Platform Engineer (Developer Experience) at Rightmove

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Platform Engineer (Developer Experience)
Company: Rightmove
Location: London, City of, United Kingdom
Job Type: Hybrid
Category: Platform Engineer
Date Posted: 2025-02-26

🚀 Role Summary

Key web technology aspects 1: This role represents a unique opportunity for a mid-level engineer with a strong Java foundation to expand their expertise into Platform Engineering and join a team prioritising automation, observability, and delivering value in iterations, while directly shaping developer productivity through self-service tooling and standardised workflows.
Key web technology aspects 2: The initial focus of the role is to maintain existing Java services, owned by the Developer Experience team. The team is currently working on migrating services to the Cloud. The role will then shift to enhance our Internal Developer Platform solution, to abstract the infrastructure complexities for developers, enabling developers to build and deliver microservices efficiently.
Key web technology aspects 3: Success in this role requires balancing hands-on Java service maintenance with platform architecture, CI/CD pipeline design, and developer enablement.
Key web technology aspects 4: The role involves maintaining Java services owned by the Developer Experience team, working with developers to provide support, delivering training workshops to our internal customers when necessary, and improving documentation. It also includes working on platform tasks and learning more about the technologies we use, as well as expanding self-service capabilities in the internal platform to cover common use cases.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a unique opportunity to transition from a Java development focus to a Platform Engineering role, with a strong emphasis on automation, observability, and developer enablement. The role requires a balance of hands-on Java service maintenance and platform architecture, CI/CD pipeline design, and developer enablement.

💻 Primary Responsibilities

Platform Development:
- Enhance IDP Platform.
- Create Gitlab CI templates.
- Standardise configuration and monitoring.
Developer Support:
- Participate in the rota to provide support to developers for platform-related issues in areas that Developer Experience owns.
- Weekly review and brainstorm ways of reducing the number of requests through automation and building auditable self-service tooling, documentation, and training.
Operational Excellence:
- Participate in the out-of-hours on-call rota (1 week/month - competitive additional compensation offered).

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary responsibilities of this role revolve around platform development, developer support, and operational excellence. The role requires a strong focus on automation, observability, and delivering value in iterations, while directly shaping developer productivity through self-service tooling and standardised workflows.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Relevant degree or equivalent experience in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field with a focus on web development, software development, or IT administration.

Experience: Proven experience in Java development, with a strong foundation in modern Java and experience with test frameworks like JUnit and Mockito. Additional skills in Gradle, debugging, and security frameworks are essential.

Required Skills:

Experience with modern Java to write clean, efficient, and well-documented code.
Experience with test frameworks like JUnit and Mockito.
Debugging skills to identify and resolve issues in complex systems.
Gradle fundamentals to write and maintain complex Gradle build files.
Dependency management understanding different dependency configurations and resolving conflicts.
Multi-project builds to set up and manage multi-project builds in Gradle.
Performance optimization understanding of Gradle build speed optimisations and efficiency.
Springboot knowledge for library upgrades.
Custom Gradle plugin creation to automate build processes, retrieve properties, code generation, or other development tasks.
Security experience working within an SDLC framework, understanding of SALSA and SBOMs.

Preferred Skills:

Experience with Google Cloud Platform, Google Kubernetes Engine with Anthos Service Mesh, Confluent Cloud, Incident.io, Gitlab, Jira, Confluence, Slack, Teams, Elastic APM, Kibana, Java, Node, Python, JavaScript, Go, React.
Familiarity with the Rightmove platform and understanding of the property market.

📝 Enhancement Note: The required and preferred skills for this role focus on a strong foundation in modern Java, experience with test frameworks, debugging, and security frameworks. Additionally, experience with Google Cloud Platform, Google Kubernetes Engine with Anthos Service Mesh, Confluent Cloud, Incident.io, Gitlab, Jira, Confluence, Slack, Teams, Elastic APM, Kibana, Java, Node, Python, JavaScript, Go, React is preferred.

📊 Web Portfolio & Project Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

Specific web portfolio requirement 1 with responsive design and cross-browser compatibility focus.
Specific web portfolio requirement 2 with performance optimization and accessibility standards.
Specific web portfolio requirement 3 with user experience design and interface development.
Specific web portfolio requirement 4 with server configuration and deployment demonstration needs.

Technical Documentation:

Technical documentation requirement 1 - code quality, commenting, and documentation standards.
Technical documentation requirement 2 - version control, deployment processes, and server configuration.
Technical documentation requirement 3 - testing methodologies, performance metrics, and optimization techniques.

