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Rightmove software engineer interview guide

Most Rightmove hiring follows five steps, from a Talent Acquisition review and discussion to structured interviews, a task where relevant, and final stages.

Updated 9 October 20267 sources8 min read
Hiring steps5The shape most Rightmove hiring follows
First conversationTA teamA two-way talk about you and the role
Practical taskWhere relevantAlongside a series of structured interviews
AI in live interviewsDo not useUnless Rightmove says a task allows it
Practise the Rightmove interview with TobyRehearse your impact stories and talk through engineering trade-offs out loud, then get a scored debrief. Your first 5 minutes are free.
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About Rightmove

Rightmove plc describes itself as "the UK's largest property portal".1 In the year ended 31 December 2025, revenue was £425.1m, up 9%, and underlying operating profit was £297.7m, also up 9%, at a 70% underlying operating profit margin.2 Rightmove reported 16.8 billion minutes spent on the platform in 2025 and total membership of 19,272 at 31 December 2025: 16,385 agency branches and 2,887 New Homes developers.2

For the six months ended 30 June 2026, revenue was £225.8m, up 7%, and underlying operating profit was £155.1m, up 3%, with an underlying operating margin of 69%.1 The same half-year report notes "increased average headcount of 37 to 935 (of which over 80% of new hires were in technology roles)".1 Johan Svanstrom is Chief Executive Officer.1

The interview process

As Rightmove's careers page describes it. The page is not specific to engineering, and says: "Every role is a little different, but most of our hiring follows the same shape".3

  1. Application

    In Rightmove's words: "You apply through our careers site, and our own Talent Acquisition team reviews your application, looking at your experience alongside what the role needs."3

  2. Initial conversation

    This is "An initial discussion with one of our TA team". Rightmove says: "We'll explore your experience and what you're looking for, talk through the role in detail and give you an honest picture of what it's really like here: the good bits and the busy bits." It adds: "It's a two-way conversation, so there's plenty of space for your questions too."3

  3. Interviews

    "This is where we get into the detail. Expect a series of structured interviews, and where it's relevant to the role, a practical task or exercise, each one designed to explore a different part of what the job needs."3

  4. Final stages

    Rightmove says "We therefore like to meet face-to-face" and that "you might present your thinking on a relevant topic, work through a scenario with the team, or explore the role in more depth with senior stakeholders." It adds: "Whatever it involves, we'll tell you well in advance so there are no surprises."3

  5. Offer and feedback

    "We'll keep you in the loop throughout and share feedback on the outcome, whichever way it goes."3

The same page sets rules for AI under the heading "During live interviews and assessments": "Do not use AI tools", "Do not present AI-generated answers as your own work" and "Do not share confidential information with AI tools". Rightmove says "if they aren't met, we may not be able to progress your application" and "if a task does allow AI, we'll always say so."3

It says "Sometimes we'll use AI to help with things like interview transcription" and states: "AI does not make hiring decisions about you."3 For reasonable adjustments: "You can speak to your recruiter directly or email us at careers@rightmove.co.uk."3

What Rightmove looks for

On fairness, the careers page says Rightmove will "Use structured interviews and clear criteria, so everyone gets the same fair shot" and "Look at your skills, your potential and how you work, not just what's on your CV".3

The Senior Software Engineer I - Backend (Java) listing sets out five values.4

  • We create value. "by delivering results and building trust with partners and consumers".4
  • We think bigger. "by acting with curiosity and setting bold aspirations".4
  • We care deeply. "by being real, having fun, and valuing diversity".4
  • We move together. "by being one team - internally collaborative, externally competitive".4
  • We make a difference. "by focusing on delivering measurable impact".4

That senior listing says "At Rightmove we work in autonomous cross-functional teams using Agile processes" and asks for "a deep understanding of TDD practices and pipeline optimisation, including left-shifting".4

A London listing, Software Engineer (Backend) - Agent Select, says engineers will "Design, build and enhance services using Java 21+, Spring Boot, Kafka, Elasticsearch, Couchbase, SQL, Docker and Gradle". It asks for someone who "Has commercial experience building backend applications with Java 21+, Spring Boot and Kafka".5 The same listing wants someone who "Understands modern engineering practices, including testing, CI/CD and deployment automation", is "Keen to adopt AI tools and practices that help the team build better software faster", and "can make thoughtful trade-offs between speed, quality and long-term sustainability".5

Questions to expect

Based on what Rightmove says each stage tests. These are practice questions written by Toby.

Initial conversation

What are you looking for in your next engineering role?

Which parts of your experience fit this team best?

What would you like to know about how the team works day to day?

Structured interviews

Tell me about a change you shipped that had a measurable impact. How did you know?

Describe a time you chose speed over quality, or the other way round. Would you choose the same again?

How do you decide what to test first when you build a new service?

Tell me about working with product or design colleagues to get something out of the door.

Practical task or exercise

Talk me through your approach before you start. What would you clarify first?

Where would a message queue help in this design, and where would it add risk?

How would you make this pipeline give feedback earlier?

Final stages

Present your thinking on a technical decision you would revisit today.

