Senior Software Engineer I - Backend (Java) in London

Senior Software Engineer I - Backend (Java) in London

London Full-Time 60000 - 80000 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
Rightmove

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Design and build innovative backend features using Java and cutting-edge technologies.
  • Company: Join Rightmove, the UK's leading property platform with a supportive culture.
  • Benefits: Enjoy competitive pay, health perks, 27 days holiday, and hybrid working.
  • Other info: Be part of a diverse team that values growth, innovation, and inclusivity.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact on millions of users while growing your tech skills.
  • Qualifications: Strong experience in Java, Spring Boot, and collaborative project leadership.

The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.

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.

Reports to: Engineering Manager - Customer Tooling

About the role

At Rightmove, we’re on a mission to make home moving easier and simpler for everyone.

Every month, millions of people spend over a billion minutes on our platform, with more than 140 million visits across our website and apps.

Behind that experience is a team of passionate engineers building the tools and services that power how we operate.

We’re looking for a Senior Backend Engineer to help shape and deliver innovative solutions for our customers.

You'll develop and build out a unique part of the platform, offering self-serving products that help our customers manage their portfolios and navigate the platform seamlessly.

Our teams are autonomous and cross-functional, combining design, product, engineering and testing expertise.

You’ll collaborate closely with others to deliver high-quality, reliable solutions that support millions of users, thousands of agents, and hundreds of Rightmovers.

You’ll play a key role in defining scalable, maintainable, and high-performance solutions to both business and technical challenges.

To find out more about our tools, tech and people, head to our tech blog.

  • What you'll be doing
  • Designing and building new features and enhancements using Java 17+, Spring Boot, Elasticsearch, Kafka, Gradle, Hibernate, Couchbase, SQL, and Docker.
  • Collaborating with cross-functional teams and stakeholders to shape solutions and align on priorities.
  • Taking ownership of key technical decisions and delivering projects end-to-end.
  • Balancing new feature development with technical debt, making thoughtful, pragmatic trade-offs.
  • Writing high-quality, secure, and extensible code that supports both current needs and future growth.
  • Communicating effectively with stakeholders and third parties to ensure solutions meet business objectives.
  • Championing new and emerging technologies that add value and align with our roadmap.
  • Mentoring and supporting junior engineers, helping to build a culture of growth, ownership, and continuous improvement.
  • We're looking for someone who
  • Brings strong commercial experience with Java 17+, Spring Boot, and Kafka.
  • Has successfully led complex projects, including coordinating work across multiple engineers.
  • Is highly collaborative, organised, and solution-focused in their approach.
  • Has a deep understanding of TDD practices and pipeline optimisation, including left-shifting.
  • Can balance technical priorities with business OKRs through pragmatic decision-making.
  • Is passionate about performance, scalability, and understanding user behaviour.
  • Proactively introduces new ideas, technologies, and ways of working to improve team outcomes.
  • Is committed to sharing knowledge, fostering team ownership, and contributing to a psychologically safe and inclusive environment.
  • About Rightmove

Our vision is to give everyone the belief that 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.

Despite this 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

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

If all of this has caught your eye, you may well be a Rightmover in the making......

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.

For our roles, such as Field or Home-based positions, different working arrangements apply - full details will be shared during the recruitment process.

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.

By applying, you confirm that you are aged at least 18 or over and that you’ve read and understood our , which explains how we handle and protect your personal information during the recruitment process.

Senior Software Engineer I - Backend (Java) in London employer: Rightmove

Rightmove is an exceptional employer that fosters a collaborative and innovative work culture, where Java Engineers can thrive while developing high-quality software for leading mobile applications. With a strong commitment to employee growth, you will have access to continuous learning opportunities and the chance to work alongside talented professionals in a dynamic environment. Located in a vibrant area, Rightmove offers unique advantages such as flexible working arrangements and a focus on modern engineering practices, making it an ideal place for those seeking meaningful and rewarding employment.

Rightmove

Contact Details:

Rightmove Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Senior Software Engineer I - Backend (Java) in London

Join Local Tech Meetups

Get out there and mingle with fellow developers by joining local tech meetups. It’s a fantastic way to meet people who might be working at Rightmove or know someone who does. Plus, you can pick up some trendy tech skills and trends while you're at it!

Contribute to Open Source Projects

Show off your coding chops by jumping into open-source projects. Not only does this give you practical experience, but it also gets you noticed in the dev community. You'll create a killer portfolio that speaks volumes about your skills to Rightmove.

Tap into Online Developer Communities

Don’t underestimate the power of online developer communities like GitHub, Stack Overflow, and even Reddit. Participate in discussions, share your projects, and build your visibility. We can often find opportunities through these channels that can lead to a full-time gig at companies like Rightmove.

Explore Job Boards Specifically for Tech Roles

Keep your eyes peeled on job boards that focus on tech roles. Sites like TechCareers or Stack Overflow Jobs can often have listings for companies like Rightmove that might not show up on broader job sites. Make it a habit to check these regularly, and don’t hesitate to apply directly through our website!

We think you need these skills to ace Senior Software Engineer I - Backend (Java) in London

Java 17+
Spring Boot
Kafka
Elasticsearch
Gradle
Hibernate
Couchbase

Some tips for your application 🫡

Show off your coding skills:When applying for a software engineering role, it's super important to showcase your coding skills. Make sure your CV includes your tech stack, any relevant programming languages you’re comfortable with, and examples of projects you've worked on. If you have a GitHub profile, link it up! We love to see code in action.

Tailor your portfolio:For a full-time role, we’d expect to see some solid examples of your work in your portfolio. Make sure to include at least two or three projects that highlight your problem-solving skills and your ability to work with different technologies. Focus on the projects that are most relevant to the position at Rightmove.

Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Rightmove and how your skills align with the role. Show us your passion for software development. We dig enthusiastic candidates who understand the value of collaboration and continuous learning!

Be clear and concise:When it comes to writing your CV and cover letter, clarity is key. Avoid jargon that could confuse us and stick to simple, direct language. Highlight your achievements with quantifiable results where possible, and keep everything easy to read. A well-organised application goes a long way!

How to prepare for a job interview at Rightmove

Brush Up on Your Coding Skills

For a full-time software engineering role, it's crucial that we stay sharp with our coding abilities. Expect technical questions that might involve solving problems on the spot or discussing algorithms. Practise on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank to get comfortable with the types of questions that often come up.

Know Your Tools and Frameworks

Make sure we’re well-acquainted with the tools and technologies listed in the job description. Familiarise ourselves with any specific frameworks or programming languages mentioned. If Rightmove uses React or Node.js, for instance, be ready to discuss how we’ve used them in previous projects or coursework.

Showcase Your Projects

Bring along a portfolio that highlights our best work. This could be code samples, GitHub repositories, or any side projects we’ve built. Make sure we can talk through our thought process for each project, especially the challenges we faced and how we solved them—this shows our problem-solving skills in action.

Prepare for Behavioural Questions

While technical skills are key, full-time positions also require cultural fit. Be ready to discuss our previous experiences and how we handle teamwork, conflict, and deadlines. Brush up on the STAR method—Situation, Task, Action, Result—to clearly articulate our past experiences when discussing how we've contributed to a team.