
Car allowance
Permanent contract from the go – as a sign of our trust in your abilities
Tax-deductible expenses (IP)
Private healthcare (LuxMed)
Cafeteria & Multisport
Additional 4 days of paid leave to support your well-being and family life
Increase in annual leave (from 20 to 25 days) for those not yet eligible for the full holiday entitlement
Learning opportunities – certified technical training and a learning platform (Udemy)
Back-to-school day – 1 day off for parents of primary school children
Fertility leave – up to 2 weeks of paid leave for IVF treatment
Sports activities with a personal trainer in the office
Referral bonus
MacBook as your work tool
If that sounds exciting, then we'd love to hear from you!
You will be responsible for
Technical Leadership: Drive architecture and design across multiple systems, ensuring scalable, secure, and maintainable software solutions.
Cross-functional Collaboration: Partner with product managers, architects, and business stakeholders to understand colleague needs and shape technology roadmaps accordingly.
Innovation: Introduce new tools, frameworks, and approaches that enhance development speed, quality, and performance across the colleague tech space.
Team Empowerment: Mentor and guide software engineers and tech leads across squads; promote engineering best practices and continuous improvement.
System Ownership: Lead the evolution of core colleague platforms, including integrations with internal services and third-party systems.
Operational Excellence: Ensure high system availability, performance, and data integrity through robust DevOps practices and incident management.
You will need
Experience and Skills:
10+ years in software development with proven experience in a senior or principal engineering role.
Deep expertise in one or more programming languages (e.g., TypeScript/React, Java).
Strong understanding of microservices architecture, RESTful APIs, event-driven systems, and distributed computing.
Experience working with cloud platforms (preferably Azure), Docker, Kubernetes.
Hands-on knowledge of CI/CD pipelines, test automation, and infrastructure-as-code.
Proven experience designing and building scalable mobile and web applications with a focus on usability, performance, and responsiveness.
Demonstrated ability to operate effectively in large, enterprise environments.
Familiarity with enterprise HR or colleague-focused systems is a plus (e.g., Oracle HCM, Zellis).
Soft Skills:
Passion for building technology that improves the colleague experience.
Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
Strategic thinker with a pragmatic, delivery-focused mindset.
Comfortable navigating ambiguity and driving change across complex environments.
If that sounds exciting, then we'd love to hear from you!
About us
Our colleagues work with one goal in mind, helping to make every day a little better for our customers, colleagues and communities all over the world. No two customers are the same, neither are our colleagues.
At Tesco, we champion a balance that lets you thrive both in and out of work. Spend 60% of your week collaborating with colleagues at our office locations or local sites and the rest remotely. Whether you're just kicking off your career, juggling passions, or navigating big life events, we're here to support you.
Tesco is committed to celebrating diversity and everyone is welcome at Tesco. As a Disability Confident Employer, we’re committed to providing a fully inclusive and accessible recruitment process, allowing candidates the opportunity to thrive and inform us of any reasonable adjustments they may require.
Want to get to know us better? Watch our team talk about our culture – YouTube
What our colleagues like the most at Tesco:
We develop our own products
We make an impact; large scale of operation
Accountability and respect are given to us
We cooperate and support each other
There are great colleagues who are divided into small teams here
We can develop and learn new things
Principal Software Development Engineer (Enabling Functions - Colleague)
Principal Software Development Engineer (Enabling Functions - Colleague)