Software Engineer - Backend (Java) in London

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.

As part of this transformation, the Native Apps engineering group is becoming a space for experimentation and innovation, where backend systems and mobile experiences come together more seamlessly than ever before. Joining now means helping to shape how we design, build, and scale the technology that powers the UK’s most trusted property platform, while contributing to an inclusive engineering culture that values learning, creativity, and impact.

The Role

As a Java Engineer, you will develop high-quality, reliable, and scalable software that can be deployed frequently and safely into production. You will work in a cross-functional team alongside product managers, designers, and other engineers to build and evolve the services that power Rightmove’s iOS and Android apps.

You will help design solutions to complex business and technical challenges, apply modern engineering practices, and contribute to a culture of experimentation and continuous improvement. You will also be an advocate for automated testing and promote a thoughtful, test-driven approach across the team.

A Typical Week Might Involve:

• Building and improving microservices using Java, Spring Boot, Elasticsearch, Kafka, Gradle, Hibernate, Couchbase, SQL, and Docker
• Working with your team to design APIs and services that power our mobile experiences
• Contributing to technical discussions and helping prioritise features during sprints
• Reviewing code, sharing feedback, and supporting others through collaboration and mentoring
• Troubleshooting production issues and improving performance and reliability
• Exploring new technologies and proposing ways to enhance our systems and workflows
• Partnering with product, data, and design to ensure we are delivering meaningful outcomes for users

What We’re Looking For:

• Experience building and maintaining Java-based applications
• An understanding of the importance of testing and familiarity with TDD practices
• An analytical and collaborative approach to solving problems
• A commitment to writing clean, maintainable, and scalable code
• Curiosity about how systems perform in production and how users interact with them
• A proactive attitude toward learning and improving how the team works
• A willingness to share knowledge and contribute to a supportive team culture
• A sense of ownership and accountability for delivering high-quality solutions

Key Responsibilities:

• Identify and resolve production issues, analysing logs to provide timely and effective solutions
• Contribute to the design and architecture of scalable, secure, and maintainable systems
• Work closely with colleagues in Product, UX, QA, and Data to deliver complete, high-quality features

Nice to Have:

• Experience across the full stack or exposure to front-end, iOS, or Android development
• Familiarity with cloud and container technologies such as Kubernetes and Google Cloud Platform (GCP)
• Experience working with data science teams to productionise AI models and integrate them into microservices

About Rightmove

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 88% of Rightmovers saying we’re a great place to work, we’re clearly doing something right!

People are the foundation of Rightmove - We’ll help you build a career on it.

What we offer:

• 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 to give back, and holiday buy schemes.
• Contributory stakeholder pension.
• Life assurance at 4x your basic salary to a spouse, family member or other nominated person in your life.
• 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 things like travel, electronics, fashion, gym memberships, cinema discounts and more.
• We offer hybrid working with a minimum of 2 days in the office.

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 their background or identity, to develop and promote a diverse culture that reflects the communities we serve.