Member of Techincal Staff, Android

About the role

Mercor is building the next generation Android platform for AI experts globally. This role involves leading the technical direction for Android, collaborating with various teams to deliver intuitive and reliable mobile experiences. You will join a small, high-ownership team, influencing architecture and shaping the long-term mobile strategy. The position requires deep expertise in mobile development to translate complex AI capabilities into seamless, user-centric applications. You will be responsible for defining the technical vision that aligns with the broader product goals of the company. Success in this role depends on your ability to bridge the gap between advanced AI research and practical mobile execution. You will play a key part in establishing the engineering foundation that powers our AI-driven solutions.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Architect and oversee the end-to-end technical strategy for the native Android application, ensuring alignment with business objectives.
• Design and implement robust, scalable mobile solutions using Kotlin and Jetpack Compose to meet evolving product requirements.
• Drive major product initiatives from initial concept through successful launch, taking full ownership of timelines and quality.
• Define and enforce Android engineering standards, architectural patterns, and rigorous testing protocols to ensure code quality.
• Partner closely with Product, Design, AI, Backend, and Infrastructure teams to design and deliver customer-facing features that delight users.
• Leverage AI development tools such as Cursor, Claude Code, GitHub Copilot, and ChatGPT to accelerate development cycles without sacrificing reliability.
• Systematically analyze and improve application performance, reliability, and maintainability to provide an exceptional user experience.
• Mentor and guide engineers at various levels, fostering a collaborative culture centered on mobile engineering excellence.
• Evaluate emerging mobile technologies and integrate best practices to keep the platform at the forefront of innovation.
• Collaborate cross-functionally to ensure that technical constraints are understood and addressed early in the design process.
• Own the release process, including code reviews, testing strategies, and deployment procedures to ensure smooth production releases.
• Act as a technical leader in debugging complex issues and resolving high-priority production incidents.
• Contribute to the long-term technical roadmap by identifying opportunities for refactoring and technical debt reduction.
• Champion the adoption of modern Android development practices to enhance team productivity and codebase sustainability.

Requirements

• Possess a minimum of 5 years of professional Android software engineering experience in a production environment.
• Demonstrate strong proficiency in Kotlin programming language and Jetpack Compose for building modern user interfaces.
• Have a proven track record of releasing and maintaining production Android applications distributed via the Google Play Store.
• Show deep understanding of modern Android architecture components, testing methodologies, debugging techniques, and performance optimization strategies.
• Exhibit a proven ability to make critical architectural decisions and provide technical leadership to guide the long-term mobile strategy.
• Be highly skilled in utilizing AI software development tools such as Cursor, Claude Code, GitHub Copilot, or ChatGPT to enhance personal productivity.
• Maintain excellent software engineering fundamentals, including a strong grasp of algorithms, data structures, and system design principles.
• Bring significant experience in mentoring engineers and actively working to elevate the technical standards of the team.
• Operate with a high degree of ownership, strong communication skills, and an unwavering focus on shipping high-quality products efficiently.
• Have experience working in fast-paced environments where adaptability and quick learning are essential for success.
• Show commitment to writing clean, maintainable code and conducting thorough code reviews to ensure long-term code health.
• Demonstrate the ability to collaborate effectively with remote and cross-functional teams in a distributed work environment.
• Understand the importance of security and privacy best practices in mobile application development.
• Be comfortable using version control systems, issue trackers, and continuous integration pipelines as part of the daily workflow.

Nice to have

• Experience with AI-powered coding workflows and prompt engineering to maximize development efficiency.
• Familiarity with contributing to open-source Android projects or similar community engagement.
• Knowledge of backend technologies and APIs to effectively collaborate with backend engineering teams.
• Understanding of accessibility best practices to ensure inclusive mobile application design.

Practical notes

• The position offers a bi-annual performance bonus structure.
• New hires are eligible for a generous equity grant that vests over a period of 4 years.
• Candidates relocating to the area may qualify for a one-time relocation bonus of up to $15,000.
• Individuals who choose to live within a half-mile radius of the San Francisco office will receive a $10,000 housing bonus.
• The role includes a monthly meal stipend of $1,000 to support dining expenses.
• All employees receive a complimentary membership to Equinox for fitness and wellness activities.
• The company provides a monthly laundry allowance of $200 to help with personal care expenses.
• A monthly personal wellness reimbursement of $200 is available for expenses related to mental or physical health.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance coverage is provided to all team members.