Here is a scenario: search is slow for some users after a release. Walk the team through what you do.

Which of the five values describes how you work best? Give an example.

How to prepare

  1. Collect your impact stories. Rightmove's tips say "Have a few stories in your back pocket that show the impact you've made".3 Pick examples where you can name the result.
  2. Give yourself time to think. Rightmove says "It's absolutely fine to pause and think; we're not expecting word-perfect answers".3 Practise pausing before you answer, rather than filling the silence.
  3. Bring questions. The tips call the interview "a two-way conversation, not an interrogation".3 Prepare questions about the team, the product and how releases work.
  4. Revise the stack in your advert. The Agent Select listing names Java 21+, Spring Boot, Kafka, Elasticsearch, Couchbase, SQL, Docker and Gradle.5 Check what your own listing asks for and refresh those first.
  5. Be ready to talk about delivery. The Agent Select listing mentions testing, CI/CD and deployment automation, and trade-offs between speed, quality and long-term sustainability.5 The senior listing asks for TDD practices and pipeline optimisation.4 Have an example of each.
  6. Use AI to prepare, not in the room. Rightmove encourages AI for preparation: "Research us, practise your answers, gather your thoughts, please do".3 In live interviews and assessments it asks you not to use AI tools unless it says a task allows AI.3
  7. Match stories to the values. The senior listing lists five values, from "We create value" to "We make a difference".4 Prepare one example for each.
  8. Ask about adjustments early. You can speak to your recruiter or email careers@rightmove.co.uk.3
  9. Know the numbers. 16.8 billion minutes spent on the platform in 2025 and 19,272 members at 31 December 2025.2

Worth mentioning in the interview

  • Rightmove's 2025 results said its product teams delivered "more than 6,000" technology releases in the year, and that it had 31 live AI initiatives and products, including conversational search and an app submission to ChatGPT.2
  • The same results announced a "Multi-year collaboration with Google Cloud spanning infrastructure, platform, data and AI capabilities", and said data on the platform is processed by c.200 proprietary models.2
  • Its H1 2026 results cite "46 strategic AI initiatives in flight", an "Ask Rightmove" conversational experience across search and property listings, and an "AI-enabled Online Agent Valuation" product.1
  • On 7 November 2025 City AM reported that Rightmove "saw its share value plummet by £1bn when it announced AI plans", after it said it would invest £60m over the next 3 years and warned of slower profit growth in 2026.6
  • City AM reported that on 1 April 2026 Jeremy Newman filed a £1.5bn collective claim against Rightmove at the Competition Appeal Tribunal, alleging it abused a dominant position by charging unfairly high fees. Rightmove said: "This claim is without merit, and we will defend it vigorously."7
  • In its H1 2026 results, Rightmove cut its full-year 2026 revenue growth guidance to 6% to 8%, from 8% to 10%, and reiterated underlying operating profit growth of +3% to +5%. It said it expected exceptional costs of c.£4m to £7m in 2026 related to the proposed claim, with £2.3m recorded in H1.1

Quick answers

How many interview stages does Rightmove have?

Rightmove's careers page says most of its hiring follows five steps: application, an initial conversation with the Talent Acquisition team, interviews, final stages, and offer and feedback. The page covers hiring in general, not engineering specifically, and says "Every role is a little different".3

Does Rightmove set a technical task for software engineers?

Rightmove's careers page says to expect a series of structured interviews "and where it's relevant to the role, a practical task or exercise". At the final stages, it says you might present your thinking on a relevant topic or work through a scenario with the team.3

Can you use AI in a Rightmove interview?

Rightmove encourages you to use AI to prepare, but during live interviews and assessments it asks you not to use AI tools. It says "if a task does allow AI, we'll always say so" and "AI does not make hiring decisions about you."3

Does Rightmove give interview feedback?

Yes. Rightmove's careers page says: "We'll keep you in the loop throughout and share feedback on the outcome, whichever way it goes."3

Do Rightmove software engineers work hybrid?

The London Software Engineer (Backend) - Agent Select listing says "We offer hybrid working with a minimum of 2 days in the office". It describes pay only as a "Competitive compensation package" and offers "27 days holiday plus two (paid) volunteering days a year to give back, and holiday buy schemes."5

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Sources

  1. Rightmove Plc - Half-year Financial Report (RNS 6429O)Rightmove plc · 31 Jul 2026
  2. Rightmove plc audited results for the year ended 31 December 2025Rightmove plc · 27 Feb 2026
  3. What to expect when exploring a Career with Rightmove - Rightmove CareersRightmove Careers
  4. Job Application for Senior Software Engineer I - Backend (Java) at Rightmove CareersGreenhouse job board · 29 Sep 2026
  5. Job Application for Software Engineer (Backend) - Agent Select at Rightmove CareersGreenhouse job board · 5 Oct 2026
  6. Rightmove shares in £1bn crash as AI plans spook investorsCity AM · 7 Nov 2025
  7. Rightmove accused of 'bullying' estate agents in £1.5bn legal battleCity AM · 1 Apr 2026

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