Principal Platform Engineer, Cazoo
Salary not provided
Docker
Kubernetes
TypeScript
Java
Kafka
Node.js
Terraform
Azure
Senior and Expert level
Remote from UK
More information about location
Online used car marketplace
Posted today
Online used car marketplace
101-200 employees
B2BLifestyleMarketplaceCarsConsumer GoodseCommerce
Posted today
Salary not provided
Docker
Kubernetes
TypeScript
Java
Kafka
Node.js
Terraform
Azure
Senior and Expert level
Remote from UK
More information about location
101-200 employees
B2BLifestyleMarketplaceCarsConsumer GoodseCommerce
Company mission
We're people who make things happen. We move fast. We back ideas. We challenge what isn't working. We're building a different type of automotive marketplace.
Role
Who you are
- Extensive backend or platform engineering experience, gained building and operating high-traffic, business-critical systems, ideally within a product-led technology business
- Strong cloud engineering expertise, preferably Azure, with a solid understanding of cloud-native architecture, managed services and infrastructure as code
- Proficiency in a modern backend language, ideally TypeScript/Node.js, although we're open to experienced engineers with strong transferable backgrounds, such as Java
- Experience with distributed and event-driven systems, including technologies such as Kafka, Azure Event Hubs or Service Bus
- Solid understanding of platform technologies, including Kubernetes, Docker, Terraform, CI/CD and observability tooling
- Experience designing data-intensive services, working with relational and non-relational databases, caching and search technologies
- Demonstrable technical leadership, influencing architectural decisions, mentoring engineers and driving complex initiatives across multiple teams
- Sound engineering judgement, knowing when to build versus buy, how to balance technical debt against delivery priorities and how to make pragmatic architectural decisions
- Familiarity with AI-assisted development, using tools such as Claude Code, Cursor or GitHub Copilot with an understanding of their benefits and limitations
- Experience in automotive, marketplaces, classifieds or other consumer-facing digital platforms would be advantageous
- We're particularly interested in engineers who combine deep technical expertise with a collaborative, pragmatic approach
What the job involves
- We're looking for a Principal Platform Engineer to help shape the next generation of Cazoo's technology platform
- We're undertaking a significant modernisation of our existing Azure-based architecture, moving towards more scalable, cloud-native and event-driven services
- This is an opportunity to influence how our core platform evolves, improve the experience of our engineering teams and build the foundations that support our customer-facing products
- This is a hands-on technical leadership role, combining software engineering, architecture and platform strategy
- You'll spend around half your time actively contributing to engineering delivery, while also helping set technical direction, mentoring engineers and driving initiatives across teams
- Driving platform modernisation: Lead the design and delivery of cloud-native, event-driven services, including the safe retirement of legacy systems
- Shaping technical direction: Own and deliver the roadmap for core platform capabilities, working with Engineering, Product and Commercial stakeholders to align priorities
- Remaining hands-on: Write production code, review pull requests, solve complex technical problems and work directly alongside engineering teams
- Improving developer experience: Build and evolve shared services, tooling and engineering practices that make it easier for our teams to deliver high-quality software
- Championing engineering excellence: Improve scalability, reliability, observability and operational standards across our platform
- Leading through collaboration: Work closely with architects, Principal Engineers and cross-functional squads to turn architectural vision into practical solutions
- Developing our engineers: Mentor others, share knowledge and help establish consistent engineering standards across teams
- Embracing AI-assisted engineering: Help establish effective practices and guardrails for using AI development tools to improve productivity without compromising quality or security
- You'll have genuine ownership and influence, with the opportunity to make meaningful architectural decisions while remaining close to the technology and people delivering them
- Reports To: Director of Technology
Application process
- We usually respond within two weeks
Our take
Used car marketplace Cazoo has had quite the journey, having originally been founded as MOTORS by a partnership between the Daily Mail and General Trust before its acquisition by Cox Automotive and, subsequently, Gumtree. Now, it's an independent used car marketplace that hosts hundreds of thousands of used cars, as well as reviews, guides and advice.