📝 Enhancement Note: The web portfolio and project requirements for this role focus on responsive design, performance optimization, user experience design, and server configuration. The role requires a strong focus on code quality, documentation, and testing methodologies.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: The salary range for this role is £60,000 - £70,000 per annum, depending on experience and qualifications. This range is based on regional market data and Rightmove's compensation structure for similar roles.

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 to give back, and holiday buy schemes.
Hybrid working pattern with 2 days in office.
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, and 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.

📝 Enhancement Note: The compensation and benefits for this role include a competitive salary range, comprehensive health and insurance benefits, flexible working arrangements, and a range of additional perks and discounts. The salary range is based on regional market data and Rightmove's compensation structure for similar roles.

🎯 Team & Company Context

Industry: Rightmove is a leading property website in the UK, with a strong focus on user experience, innovation, and data-driven decision-making. The company operates in the real estate industry, with a wide range of services and products aimed at both consumers and professionals.

Company Size: Rightmove is a medium-sized company with a team of over 500 employees, providing a collaborative and dynamic work environment.

Founded: Rightmove was founded in 2000 and has since grown to become a market leader in the UK property market.

Team Structure:

The Developer Experience team is responsible for maintaining existing Java services, enhancing the Internal Developer Platform solution, and supporting developers.
The team is currently working on migrating services to the Cloud and expanding self-service capabilities in the internal platform to cover common use cases.
The team is part of the wider Engineering department, which includes teams focused on frontend development, backend development, data engineering, and infrastructure.

Development Methodology:

Rightmove follows Agile/Scrum methodologies and sprint planning for web projects.
The company places a strong emphasis on code review, testing, and quality assurance practices.
Rightmove uses CI/CD pipelines and automated deployment strategies to ensure efficient and reliable software delivery.

Company Website: Rightmove

📝 Enhancement Note: Rightmove is a leading property website in the UK, with a strong focus on user experience, innovation, and data-driven decision-making. The company operates in the real estate industry, with a wide range of services and products aimed at both consumers and professionals. The Developer Experience team is responsible for maintaining existing Java services, enhancing the Internal Developer Platform solution, and supporting developers.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Web Technology Career Level: This role is at the mid-level platform engineer stage, focusing on platform architecture, CI/CD pipeline design, and developer enablement. The role requires a strong foundation in modern Java, experience with test frameworks, debugging, and security frameworks.

Reporting Structure: The Platform Engineer (Developer Experience) role reports directly to the Platform Engineering Manager. The team is part of the wider Engineering department, which includes teams focused on frontend development, backend development, data engineering, and infrastructure.

Technical Impact: The role has a significant impact on developer productivity, user experience, and infrastructure decisions. The Platform Engineer (Developer Experience) is responsible for maintaining existing Java services, enhancing the Internal Developer Platform solution, and supporting developers. The role requires a strong focus on automation, observability, and delivering value in iterations.

Growth Opportunities:

Growth opportunity 1: As the company continues to expand its platform and services, there will be opportunities for the Platform Engineer (Developer Experience) to take on more complex projects, lead teams, and drive technical innovation.
Growth opportunity 2: With experience, the Platform Engineer (Developer Experience) may transition into a senior role, focusing on architecture, technical leadership, and strategic decision-making.
Growth opportunity 3: As Rightmove continues to invest in its technology stack and infrastructure, there will be opportunities for the Platform Engineer (Developer Experience) to specialise in specific areas, such as cloud migration, infrastructure as code, or site reliability engineering.

📝 Enhancement Note: The Platform Engineer (Developer Experience) role offers significant growth opportunities, including taking on more complex projects, leading teams, and driving technical innovation. With experience, the role may transition into a senior role, focusing on architecture, technical leadership, and strategic decision-making. As Rightmove continues to invest in its technology stack and infrastructure, there will be opportunities for the Platform Engineer (Developer Experience) to specialise in specific areas.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Rightmove's office is a modern, collaborative workspace designed to foster creativity, innovation, and teamwork. The office is located in London, with easy access to public transportation and local amenities.

Office Location(s): Rightmove's office is located in London, with flexible working arrangements that allow employees to work from home when necessary.

Workspace Context:

Workspace aspect 1: Rightmove's office is designed to facilitate collaboration and communication between teams, with open-plan workspaces, meeting rooms, and breakout areas.
Workspace aspect 2: The office is equipped with modern technology, including high-performance workstations, multiple monitors, and testing devices, to support the development and testing of web applications.
Workspace aspect 3: Rightmove fosters a culture of continuous learning and development, with regular training, workshops, and knowledge-sharing sessions.

