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Senior Android Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

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Helix AI Engineer, Android

San Jose, CA · On-site

$150K - $400K/yr

We're looking for a Senior Android Engineer with deep expertise in low-level Android systems, the NDK, and real-time sensor and video pipelines. This is not a standard Android app role - you'll be ...

Adobe

Senior Product Engineer - Android

San Jose, CA

Are you a Senior Android Engineer who leads with judgment across code, product, and design? Do you push back on specs that aren't right - and help define better ones? If you ship high-quality Android ...

Adobe

Senior Product Engineer - Android

San Jose, CA

Are you a Senior Android Engineer who leads with judgment across code, product, and design? Do you push back on specs that aren't right - and help define better ones? If you ship high-quality Android ...

Jobsbridge

Sr. Android Developer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$68.25 - $86.50/hr

It's designed to built low-cost, beautiful Android-based point-of-sale devices, a Clover Services APK, a suite of basic point-of-sale applications for restaurants and retailers, and robust cloud ...

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Senior Android Engineer information

See California salary details

$25.4K

$158.8K

$216.8K

How much do senior android engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 11, 2026, the average yearly pay for senior android engineer in California is $158,850.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $143,700.00 and $176,900.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Senior Android Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Senior Android Engineer, you need expert proficiency in Java/Kotlin, Android SDK, and a proven track record of building scalable mobile applications, typically supported by a relevant degree or equivalent experience. Familiarity with tools like Android Studio, Gradle, Git, and experience with CI/CD pipelines and automated testing frameworks is highly valued, along with certifications such as Google’s Associate Android Developer. Strong problem-solving, leadership, and communication skills distinguish top performers, enabling them to mentor junior engineers and collaborate cross-functionally. These competencies ensure the development of high-quality, maintainable apps and drive innovation within fast-paced mobile development teams.

What is the difference between Senior Android Engineer vs Android Developer?

AspectSenior Android EngineerAndroid Developer
Required CredentialsBachelor's degree in Computer Science or related field; 3+ years experience; proficiency in Java/KotlinBachelor's degree or diploma; 1-3 years experience; knowledge of Java/Kotlin
Work EnvironmentDesigning complex apps, leading projects, mentoring juniorsDeveloping and maintaining Android apps, implementing features
Employer & Industry UsageTech companies, startups, agenciesApp development firms, freelance projects, startups

While both roles involve Android app development, a Senior Android Engineer typically has more experience, takes on leadership responsibilities, and works on complex projects. An Android Developer focuses on coding and implementing features, often with less emphasis on project leadership.

What are common challenges faced by Senior Android Engineers when working on large-scale applications?

Senior Android Engineers working on large-scale applications often face challenges such as maintaining code quality across multiple modules, ensuring app performance as complexity grows, and coordinating with cross-functional teams like backend, design, and QA. Balancing the need for rapid feature development with the stability and scalability of the codebase is crucial. Effective communication and a thorough understanding of architectural patterns, such as MVVM or Clean Architecture, are essential to address these challenges and deliver a seamless user experience.

What does a Senior Android Engineer do?

A Senior Android Engineer is responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining advanced applications for the Android platform. They collaborate with cross-functional teams to define, design, and ship new features, as well as troubleshoot and fix bugs to improve application performance. Senior Android Engineers also mentor junior developers, contribute to architectural decisions, and ensure that applications meet high standards of quality, security, and usability.
What are the most commonly searched types of Android Engineer jobs in California? The most popular types of Android Engineer jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Senior Android Engineer jobs? Cities in California with the most Senior Android Engineer job openings:
Senior Android Engineer jobs near you
Senior Android Engineer, In-Car Experience

Senior Android Engineer, In-Car Experience

Waymo

Mountain View, CA • On-site, Remote

$204K - $259K/yr

Other

Posted 2 days ago

Job description

Waymo is an autonomous driving technology company with the mission to be the world's most trusted driver. Since its start as the Google Self-Driving Car Project in 2009, Waymo has focused on building the Waymo Driver-The World's Most Experienced Driver-to improve access to mobility while saving thousands of lives now lost to traffic crashes. The Waymo Driver powers Waymo's fully autonomous ride-hail service and can also be applied to a range of vehicle platforms and product use cases. The Waymo Driver has provided over ten million rider-only trips, enabled by its experience autonomously driving over 100 million miles on public roads and tens of billions in simulation across 15+ U.S. states.

We are building a team of engineers dedicated to further developing our in-car experience.
Projects include the Pick Ups and Drop Offs (PUDO) experience, and Infotainment during passenger trips (music, games, maps). Our team works on the user interfaces used by customers to hail and control our autonomous vehicles. We build complex user experiences, phone-to-vehicle communications, and solve novel human-computer interaction problems in the AV space.

In this hybrid role, you will report to an Engineering Manager.

You will:

  • Create reliable Android components and flows using modern technologies like Jetpack Compose.
  • Build features within the in-car interface that inspire trust and clearly communicate the vehicle's intentions.
  • Work closely with UX/UI designers, Product Managers, and Vehicle Software Engineers to launch innovative in-car experiences.
  • Design and maintain software controlling in-car systems such as displays, audio, and climate controls.
  • Manage the full software development lifecycle, focusing on quality and robustness for safety-sensitive systems.

You have:

  • BS degree in Computer Science or equivalent practical experience.
  • 5+ years of professional software development experience.
  • 3+ years of experience in Android application development, including testing, maintaining, and launching features.
  • Proven ability to design and implement significant features or components independently.
  • Proficiency in Kotlin or Java, and a strong understanding of Android internals.
  • Experience leading technical designs and mentoring other engineers.

We prefer:

  • Experience with Android platform (AOSP) development, custom Android builds, or embedded systems.
  • A passion for pixel-perfect UI and creating fluid user experiences.
  • Knowledge of in-car infotainment systems or automotive software development.
  • Experience with performance analysis and optimization for resource-constrained devices.
  • Full-stack experience, including designing and integrating with server-side APIs to support client features.

The expected base salary range for this full-time position across US locations is listed below. Actual starting pay will be based on job-related factors, including exact work location, experience, relevant training and education, and skill level. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for the role location or, if the role can be performed remote, the specific salary range for your preferred location, during the hiring process.

Waymo employees are also eligible to participate in Waymo's discretionary annual bonus program, equity incentive plan, and generous Company benefits program, subject to eligibility requirements.

Salary Range
$204,000—$259,000 USD

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