Principal Software Consultant - #2085972

Principal Software Consultant

Role: Permanent

Salary: Up to £80k (+ Bonus & Benefits)

Location: Leeds (Hybrid Working)

Start Date: ASAP

Overview

Exalto Consulting is supporting a leading technology consultancy that specialises in delivering complex software engineering, data, AI, and cloud solutions to enterprise clients across a range of industries.

We're looking for an experienced Principal Software Consultant who can combine technical expertise with strategic advisory skills to help clients define, shape and validate technology solutions. This is an opportunity to work at the forefront of digital transformation engagements, leading discovery activities, influencing technical direction, and helping organisations navigate complex technology decisions.

You'll work closely with clients from the earliest stages of an engagement, collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to ensure solutions are commercially viable, technically robust and aligned to business objectives.

What you'll be doing

• Leading client discovery workshops and requirements gathering activities
• Shaping and defining solution approaches across software engineering, cloud, AI, and data initiatives
• Designing high-level solution architectures and technical strategies
• Conducting feasibility assessments and proof-of-concept engagements
• Acting as a trusted advisor to senior stakeholders, translating complex technical concepts into business outcomes
• Supporting presales activities, including proposal development, solution validation, and client presentations
• Delivering technical due diligence reviews of systems, engineering practices and SDLC maturity
• Recommending improvements across DevOps, QA, security, and software delivery processes
• Supporting AI adoption initiatives, strategy development and pilot implementations
• Helping clients define modern data strategies and architecture approaches
• Providing guidance on cloud platform selection, governance and operating models
• Building long-term client relationships and identifying opportunities to deliver additional value.

What we're looking for

• Proven experience in a consultancy, solutions architecture, or senior technical advisory role
• Strong stakeholder management skills with the ability to engage at all levels of an organisation
• Experience leading discovery, solution design, or early-stage technology initiatives
• Ability to balance business requirements, technical constraints and commercial considerations
• Strong communication and presentation skills
• Experience shaping proposals, business cases, or presales engagements
• A consultative mindset with a passion for solving complex business challenges.

Required experience

• 7+ years of commercial technology experience
• Strong business analysis and problem-solving capability
• Experience working directly with clients and business stakeholders
• Demonstrable experience defining technical solutions and conducting feasibility assessments
• Background in software engineering with exposure to multiple technologies and delivery approaches
• Experience leading workshops, discovery activities and solution shaping engagements.

Desirable experience

• Experience across AI, machine learning, or advanced analytics initiatives
• Delivery of AI strategies, proof-of-concepts, or innovation programmes
• Experience with modern data platforms and data architecture
• Cloud-native solution design experience
• Exposure to business development or presales activities
• Ability to communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical audiences.

Why apply

This is a high-impact consulting role offering the opportunity to shape major technology initiatives from inception through to delivery. You'll work with a diverse portfolio of clients, influence strategic technology decisions, and help organisations unlock value through software engineering, data, AI, and cloud technologies.

The role offers strong career progression opportunities, exposure to cutting-edge technology projects, and the chance to work alongside highly experienced consultants, engineers, and data specialists in a collaborative environment.