Director Android Developer Startup Jobs in California

Ampa is a pioneering neurotechnology startup developing brain stimulation technology to help eradicate depression. We will improve millions of lives by making this transformative treatment universally accessible. Joining us means you’ll be part of a rapidly growing startup with significant equity opportunities and a major impact on our future.

What to Expect: Working at Ampa is a rare chance to help transform global mental health and save millions of lives — a level of impact that demands deep commitment. Success here requires resilience, adaptability, and the discipline to put in long hours. If you thrive in a high‑intensity, fast‑changing environment and want your work to truly matter, you may do the best work of your life here.

Role Overview:

We're seeking an exceptional Software Engineer to own the development of our clinical Android tablet application — the primary interface between clinicians and our TMS medical device. You'll build beautiful, responsive interfaces in Java and Kotlin, and ensure they integrate seamlessly with our backend systems and custom hardware. You'll also collaborate with our React/React Native engineers on our broader platform. You will be responsible for the bridge between high‑level patient management UI and low‑level medical hardware. Your work will involve managing real‑time data streams, binary serial communication, and ensuring 100% data integrity for clinical treatment records.

This role is ideal for an engineer who's obsessed with UX, has an eye for detail, and builds polished Android experiences that work reliably in high‑stakes clinical environments.

Technology Stack

• Web: React, TypeScript
• Backend (interfacing with): Python, PostgreSQ

Key Responsibilities:

• Hardware Integration: Maintain and optimize the USB Serial communication layer (RS232/USB) between the Android tablet and proprietary TMS hardware.
• Native Bridge Development: Build and maintain high‑performance Native Bridges (Java/C++ to TypeScript) to handle high‑frequency telemetry (heartbeats, sensor data, and pulse logs).
• Lifecycle & State Management: Manage complex application states using Redux Toolkit, ensuring that medical treatment data remains consistent even during hardware disconnections or app backgrounding.
• Binary Protocol Engineering: Implement and debug custom binary protocols, including packet encoding/decoding, checksum validation, and serial command queuing.
• Safety & Error Handling: Develop robust "Safety Interlock" logic to monitor hardware telemetry and trigger immediate software‑level shutdowns in the event of hardware faults (overvoltage, overheating, etc.).
• Medical Data Integrity: Ensure the reliable collection and synchronization of clinical session data to AWS cloud backends via secure REST APIs.
• Engineering Leadership: Help establish Android coding standards, mentor junior engineers, and review code for quality and maintainability.

Required Technical Skills:

• Frameworks: Expert‑level React Native (0.75+) and TypeScript.
• State Management: Advanced knowledge of Redux Toolkit (Slices, Async Thunks, and Middleware).
• Communication Protocols: Experience with USB/Serial communication, UART, or similar low‑level protocols.
• Binary Data Handling: Comfort working with ArrayBuffers, Uint8Array, Hexadecimal conversions, and Bitwise operations.
• Networking: Experience with Axios, JWT‑based authentication, and TLS security.
• Hardware Support: Experience with UVC Cameras, Gyroscopes, and Accelerometer integration on Android.

What We’re Looking For:

• Driven: Highly motivated and resilient.
• Effective: Learns fast, adapts quickly, and consistently delivers results.
• Android Mastery: 5+ years of experience building production‑grade Android applications in Java and Kotlin.
• Frontend Sensibility: Strong UI/UX instincts — you care as much about how it looks and feels as how it works.
• Mobile Expertise: Hands‑on experience shipping Android apps, with USB hardware and/or camera integration a strong plus.

Why Join Ampa?

• Impact: Lead the development of transformative mental health technologies.
• Growth: Thrive in a startup environment with rapid innovation.
• Stability: Enjoy startup benefits with a secure product line.
• Ownership: Receive substantial equity as an early team member.

Logistics:

• Work Mode: In‑person or Remote
• Location: Palo Alto, CA (preferred) or Pacific Time Zone
• Compensation: $140K – $200K + Strong Equity