Who we are
At CarGurus (NASDAQ: CARG), our mission is to give people the power to reach their destination. We started as a small team of developers determined to bring trust and transparency to car shopping. Since then, our history of innovation and go-to-market acceleration has driven industry-leading growth. In fact, we’re the largest and fastest-growing automotive marketplace, and we’ve been profitable for over 15 years.
What we do
The market is evolving, and we are too, moving the entire automotive journey online and guiding our customers through every step. That includes everything from the sale of an old car to the financing, purchase, and delivery of a new one. Today, tens of millions of consumers visit CarGurus.com each month, and ~30,000 dealerships use our products. But they're not the only ones who love CarGurus—our employees do, too. We have a people-first culture that fosters kindness, collaboration, and innovation, and empowers our Gurus with tools to fuel their career growth. Disrupting a trillion-dollar industry requires fresh and diverse perspectives. Come join us for the ride!
Role overview
Born from the forums and built for drivers, PistonHeads has been at the heart of the UK performance car scene since 1998. What started as an online community for enthusiasts has evolved into a trusted marketplace for buying and selling the most exciting cars on the road, from modern performance icons to collectible classics. Today, PistonHeads is part of CarGurus, combining our community roots and editorial heritage with the latest marketplace technology to create a smarter, more connected platform for auto enthusiasts across the UK and beyond.
Over the past year, we’ve launched a brand-new rapidly growing premium car app in the UK, expanded our Auctions platform, and modernised our tech stack to create a smarter, more connected experience for millions of car lovers.
As a key member of the PistonHeads Front-End Engineering team, the Principal Software Engineer will contribute directly to our front-end codebase and play a pivotal role in evolving the PistonHeads website by delivering clean, accessible, high-quality, and thoroughly tested code.
As a Principal Software Engineer, you’ll lead by example—designing and delivering high-quality, user-centred front-end solutions while contributing to discussions that shape our product and engineering direction. You’ll work effectively both independently and within a cross-functional team, applying modern delivery practices and a pragmatic approach to building software that meets real user and business needs. As a lean, fast-moving team, we expect all engineers to partner closely with Product to thoroughly analyse the problem at hand and identify the most effective path to a solution—enabling us to deliver to production quickly, confidently, and with a clear understanding of the value we’re creating.
What you'll do
What you'll bring
The displayed range represents the expected annual base salary / On-Target Earnings (OTE) for this position. On-Target Earnings (OTE) is inclusive of base salary and on-target commission earnings, which applies exclusively to sales roles.
Individual pay within this range is determined by work location and other factors such as job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.
This annual base salary forms part of a comprehensive Total Rewards Package. In addition to benefits, this role may qualify for discretionary bonuses/incentives and Restricted Stock Units (RSUs).
Working at CarGurus
We reward our Gurus’ curiosity and passion with best-in-class benefits and compensation, including equity for all employees, both when they start and as they continue to grow with us. Our career development and corporate giving programs, as well as our employee resource groups (ERGs) and communities, help people build connections while making an impact in personally meaningful ways. A flexible hybrid model and robust time off policies encourage work-life balance and individual well-being. Thoughtful perks like daily free lunch, a new car discount, meditation and fitness apps, commuting cost coverage, and more help our people create space for what matters most in their personal and professional lives.
We welcome all
CarGurus strives to be a place to which people can bring the ultimate expression of themselves and their potential—starting with our hiring process. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, marital status, ancestry, physical or mental disability, veteran status, gender identity, or sexual orientation. We foster an inclusive environment that values people for their skills, experiences, and unique perspectives. That’s why we hope you’ll apply even if you don’t check every box listed in the job description. We also encourage you to tell your recruiter if you require accommodations to participate in our hiring process due to a disability so we can provide the appropriate support. We want to know what only you can bring to CarGurus. #LI-Hybrid