With fifteen years of experience behind it, Cazoo has capitalised on its ownership journey to become the go-to used car marketplace for the UK. Operating within a challenging economy, the business is in a strong position, having bought the "household name" Cazoo brand, which went into administration in 2024, and adopted the name as its own. This suggests it will continue to maintain its nation-leading position in the sector.
Freddie
Company Specialist at Welcome to the Jungle
Insights
12% employee growth in 12 months
Company
Company benefits
- Discretionary Bonus or Commission based roles
- Pension Scheme - We more than match your commitment to the future, when you contribute 6% to your pension pot , we put in 9%, taking your total up to 15% of your base salary.
- Make an Impact Awards: Quarterly value-led awards with cash prizes and a £1,000 team experience on offer.
- Hybrid and UK Remote working depending on role
- Generous Family Friendly Leave: Maternity/Pregnant Parent Leave: 20 weeks at 100% pay,. Paternity/Non-birth Parent Leave: 12 weeks at 100% pay.
- Private Healthcare Insurance - High-level coverage for you, partners, and dependents—including pre-existing conditions.
- Private Dental insurance through Bupa - Level 2 coverage for cashback on preventative, restorative and emergency care.
- Online private GP service - 24/7 digital access via Help@Hand.
- Generous sick pay support - 13 weeks of sick pay, before going onto Long term Illness cover with Canada Life
- Life assurance policy (x4 Life Assurance)
- Social & Inclusion Calendar - packed with events
- Free food and beverage in our office locations
- 25 days annual leave (Plus Bank Holidays) to start. We reward loyalty: +2 days after 2 years, plus an extra day for every year after (reaching a 30-day max).
- We offer 2 volunteer days a year so you can help out wherever matters to you.
- Specialist Support: Free counseling and menopause/fertility support via Peppy.
- Upskill Budget: Every manager has a dedicated budget for your specific role development.
- Leadership Track: Custom training programs designed for our current managers.
- Tech Choice: Your choice of a MacBook or Windows laptop.
- Perks@Work: Discounts at over 30,000 retailers and entertainment venues.
- Company Events: Annual Ignite Conference (past guests include Damien Hughes, Nick Fry, & Matthew Syed).
- Celebrations: Whether it’s our Summer bash or the annual festive party, we make sure we take the time to bring everyone together and celebrate in style.
- Automotive advocates: We provide tickets to the annual British Motor Show, giving our team a front-row seat to one of the biggest events in the UK car calendar.
- Pitchside Perks: We’re proud partners of Brentford FC, and we share the rewards with you. From tickets to Men’s and Women’s matches to the bucket-list opportunity to actually play on the pitch yourself, we bring you closer to the action.
Company values
- We are fearless
- We are dynamic
- We are better together
Company HQ
Richmond, UK
Articles
Leadership
Barry Judge
(CEO)Former CEO & current Board Member at houza. They are also the former CEO of OLX, dubizzle, and dealglobber.com (which they Co-Founded).
People progressing
Head of Account Management.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at Cazoo
Rhys Shipman (Talent Acquisition Partner )
- Here at Cazoo, we’re striving to foster a culture of belonging and empowerment, a place where everyone can be celebrated for who they are, with equal opportunities for growth and career development.
- We understand that having diverse and inclusive teams fuels creativity and stronger performance. That’s why we’re committed to discovering new talent so that when you join us, you can be you! We know we’re not perfect, and true inclusion and belonging is a journey. As part of our commitment to create inclusion for all in 2023, listed below are a few of the things we’re up to. And that’s really just the start!
- Improve equitable hiring processes by removing bias from job applications
- Delivering training on Unconscious Bias, Culture And Identity Awareness, & Inclusive Leadership
- Celebrating diversity through our company-wide inclusion calendar
- Fostering Community Groups (ERGs) with investment for each group
- Continuing our People Ambassador Programme to have more representative voices involved in decision making
- Accelerating diverse talent through a mentoring programme
- Sponsorship to attend an external coaching programme to elevate women’s voices
- Partnering with charitable organisations to drive inclusion and belonging within wider communities
- Reviewing the accessibility of our workplace, practices and policies
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