Principal Engineer - Data Mesh

REA; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 250,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Flexible leave options

Birthday leave

Parental leave

Hackdays

Job summary

REA Group seeks a Principal Engineer – Data Mesh to lead the Data Intelligence tribe and shape the technical direction behind data governance, discoverability and scalable data assets. The role is based in Richmond with a hybrid approach and close collaboration across engineering teams.

You will remain hands‑on while defining architecture, validating solutions and guiding federated ownership of data products across multiple squads—driving adoption and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience providing technology leadership to engineering teams.
• Ability to develop and execute long‑term system architecture strategies.
• Experience mentoring engineers and fostering continuous learning.

Responsibilities

• Define a clear Data Mesh technology strategy for the Data Intelligence tribe.
• Partner with Engineering Managers to ensure technical solutions align with strategy.
• Develop actionable plans to improve health of systems within the tribe.
• Explore emerging technologies and practices in Data Mesh and data platform engineering.
• Design high‑quality, user‑centric, cross‑squad solutions with stakeholders.
• Foster internal tech community and share expertise externally to boost REA’s tech profile.
• Coach and mentor engineers to grow technical leaders in Data Mesh and leadership.

Skills

Data Mesh

Enterprise architecture

Cloud technologies

Leadership

Mentoring

Job description

Lead REA’s Data Mesh implementation across multiple squads and domains. Shape the technical direction behind discoverable, trustworthy and useful data.

Permanent full time role based in Richmond

We’re REA With bold and ambitious goals, REA Group is changing the way the world experiences property. No matter where you’re at on your property journey, we’re here to help with every step - whether that’s finding or financing your next home. Our people are the key to our success. At the heart of everything we do, is a thriving culture centred around high performance and care. We are purpose driven and collaborative, which drives innovation and our ability to make a real impact. As such, we’re proud to have been named in Australia’s “Top 5” Best Workplaces two years in a row, as well as being recognised as a Best Workplace for Women.

Where the team fits in

Launchpad is REA’s central platform engineering group: the engine behind our engineering culture, providing secure, consistent and observable platforms and services that accelerate product delivery across REA. The Data Intelligence tribe exists to make it easy to understand, protect and leverage REA data. It enables REA to become a data-driven powerhouse through governed platforms and democratised services for data processing and management. A core part of the tribe’s mission is establishing and evolving REA’s implementation of Data Mesh.

Data Mesh enables data ownership to move closer to the teams and domains that understand the data best, supported by shared principles, platform capabilities, standards and governance that make data discoverable, trustworthy, secure, interoperable and useful at scale.

What the role is all about

As Principal Engineer – Data Mesh, you’ll be a pivotal technical leader for the Data Intelligence tribe and a key contributor to REA’s enterprise data strategy. You’ll define and drive the technical direction for REA’s Data Mesh implementation across multiple squads, domains and engineering teams. You’ll connect enterprise architecture, data strategy, product outcomes and engineering execution, making sure Data Mesh is practical, adopted and continuously improved — not just a theoretical model. You’ll remain hands‑on: shaping architecture, validating solutions, working through complex technical problems and partnering with teams to deliver software and data capabilities using agile practices. You’ll influence without relying on line authority, align technical strategies across multiple squads, and help teams make sound, sustainable decisions across the full lifecycle of data products. You’ll champion federated data ownership, supported by a strong self‑serve data platform and effective federated computational governance. You’ll also help establish the patterns, guardrails and developer experience that enable domain teams to publish and consume high‑quality data products safely and independently.

In this role, you will:

• Define a clear Data Mesh technology strategy for the Data Intelligence tribe in collaboration with Architects, Directors of Engineering, the Head of Data, Data Management and Engineering Managers.
• Partner with Engineering Managers to ensure technical solutions for Data Mesh, data products and supporting platforms align with the established strategy.
• Develop and drive actionable plans to improve the health of systems within the tribe, in accordance with the REA System Health Framework.
• Explore emerging technologies and innovative practices in Data Mesh and data platform engineering.
• Design high‑quality, user‑centric, cross‑squad solutions with technical, product and data stakeholders.
• Foster a connected internal technology community through engagement and knowledge‑sharing, and share expertise externally to build REA’s recognition as a technology thought leader.
• Coach and mentor experienced engineers across the Data Intelligence tribe, helping grow REA’s next generation of technology leaders in Data Mesh and technical leadership.

Who we’re looking for

You bring extensive experience providing technology leadership to engineering teams, together with strategic and architectural guidance. You have expertise in developing long‑term system architecture strategies and proficiency in cloud technologies and Data Mesh. You’ll also bring:

The ability to align technical and product strategies across multiple squads and leadership levels, supporting a cohesive direction and effective execution.

Experience mentoring experienced engineers and fostering a culture of continuous learning and growth.

Strong technical problem‑solving skills, including the ability to address operational challenges.

Experience engaging in product discovery and solution validation to ensure innovative, robust solutions align with strategic goals.

Effective communication and collaboration skills across technical and business domains.

The REA experience

The physical, mental, emotional and financial health of our people is something we’ll never stop caring about. This is a place to learn and grow. Some of the ways we help our people include:

A hybrid and flexible approach to working. Flexible leave options, including birthday leave and the option to purchase additional leave. Flexible parental leave for primary and secondary carers. Our Because We Care program offers volunteering leave, community grants and matched payroll giving. Our Community Café donates 100% of its revenue to charity. Hackdays, so you can bring your big ideas to life.

Our commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

We’re committed to providing a working environment that embraces and values diversity, equity and inclusion. We believe teams with diverse ideas and experiences are more creative, more effective and fuel disruptive thinking.

We are an Australian-based digital media company with a passion for real estate. Our leading brand is Australia’s biggest property resource, realestate.com.au. We also operate the number one commercial property site, realcommercial.com.au, and have businesses that help property developers and other brands advertise with us. Whilst we live in Australia, we’ve also got ventures in Asia and North America, and have the vision of expanding our footprint further. Everything we do is driven by our purpose to ‘change the way the world experiences property’ – from product innovation to our international investments.