Software Engineer-Mobile Development (Android)

Company Description

A best-in-class city that attracts best-in-class talent, Philadelphia is an incredible place to build a career. From our thriving arts scene and rich history to our culture of passion and grit, there are countless reasons to love living and working here. With a workforce of over 30,000 people, and more than 1,000 different job categories, the City of Philadelphia offers boundless opportunities to make an impact.

As an employer, the City of Philadelphia values inclusion, integrity, innovation, empowerment, and hard work above all else. We offer a vibrant work environment, comprehensive health care and benefits, and the experience you need to grow and excel. If you’re interested in working with a passionate team of people who care about the future of Philadelphia, start here.

What We Offer

• Impact - The work you do here matters to millions.
• Growth - Philadelphia is growing, why not grow with it?
• Diversity & Inclusion - Find a career in a place where everyone belongs.
• Benefits - We care about your well-being.

The Office of Innovation & Technology (OIT) is the central IT agency for the City of Philadelphia headed by the Chief Information Officer (CIO). OIT oversees all major information and communications technology initiatives for the City of Philadelphia - increasing the effectiveness of the information technology infrastructure, where the services provided are advanced, optimized, and responsive to the needs of the City of Philadelphia’s businesses, residents, and visitors. OIT responsibilities include: identifying the most effective approach for implementing new information technology directions throughout city government; improving the value of the city’s technology assets and the return on the city’s technology investments; ensuring data security continuity; planning for continuing operations in the event of disruption of information technology or communications services; and supporting accountable, efficient and effective government across every city department, board, commission and agency.

Job Description

You will:

• Develop and maintain high-quality Android applications using React Native and native Android technologies
• Build responsive mobile interfaces that work seamlessly across various Android devices and screen sizes
• Collaborate with the mobile development team to establish best practices for Android-specific development
• Implement Android-specific features including push notifications, background services, and device integrations
• Ensure applications comply with Google Play Store guidelines and submission requirements
• Write clean, maintainable code following Android development best practices and coding standards
• Participate in code reviews to maintain code quality and share knowledge with team members
• Work closely with UX/UI designers to implement pixel-perfect designs optimized for Android platforms
• Debug and resolve Android-specific issues across different device manufacturers and OS versions
• Optimize app performance for various Android hardware configurations
• Integrate with backend APIs and services to deliver seamless user experiences
• Stay current with Android development trends, tools, and Google's evolving platform guidelines
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of the mobile development process and toolchain
• Support production applications and respond to critical issues as needed

Development

• Develops native Android applications and React Native cross-platform solutions
• Implements Android-specific UI components and navigation patterns
• Integrates with Android system services and hardware features
• Optimizes applications for performance across diverse Android device ecosystem

Collaboration

• Works effectively with cross-functional teams including designers, backend developers, and product managers
• Participates in agile development processes including sprint planning and retrospectives
• Communicates technical concepts clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders

Quality Assurance

• Writes comprehensive unit tests and integration tests for Android applications
• Performs thorough testing across multiple Android devices and OS versions
• Follows established QA processes to ensure high-quality app releases

Qualifications

• Strong proficiency in React Native development with focus on Android platform optimization
• Solid understanding of Android development fundamentals including Activities, Fragments, Services, and Content Providers
• Experience with Android Studio, Gradle build system, and Android SDK tools
• Knowledge of Material Design principles and Android UI/UX best practices
• Proficiency in JavaScript/TypeScript and Java/Kotlin programming languages
• Understanding of Android app lifecycle, memory management, and performance optimization
• Experience with Android-specific libraries and frameworks (Retrofit, Room, WorkManager, etc.)
• Familiarity with Google Play Console and app store submission processes
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to debug complex mobile applications
• Experience with version control systems, preferably Git
• Understanding of RESTful APIs and mobile app security best practices
• Knowledge of automated testing frameworks for mobile applications
• Excellent communication skills and ability to work in a collaborative team environment

While you won’t necessarily be working with these technologies every day, you should have a broad enough understanding of them to help support your team.

• Understanding of the modern mobile platform and common architectures
• Strong understanding of the key differences in supported hardware and features across the mobile device landscape
• React Native
• Server-side programming languages such as .NET Core, Node.js, or PHP
• Command line and shell scripts
• Web application security concerns and ways to mitigate them
• Git, or similar version control systems
• SQL, and usage of relational databases such as PostgreSQL, Oracle, MSSQL
• Amazon Web Services (AWS)
• Containerization
• Automated test/deployment pipelines
• API design and development

Additional Information

We care more about what you can do than where you learned how to do it. That said, a bachelor’s degree is a good foundation for the work, and job-related experience around the competencies above is acceptable as well. The ideal candidate will have at least five years of relevant experience.

Salary Range: $65,000- $80,000

Important: To be considered, candidates must provide a cover letter and resume.

All Applications Should Include The Following

• A one-page cover letter clarifying your interest and qualifications for the role. It really helps us understand why you’re interested in this position. We read every single one!
• Your resume or curriculum vitae.
• Optionally, an online professional portfolio or public GitHub account.

We won’t accept or review incomplete applications.

Work Setting: in-person (onsite)

Discover the Perks of Being a City of Philadelphia Employee :

• We offer Comprehensive health coverage for employees and their eligible dependents
• Our wellness program offers eligibility into the discounted medical plan
• Employees receive paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays
• Generous retirement savings options are available
• Pay off your student loans faster - As a qualifying employer, City of Philadelphia employees are eligible to participate in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. Join the ranks of hundreds of employees who have already benefited from this program and achieved student loan forgiveness.
• Enjoy a Free Commute on SEPTA - Starting September 1, 2023, eligible City employees will no longer have to worry about paying for SEPTA public transportation. Whether you're a full-time, part-time, or provisional employee, you can seize the opportunity to sign up for the SEPTA Key Advantage Program and receive free Key cards for free rides on SEPTA buses, trains, trolleys, and regional rails.
• Unlock Tuition Discounts and Scholarships - The City of Philadelphia has forged partnerships with over a dozen esteemed colleges and universities in the area, ensuring that our employees have access to a wide range of tuition discounts and scholarships. Experience savings of 10% to 40% on your educational expenses, extending not only to City employees but in some cases, spouse and dependents too!

Join the City of Philadelphia team today and seize these incredible benefits designed to enhance your financial well-being and personal growth!

• The successful candidate must be a city of Philadelphia resident within six months of hire

Effective May 22, 2023, vaccinations are no longer required for new employees that work in non-medical, non-emergency or patient facing positions with the City of Philadelphia. As a result, only employees in positions providing services that are patient-facing medical care (ex: Nurses, doctors, emergency medical personnel), must be fully vaccinated.

The City of Philadelphia is an Equal Opportunity employer and does not permit discrimination based on race, ethnicity, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, marital status, source of income, familial status, genetic information or domestic or sexual violence victim status. If you believe you were discriminated against, call the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations at 215-686-4670 or send an email to [email protected].