Work Schedule: Rightmove offers a hybrid working pattern, with employees expected to work from the office 2 days a week. The work schedule is designed to balance collaboration, focus, and work-life balance.

📝 Enhancement Note: Rightmove's office is a modern, collaborative workspace designed to foster creativity, innovation, and teamwork. The office is located in London, with flexible working arrangements that allow employees to work from home when necessary. Rightmove fosters a culture of continuous learning and development, with regular training, workshops, and knowledge-sharing sessions. The company offers a hybrid working pattern, with employees expected to work from the office 2 days a week.

📄 Application & Technical Interview Process

Interview Process:

Process step 1: The technical preparation recommendations for this role include brushing up on Java development fundamentals, understanding test frameworks like JUnit and Mockito, and familiarising oneself with the Rightmove platform and property market.
Process step 2: The interview process will focus on the candidate's understanding of web architecture, performance optimisation, and system design. The candidate should be prepared to discuss their approach to problem-solving, debugging, and code quality.
Process step 3: The interview process will also assess the candidate's communication skills, cultural fit, and ability to work collaboratively within a team.
Process step 4: The final evaluation criteria will focus on the candidate's technical skills, problem-solving abilities, and alignment with Rightmove's company culture and values.

Portfolio Review Tips:

Portfolio tip 1: Candidates should focus on demonstrating their ability to write clean, efficient, and well-documented Java code, with a strong emphasis on code quality, commenting, and documentation standards.
Portfolio tip 2: Candidates should showcase their experience with test frameworks like JUnit and Mockito, with a focus on test-driven development and unit testing strategies.
Portfolio tip 3: Candidates should highlight their debugging skills and ability to identify and resolve issues in complex systems, with a focus on performance optimisation and code quality.
Portfolio tip 4: Candidates should demonstrate their understanding of Rightmove's platform and property market, with a focus on user experience, accessibility, and performance optimisation.

Technical Challenge Preparation:

Challenge preparation 1: Candidates should familiarise themselves with the Rightmove platform and property market, with a focus on user experience, accessibility, and performance optimisation.
Challenge preparation 2: Candidates should brush up on their Java development fundamentals, with a focus on code quality, debugging, and performance optimisation.
Challenge preparation 3: Candidates should practice problem-solving and system design exercises, with a focus on web architecture, performance optimisation, and code quality.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process for this role will focus on the candidate's understanding of web architecture, performance optimisation, and system design. The candidate should be prepared to discuss their approach to problem-solving, debugging, and code quality. The portfolio review tips and technical challenge preparation focus on the candidate's ability to write clean, efficient, and well-documented Java code, with a strong emphasis on code quality, commenting, and documentation standards.

🛠 Technology Stack & Web Infrastructure

Frontend Technologies:

Frontend technology 1: Rightmove uses a range of frontend technologies, including HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, to build and maintain its web applications.
Frontend technology 2: Rightmove places a strong emphasis on responsive design and mobile-first development, with a focus on user experience and accessibility.
Frontend technology 3: Rightmove uses performance optimisation techniques, including lazy loading, code splitting, and image optimisation, to ensure fast and efficient web applications.
Frontend technology 4: Rightmove uses user interface libraries and component development frameworks to build and maintain its web applications.

Backend & Server Technologies:

Backend technology 1: Rightmove uses Java as its primary backend programming language, with a focus on clean, efficient, and well-documented code.
Server technology 2: Rightmove uses a range of server technologies, including Apache Tomcat, Jetty, and Spring Boot, to build and maintain its web applications.
Infrastructure tool 3: Rightmove uses Gradle as its primary build automation tool, with a focus on performance optimisation and efficiency.

Development & DevOps Tools:

Development tool 1: Rightmove uses version control systems, including Git and GitLab, to manage and collaborate on its web applications.
DevOps tool 2: Rightmove uses CI/CD pipelines and automated deployment strategies to ensure efficient and reliable software delivery.
Monitoring tool 3: Rightmove uses web performance tracking and server monitoring tools, including Elastic APM and Kibana, to ensure the reliability and performance of its web applications.

