Head of Data Engineering and Infrastructure

Head of Data Engineering and Infrastructure

Location: London Office / Hybrid (3 days a week working from home)

Reporting to: Director - Data & Analytics

The role

At Rightmove, we recognise the importance of data, and we are committed to leveraging cutting-edge technologies and advanced analytics to unlock its full potential. As Head of Data Engineering and Infrastructure, you will play a pivotal role in defining and executing the data engineering strategy, architecting scalable and resilient data infrastructure, and leading a team of talented data engineers to deliver impactful solutions that drive business growth and innovation.

This role will play a key strategic part in delivering Rightmove’s unified data platform, along with the data science infrastructure required to accelerate AI. The successful person will possess a well-rounded skill set, encompassing technical proficiency, leadership abilities, business acumen, problem solving and a commitment to continuous learning and development. The combination of skills and experience is essential for driving innovation, delivering business value and leading successful data engineering initiatives across Rightmove.

This role sits within the Data and Analytics department, and we collaborate with many business teams at Rightmove, particularly the Product Development department, which plays a pivotal role in delivering the overall consumer and partner digital experience underpinning the Rightmove business.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and articulate a comprehensive data engineering strategy aligned with business objectives and technological advancements. This includes long-term planning for data infrastructure scalability, agility, and adaptability.
• Lead the design and implementation of a modern, cloud data platform leveraging the right technologies to ensure scalability, reliability, and cost-efficiency.
• Evaluate and integrate emerging technologies such as machine learning, AI, and real time analytics into the data infrastructure to enable advanced data processing capabilities and drive business innovation.
• Drive the adoption of a data-driven culture across the organisation by promoting best practices, shaping the data governance framework, and fostering innovation in data practices.
• Collaborate with senior leadership to align data engineering initiatives with the overall business strategy and drive value creation through data-driven insights and decision making.
• Optimise data processing workflows and algorithms to improve performance, reduce latency, and minimise resource utilisation.
• Implement best practices for data quality assurance, validation, and monitoring to ensure the integrity and accuracy of our data assets.
• Successfully manage an ambitious team of Data Engineers and Database Architects and foster a culture of continuous learning and professional development with the Data Engineering Team through mentorship, training programmes and knowledge sharing initiatives.
• Encourage cross-functional collaboration and knowledge exchange with other teams across Product Development to facilitate interdisciplinary innovation and problem-solving.
• Represent the data engineering function in cross-functional meetings, senior stakeholder briefings, and industry events, advocating for data-driven initiatives and promoting the value of data as a strategic asset.
• Cultivate strong relationships with external partners, vendors, and industry experts to stay abreast of emerging trends, technologies and best practices in data engineering and analytics.
  

We’re looking for someone who:

• Has a strategic mindset with the ability to develop and execute a vision for data engineering, translating strategic goals into actionable plans and driving organisational change.
• A people’s leader who will truly lead, inspire and support the Data Engineering Team, with a focus on team growth and development, building strong relationships and actively listening to create a culture of trust and belonging.
• Can lead the development of end-to-end data science infrastructure to enable AI and advanced analytics initiatives.
• Combines analytical and business acumen to create intelligent data and cloud solutions that deliver impactful data experiences.
• Excels in communication and collaboration, effectively working across cross-functional teams and translating complex technical concepts for diverse stakeholders.
• Has expertise in programming languages (e.g., Python, Scala, SQL), cloud platforms (GCP, AWS, Azure), and related services for data storage, processing, and analytics.
• Possesses strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills, with a commitment to quality and continuous improvement.

• Has a results-orientated mindset with a focus on delivering measurable outcomes and driving business impact through data-driven insights and solutions. Whilst having the ability to set clear performance expectations, establish OKR’s and KPI’s and monitor progress towards goals.

• Is passionate about innovation and is proactive in exploring new technologies and best practices in data engineering.
• Thrives in dynamic environments, demonstrating adaptability, resilience, and a results-oriented mindset focused on measurable outcomes and business impact.

We would love for someone to have:

• A Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Mathematics, or a related STEM field. Or relevant data engineering experience.
• Strong understanding of data engineering methodologies, including data modelling, ETL/ELT processes, data mesh, and distributed computing.
• Experience with big data technologies like Spark, Kafka, and database systems with a focus on performance optimization.
• A proven track record of building and leading high-performing teams and delivering impactful data engineering projects.
• Experience in balancing technical feasibility with business impact and ROI in decision making and project prioritisation.

About Rightmove 

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.

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 How's at the heart of everything we do. These are the essential values that reflect our culture, and include:

• Be approachable and appreciate what others do
• Make complex things as simple as possible
• Build great teams, because Rightmove is people
• Drive improvement, we can always be better
• Share early, honestly and often

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

What we offer

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

• 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 & 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

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, Rightmove will never discriminate on the basis of 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.