Principal Engineer (ECommerce & Digital)

  • John Lewis Partnership
  • Jul 27, 2025
Full time Engineering

Job Description

Apply on JLP Jobs - the official careers website for John Lewis Partnership, John Lewis & Partners, and Waitrose & Partners.

About the role

The Partnership is the UK's most successful omni-channel retailer, including two of the UK's most loved department stores and grocery brands, with annual sales exceeding £12B. Our Engineering practice comprises over 80 teams working on Cloud Platforms, Mobile Apps, E-Commerce functionality, and Machine Learning. We foster a collaborative environment where knowledge sharing and continuous learning are prioritized. We support our Engineers to enhance their skills and stay updated with the latest technologies.

John Lewis E-Commerce & Digital aims to deliver a leading digital customer experience across web and mobile apps, along with omnichannel services supporting in-store and contact center assisted service. Given that over 50% of our revenue is digital, technology is vital to our business. Our systems are built on a domain-driven microservice architecture hosted on an award-winning digital platform, utilizing composable SaaS solutions and legacy applications that are actively being modernized. These systems must be highly available, resilient, performant, secure, adaptable, and scalable to meet customer needs and business agility.

Learn more about being a Software Engineer in the Partnership and the technologies we use.

At a glance
  • Contract type: Permanent

  • Salary: £75,000 - £140,000

  • Flexible Working: Hybrid role, primarily from home (UK) and London Head Office, with occasional visits to other locations as needed. Most engineers visit the office once or twice a month, with some requiring more frequent attendance. Offices are open five days a week for those who prefer more regular in-office work.

Key Responsibilities
  • Align engineering strategy and roadmap for John Lewis E-Commerce & Digital with business objectives. Influence operational decisions, team management practices, and engineering practices to ensure they support the broader Partnership strategy.

  • Revisit legacy microservices and technology, extending digital tech into stores. Collaborate with stakeholders including Product Leads, Delivery and Operations Managers, Infrastructure Leads, and Architects, as well as other Principal Engineers and specialist teams.

  • Drive the delivery of innovative software solutions, working with teams to develop complex, high-quality, performant software.

Essential skills/experience
  • Strong engineering background with experience in modern techniques like Continuous Delivery and Domain Driven Design.

  • Experience implementing package solutions in complex environments.

  • Leadership experience across multiple teams, working with senior stakeholders and influencing significant investments.

  • Knowledge of architectural styles such as microservices and integration patterns like RESTful, streams, event-based models.

  • Techniques to enhance system resilience, performance, security, and evolvability.

  • Experience applying Lean and Systems Thinking techniques.

Desirable skills/experience
  • E-Commerce or Retail experience.

  • Experience working with legacy systems.

  • Hands-on software engineering background.

  • Experience in engineering management or enterprise architecture roles.

Next Steps
  • Complete the application form with CV upload and questions. Refresh the page to ensure completion before the deadline.

  • Successful candidates will undergo screening, formal, and informal interviews.

  • Inform us of any adjustments needed for the recruitment process.

The Partnership

We're the UK's largest employee-owned business, home to John Lewis and Waitrose. We're committed to building a happier world through innovation, diversity, and shared ownership. We foster an environment where everyone can thrive and be themselves. As Partners, we make a difference and own our success.

Important points:

Some roles require pre-employment vetting, including DBS checks and financial probity assessments. Apply promptly as vacancies may close early if filled.

We support flexible working arrangements, including flexible hours, job sharing, and shorter contracts. Discuss your needs with the hiring manager.