Principal Engineer (Backend)

Rightmove; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 105,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private Medical Insurance

Pension

27 days holiday

Travel Loans

Charitable contributions

Job summary

Rightmove is hiring a Principal Engineer to lead technical vision within the Consumer Domain. The role involves designing scalable systems, mentoring engineers, and ensuring high engineering standards.

Based in London with a hybrid work model, the successful candidate will influence engineering practices and collaborate on high-value initiatives, contributing to the company's growth and innovation.

Qualifications

• Experience in scaling and resilient systems design.
• Deeper understanding of complex systems with user impact.
• Interest in AI-driven development.

Responsibilities

• Lead design of scalable systems across teams.
• Partner with managers on high-value projects.
• Champion engineering quality and standards.
• Mentor and support senior engineers.

Skills

Engineering Leadership

Systems Design

Communication

Strategic Thinking

Mentoring

Job description

Principal Engineer – Consumer Domain – Rightmove

Overview

Rightmove’s consumer product domain powers core services such as property search, listings, maps and alerts. It receives large traffic and supports up to 60 engineers. The Principal Engineer leads the technical vision and practices across the domain.

Location & Reporting

Hybrid – London office (two days per week). Report to Head of Engineering.

Domain

Consumer.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Engineering & Architecture Leadership
  • Lead design of systems that are scalable, resilient, and fit for purpose, especially when complexity cuts across team boundaries.
  • Shape the architectural direction of the consumer domain in alignment with strategic goals.
  • Identify opportunities to increase reuse, improve performance, and make smarter technology decisions.
• Delivery Impact
  • Partner with Engineering and Product Managers to guide scoping, sequencing and risk mitigation for large, high‑value initiatives.
  • Unblock teams by spotting better ways forward, helping shift delivery patterns or simplifying complexity.
  • Influence outcomes through strong product awareness and a focus on business and user value.
• Standards & Practices
  • Champion engineering quality, from code structure and testing practices through to observability and operational readiness.
  • Spot patterns and inefficiencies in how we build software, collaborate and help teams adopt better ways of working.
  • Influence how we think about platform services, shared capabilities and long‑term sustainability of the tech estate.
• Coaching & Influence
  • Mentor senior engineers and tech leads.
  • Model excellent communication, collaboration and leadership behaviours across teams.
  • Support the growth of the internal technical community, fostering knowledge sharing and cross‑domain learning.

What We’re Looking For

• Operating across multiple teams or domains with a strong sense of the wider technical estate.
• Deep experience designing and delivering complex systems with significant business or user impact.
• Interest in agentic and AI‑driven development, plus judgment to determine when it truly adds value.
• Clear communication, adaptability to audience and ability to bring people on the journey.
• Strategic thinking, balancing technical concerns with product and organisational context.
• Regularly supports or mentors other engineers and is invested in growing the engineering culture.
• Ability to move between high‑level architecture and hands‑on technical problem solving as needed.
• Trusted by peers and stakeholders, known for judgement, empathy and pragmatism.

AI Expectations

Proactively explore how AI can support your own workflow and productivity, approaching it with curiosity and an open mind.

Benefits

• Cash plan for dental, optical and physio treatments.
• Private Medical Insurance, Pension and Life Insurance, Employee Assistance Plan.
• 27 days holiday plus two paid volunteering days a year and holiday buy schemes.
• Contributory stakeholder pension.
• Life assurance at 4× basic salary to spouse, family member or other nominated person.
• Competitive compensation package.
• Paid leave for maternity, paternity, adoption & fertility.
• Travel Loans, Bike to Work scheme, Rental Deposit Loan.
• Charitable contributions through Payroll Giving and donation matching.
• Access deals and discounts on travel, electronics, fashion, gym memberships, cinema and more.

Equal Opportunities

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, Rightmove will never discriminate based on age, disability, sex, race, religion or belief, gender reassignment, marriage/civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity or sexual orientation.

At Rightmove, we believe that a diverse and inclusive workforce leads to better innovation, productivity and overall success. We are committed to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for all employees, regardless of background or identity, to foster a diverse culture that reflects the communities we serve.