Totara is a global leader in learning and development technology, providing innovative HR and learning solutions to 1,500+ customers across 150+ countries. As we continue to scale, we’re looking for a Principal Engineer to lead technical excellence, foster engineering practice improvements, and shape the future of Totara’s technology strategy.
This role offers a unique opportunity to make a high-level impact while staying hands-on with code. Reporting to the Head of Engineering, you’ll work alongside architects and engineers to prioritise and execute on the technology roadmap, uplift engineering practices, and solve complex technical challenges.
As a Principal Engineer, you will play a pivotal role in Totara’s engineering leadership, influencing both technical direction and team capability. You will:
- Collaborate with architects on the evolution of Totara’s system design, ensuring scalability, maintainability, and strategic growth.
- Identify systemic technical challenges and drive their resolution by shaping the technology backlog.
- Plan, coordinate, and motivate teams to improve engineering practices across the organisation.
- Align technical initiatives with Totara’s commercial strategy, ensuring an optimal balance between innovation and business priorities.
- Navigate Totara’s product development environment, including open-source software, software licensing, US federal compliance, delivery via partner channels, and acquisitions.
- Incorporate modern industry technologies and patterns into technology strategy.
- Mentor and coach engineers, fostering technical growth across R&D.
- Lead and support delivery teams in making strong technical decisions, ensuring best practices in software development.
- Work closely with the Head of Engineering and architects to build a strategic technology roadmap, balancing immediate needs with long-term growth.
This role requires both big-picture thinking and hands-on execution, ensuring Totara’s technology remains cutting-edge while staying grounded in real-world delivery.
What You’ll Bring
We’re looking for an experienced technical leader who thrives on solving complex engineering challenges while mentoring and uplifting teams. You should have:
- Deep technical expertise, shaping engineering decisions at a domain or system-wide level.
- Experience solving complex engineering problems, with a focus on performance, scalability, and maintainability.
- A tactical mindset, balancing architecture with hands-on implementation.
- A highly hands-on approach, including writing code, debugging, reviewing PRs, and optimising system performance.
- Proficiency in modern software engineering practices, including security, CI/CD, and cloud-native development.
- A collaborative leadership style, with the ability to influence and inspire engineers across teams.
- Experience working in Agile environments, with a track record of leading technical initiatives.
Why Join Totara?
Joining Totara means becoming part of a mission-driven organisation dedicated to creating engaging learning workplaces worldwide. We offer:
- A strategic technical leadership role with the opportunity to shape Totara’s engineering future.
- A collaborative, high-autonomy work environment, where your ideas have real impact.
- A passionate and creative team solving real-world customer challenges.
- Competitive salary, flexible working, and professional development support.
- A highly skilled, well-connected international team supporting your success.
Benefits and Perks:
- Enhanced Parental Leave
- Private Healthcare
- Professional Development Opportunities
- Annual Wellbeing Allowance
- New Joiner home working set-up allowance
- Additional Paid Leave: Birthday off, Working days between Christmas and New Years Eve