Principal Engineer - Data Mesh

reagroup; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

REA Group is seeking a Principal Engineer - Data Mesh to lead the Data Intelligence tribe, shaping the technical direction for Data Mesh across multiple squads and domains. You will stay hands-on while guiding architecture, validating solutions, and delivering scalable data capabilities using agile practices.

You will connect data strategy, enterprise architecture and product outcomes, champion federated data ownership and governance, and coach engineers to drive continuous improvement and

Qualifications

• Experience guiding large-scale data platforms and engineering teams.
• Expertise in cloud technologies and data governance.
• Ability to translate product goals into scalable data solutions.
• Strong communication across technical and business domains.
• Mentoring engineers and fostering continuous learning.

Responsibilities

• Define Data Mesh technology strategy for the Data Intelligence tribe.
• Coordinate with Architects and Directors to align with strategy.
• Develop plans to improve system health and reliability.
• Explore emerging Data Mesh technologies and practices.
• Design cross-squad, user-centric data platform solutions.
• Mentor and grow the next generation of data leaders.

Skills

Technology leadership

Data Mesh

Cloud architectures

Architectural guidance

Stakeholder alignment

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 fo r

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 c