Principal Software Engineer – Adelaide
Location: South Australia, Australia
About the Role
The Principal Software Engineering role provides senior technical leadership across multiple software delivery squads within Copper SA. The role is responsible for driving engineering excellence, guiding technical direction, and supporting the delivery of high quality digital solutions across the Copper SA product ecosystem.
This position blends hands‐on software engineering with influential technical leadership. The role provides deep expertise across the full stack (C#/.NET and React), supports solution architecture, and works across teams to uplift engineering practices, unblock complex technical challenges, and ensure alignment with strategic digital objectives.
Working in close partnership with the Lead Technical Management, Principal Platform Engineering, Principal Data Engineering, solution architects and business stakeholders, this role sets and maintains engineering standards, promotes sustainable delivery approaches, and champions modern software development practices.
Key Responsibilities
* Drive technical decision‐making, engineering patterns, and best‐practice frameworks across multiple squads.
* Bring deep full‐stack engineering expertise to support design decisions, guide code‐level implementation, and improve the technical maturity of both frontend and backend software development.
* Provide architectural guidance across backend, frontend, integrations, and cloud services to ensure scalable, secure, and reliable solutions.
* Partner with platform and data leaders to align software architecture with cloud, data, and enterprise architectural direction.
* Lead technical design reviews, architecture discussions, and solution planning sessions.
* Operate as a floating senior technical expert across squads, taking ownership of high‐complexity tasks and unblocking engineering challenges.
* Contribute hands‐on to codebases (C#/.NET, React), technical spikes, proofs of concept, and critical‐path implementation tasks.
* Pair with engineers to uplift delivery capability, improve code quality, and promote modern engineering techniques.
* Champion engineering operating practices including CI/CD, automated testing, observability, security‐by‐design, and cloud‐native development.
* Provide coaching, mentoring, and capability development to support engineer growth.
* Foster a collaborative engineering culture that encourages continuous improvement, knowledge sharing, and consistent technical standards.
* Guide on complex technical issues, design options, and trade‐off considerations; support the improvement of Scrum/Agile maturity.
* Identify systemic engineering gaps across squads and lead uplift initiatives that strengthen development discipline, consistency, and long‐term maintainability.
* Identify opportunities to improve developer experience, platform tooling, and workflow efficiency across squads.
* Influence without authority – this role requires strong engagement and technical leadership despite no direct people leadership.
About You
* Demonstrated application of engineering patterns, architectural decisions, and technical standards across squads, resulting in scalable, secure, and maintainable solutions aligned with Digital Australia technical direction.
* Evidence of improved delivery outcomes through stronger engineering practices (CI/CD, testing, observability, secure‐by‐design).
* Proven ability to align and standardise engineering approaches, shared patterns and technology decisions, reducing rework and increasing reuse.
* Track record of resolving high‐complexity technical work and delivery blockers efficiently.
* High confidence from platform, data, architecture, and delivery stakeholders in technical leadership, evidenced by transparent trade‐offs and clear technical value.
* Expertise across the full stack (C#/.NET and React).
Benefits
BHP offers a competitive salary package with performance‐based bonuses and a best‐in‐class employee share program. Flexible working options, generous paid parental leave, extended leave entitlements and parent rooms are also part of the benefits.
Diversity & Inclusion
BHP is an Equal Opportunity employer committed to creating a safe and inclusive workplace where everyone can thrive. We welcome candidates of all backgrounds, including gender, age, race, disability status, sexual orientation, religion, neurodiversity, and education levels.
Recruitment Process
Applications will be screened by BHP following standard checks, including background checks, medical and reference checks, and right‐to‐work verification. Existing BHP employees should apply through the internal job portal.
Equal Employment Opportunity
BHP is an Equal Opportunity Employer and recognises that true diversity includes gender, age, race, disability status, sexual orientation, religion, neurodiversity, education levels, and many other aspects of your identity.
Contact
For recruitment support or to discuss any adjustments to your application process, email .
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