Software Engineer (Backend) - Agent Select

Legal Counsel - 12 month FTC at Rightmove Greenhouse; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Rightmove in London is seeking an experienced Backend Engineer to design, build and scale services using Java 21+ and Spring Boot. You’ll work on in-house applications and microservices, collaborating with cross-functional teams to deliver impactful software for millions of users.

You’ll own features from idea through production, focus on performance, reliability and security, and explore new technologies to create value while maintaining strong engineering standards within a supportive, hybrid

Qualifications

• Commercial experience building backend services with Java 21+ and Spring Boot.
• Experience integrating with Kafka, Elasticsearch and Couchbase.
• Strong SQL skills and data access patterns.
• Proficient with containerization and modern CI/CD workflows.

Responsibilities

• Design, build and enhance backend services using Java 21+, Spring Boot, Kafka, Elasticsearch, SQL.
• Collaborate with Product Managers, Designers, Engineers, and stakeholders.
• Own features from idea to production, guiding technical and product decisions.
• Build secure, scalable software that meets business needs.
• Balance feature delivery with platform improvements and debt reduction.
• Monitor and improve production systems' performance and reliability.
• Contribute to architecture discussions and future tech direction.
• Explore new technologies to create value for customers and colleagues.

Skills

Java 21+

Spring Boot

Kafka

Elasticsearch

Couchbase

SQL

Tools

Docker

Gradle

Job description

Our vision is to give everyone the belief they can make their move. We aim to make moving simpler, by giving everyone the best place to turn to and return to for access to the tools, expertise, trust, and belief to make it happen.

We're home to the UK's largest choice of properties and are the go-to destination for millions of people planning their next move, reading the latest industry news, or just browsing what's on the market.

Location: London (hybrid)

Reports to: Engineering Manager

The Role

At Rightmove, we're on a mission to make home moving easier. Every month, home movers spend more than a billion minutes on Rightmove, with over 140 million visits across our website and apps.

Behind those experiences is a modern engineering organisation building the services, platforms and products that power how Rightmove operates. We're looking for a Backend Engineer who is passionate about building scalable systems, solving complex problems and delivering software that has real impact.

You’ll be part of a collaborative, cross-functional team, working on in-house applications and microservices that integrate with a wide range of third‑party systems. Your work will help enable teams across the business to move faster, make better decisions and deliver exceptional experiences to millions of users.

A note from your future manager: By joining our team, you’ll help homeowners pick the right agent for them and help agents get better at what they do - all while being part of a highly effective, fun, and enthusiastic team where we’ve got each other’s backs and celebrate each other’s growth!

Want to learn more about our technology, engineering culture and people? Check out our Tech Blog.

What you’ll be doing:

• Design, build and enhance services using Java 21+, Spring Boot, Kafka, Elasticsearch, Couchbase, SQL, Docker and Gradle
• Work closely with Product Managers, Designers, Engineers and stakeholders to solve meaningful business challenges
• Own features from idea through to production, helping shape both technical and product decisions
• Build secure, scalable and maintainable software that supports current and future business needs
• Balance feature delivery with platform improvements and technical debt reduction
• Monitor and improve the performance, reliability and resilience of production systems
• Contribute to architecture discussions and influence technical direction within your team
• Explore and champion new technologies that can create value for our customers and colleagues

We’re looking for someone who:

• Has commercial experience building backend applications with Java 21+, Spring Boot and Kafka
• Enjoys solving complex technical problems and collaborating with others to find the best solution
• Understands modern engineering practices, including testing, CI/CD and deployment automation
• Keen to adopt AI tools and practices that help the team build better software faster, and shares learnings with others
• Has a strong sense of ownership and accountability for both individual and team outcomes
• Is curious about system performance, observability and how users interact with software in the real world
• Enjoys sharing knowledge, learning from others and helping elevate engineering standards
• Thrives in a collaborative environment where asking questions, challenging ideas and continuous improvement are encouraged
• Brings a pragmatic mindset and can make thoughtful trade-offs between speed, quality and long-term sustainability

Our Approach to AI

At Rightmove, we believe software and product are ultimately people problems, and everything we build aims to improve the lives of others. We see AI as a helpful way to create more space for the human side of our work, from understanding real needs to making sure we are solving the right problems in the right way. There is an expectation that you are proactive in exploring how AI can support your own workflow and productivity, and that you approach it with curiosity and an open mind.

Life at Rightmove

Despite our growth, we’ve remained a friendly, supportive place to work, with employee #1 still working here! We’ve done this by placing the Rightmove Hows at the heart of everything we do. These are the essential values that reflect our culture, and include:

• We create value by delivering results and building trust with partners and consumers.
• We think bigger by acting with curiosity and setting bold aspirations.
• We care deeply by being real, having fun, and valuing diversity.
• We move together by being one team - internally collaborative, externally competitive.
• We make a difference by focusing on delivering measurable impact.

We believe in careers that open doors and help our team develop by providing an open and inclusive work environment, offering ongoing training opportunities, and supporting charity fundraising events. And with 89% of Righ