Lead Android Development

• Location: Hybrid Gurugram
• Department: Technology / Engineering
• Experience Level: 8+ Years
• Employment Type: Full-Time

About the Role

We are looking for a highly experienced and motivated Android Development Lead to join our mobile team. In this role, you will be responsible for building and optimizing our Android client, ensuring seamless real-time communication, low-latency performance, and top-tier user experience. Youll play a key role in bringing core messaging features to life from real-time chat to encrypted group conversations and rich media handling.

This is a hands-on role that offers the opportunity to shape the architecture, engineering practices, and product features of a high-scale messaging app used by millions of users worldwide.

Key Responsibilities

1. Architecture & App Development

• Design and implement scalable, maintainable Android architecture using Kotlin and modern Jetpack libraries .
• Develop high-performance, real-time messaging features: chat screens , typing indicators , read receipts , presence , and delivery statuses .
• Build advanced media handling: support for image, video, audio sharing, background upload/download, in-app playback, etc.
• Integrate with real-time backends using WebSockets , Firebase , or custom protocols.
• Ensure offline support, message synchronization, and data consistency across sessions/devices.

2. Security & Privacy

• Collaborate with backend/security teams to implement end-to-end encryption , secure local storage, and key management using Android Keystore .
• Handle authentication flows, session management, and token security.

3. Performance Optimization

• Continuously monitor and optimize app performance (memory, battery, network usage).
• Use tools like Android Profiler , LeakCanary , StrictMode , and Systrace for performance tuning.
• Ensure seamless UX even under poor network conditions with proper error handling and retry strategies.

4. Testing & Deployment

• Write comprehensive unit, integration, and UI tests using JUnit, Espresso, and MockK.
• Contribute to CI/CD pipelines for Android app releases.
• Participate in code reviews , automated testing , and linting .

5. Collaboration & Documentation

• Work closely with product managers , designers , and other engineers to define product requirements and implementation strategies.
• Provide technical mentorship to junior Android developers.
• Document key modules, APIs, and system behavior.

Required Qualifications

• 8+ years of professional Android development experience.
• Strong command of Kotlin and in-depth knowledge of Android SDK , architecture components, and Jetpack libraries.
• Experience building and maintaining large-scale consumer apps, preferably in real-time messaging or communication domains .
• Deep understanding of WebSockets , background services, network handling , and multithreading with coroutines .
• Experience with REST APIs , Retrofit/OkHttp , and JSON parsing.
• Proficiency in Jetpack libraries : ViewModel, LiveData/StateFlow, Room, WorkManager, Navigation.
• Familiar with secure data storage , Keystore , and app security best practices .
• Strong knowledge of app lifecycle, background execution limits, Doze mode, and battery optimization.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience in messaging apps , chat SDKs, or real-time communication.
• Experience with XMPP , MQTT , or custom protocol integration.
• Knowledge of Jetpack Compose and declarative UI.
• Experience with FCM (Firebase Cloud Messaging) and custom notification handling.
• Exposure to WebRTC , voice/video SDKs , or related media technologies.
• Understanding of analytics, crash reporting tools, and feature flag systems (e.g., Firebase, Sentry, Amplitude).