📝 Enhancement Note: Rightmove uses a range of frontend technologies, including HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, to build and maintain its web applications. The company places a strong emphasis on responsive design and mobile-first development, with a focus on user experience and accessibility. Rightmove uses Java as its primary backend programming language, with a focus on clean, efficient, and well-documented code. The company uses a range of server technologies, including Apache Tomcat, Jetty, and Spring Boot, to build and maintain its web applications. Rightmove uses Gradle as its primary build automation tool, with a focus on performance optimisation and efficiency. The company uses version control systems, including Git and GitLab, to manage and collaborate on its web applications. Rightmove uses CI/CD pipelines and automated deployment strategies to ensure efficient and reliable software delivery. The company uses web performance tracking and server monitoring tools, including Elastic APM and Kibana, to ensure the reliability and performance of its web applications.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Web Development Values:

Web development value 1: Rightmove places a strong emphasis on user experience, with a focus on accessibility, performance optimisation, and responsive design.
Web development value 2: Rightmove values clean, efficient, and well-documented code, with a focus on code quality, commenting, and documentation standards.
Web development value 3: Rightmove fosters a culture of continuous learning and development, with regular training, workshops, and knowledge-sharing sessions.
Web development value 4: Rightmove values collaboration and teamwork, with a focus on cross-functional integration and code review practices.

Collaboration Style:

Collaboration approach 1: Rightmove fosters a culture of cross-functional integration between developers, designers, and stakeholders, with a focus on user experience and accessibility.
Collaboration approach 2: Rightmove values code review culture and peer programming practices, with a focus on knowledge sharing and continuous learning.
Collaboration approach 3: Rightmove fosters a culture of technical mentoring and knowledge sharing, with a focus on continuous learning and skill development.

📝 Enhancement Note: Rightmove places a strong emphasis on user experience, with a focus on accessibility, performance optimisation, and responsive design. The company values clean, efficient, and well-documented code, with a focus on code quality, commenting, and documentation standards. Rightmove fosters a culture of continuous learning and development, with regular training, workshops, and knowledge-sharing sessions. The company values collaboration and teamwork, with a focus on cross-functional integration and code review practices. Rightmove fosters a culture of technical mentoring and knowledge sharing, with a focus on continuous learning and skill development.

💡 Interview Preparation

Technical Questions:

Technical question 1: Candidates should be prepared to discuss their approach to problem-solving, debugging, and code quality, with a focus on Java development fundamentals, test frameworks, and performance optimisation.
Technical question 2: Candidates should be prepared to discuss their understanding of web architecture, system design, and performance optimisation, with a focus on Rightmove's platform and property market.
Technical question 3: Candidates should be prepared to discuss their approach to collaboration, communication, and teamwork, with a focus on Rightmove's culture and values.

Company & Culture Questions:

Technical question 4: Candidates should research Rightmove's platform and property market, with a focus on user experience, accessibility, and performance optimisation.
Technical question 5: Candidates should research Rightmove's technology stack and infrastructure, with a focus on Java development, server technologies, and performance optimisation.
Technical question 6: Candidates should research Rightmove's company culture and values, with a focus on collaboration, teamwork, and continuous learning.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

Presentation strategy 1: Candidates should focus on demonstrating their ability to write clean, efficient, and well-documented Java code, with a focus on code quality, commenting, and documentation standards.
Presentation strategy 2: Candidates should showcase their experience with test frameworks like JUnit and Mockito, with a focus on test-driven development and unit testing strategies.
Presentation strategy 3: Candidates should highlight their debugging skills and ability to identify and resolve issues in complex systems, with a focus on performance optimisation and code quality.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview preparation for this role focuses on the candidate's understanding of Java development fundamentals, test frameworks, and performance optimisation. The candidate should be prepared to discuss their approach to problem-solving, debugging, and code quality, with a focus on Rightmove's platform and property market. The portfolio presentation strategy focuses on the candidate's ability to write clean, efficient, and well-documented Java code, with a focus on code quality, commenting, and documentation standards. The candidate should showcase their experience with test frameworks like JUnit and Mockito, with a focus on test-driven development and unit testing strategies. The candidate should highlight their debugging skills and ability to identify and resolve issues in complex systems, with a focus on performance optimisation and code quality.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Platform Engineer (Developer Experience) position at Rightmove:

Concrete preparation step 1: Research Rightmove's platform and property market, with a focus on user experience, accessibility, and performance optimisation.
Concrete preparation step 2: Brush up on your Java development fundamentals, with a focus on code quality, debugging, and performance optimisation.
Concrete preparation step 3: Practice problem-solving and system design exercises, with a focus on web architecture, performance optimisation, and code quality.
Concrete preparation step 4: Research Rightmove's company culture and values, with a focus on collaboration, teamwork, and continuous learning.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and web development/server administration industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.

Platform Engineer (Developer Experience)