Android Development Lead

Android Development Lead- Location: Hybrid – Gurugram- Department: Technology / Engineering- Experience Level: 8+ Years- Employment Type: Full-TimeAbout the RoleWe 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. You’ll 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 Responsibilities1. 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).