At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the development of our award-winning Android app and shape its technical direction.
- Company: Join the Guardian, a diverse organisation committed to fearless journalism.
- Benefits: Enjoy 30 days annual leave, private healthcare, and generous pension contributions.
- Other info: Flexible working arrangements and a culture that champions diversity and inclusion.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on millions of users while working with cutting-edge technology.
- Qualifications: Extensive Android development experience, especially in Kotlin and modern practices.
The predicted salary is between 92000 - 92000 £ per year.
Join our team at the Guardian and be a part of a diverse and inclusive global organisation that delivers fearless, investigative journalism and holds power to account. Our team of award-winning journalists, cutting-edge commercial professionals and industry-leading digital experts are committed to making a difference and represent a wide range of backgrounds and perspectives. We offer a challenging and exciting environment for career development, with a focus on training, growth and fostering an inclusive culture.
We are now looking for a Staff Android Developer to join the Apps Experience team. We build the Guardian Android app primarily in Kotlin (and Java). With over 5 million downloads and as one of the UK's top 10 news apps on Google Play, we're trusted by millions of readers to deliver a fast, reliable and accessible experience.
As a Staff Android Engineer, you'll help shape the technical direction while remaining a hands-on engineer of an app used by millions, influencing architecture, engineering standards and developer experience across multiple teams.
About the role- Lead the technical direction of our Android platform, influencing architecture and engineering decisions across multiple teams.
- Build high-quality Android applications using Kotlin and modern Android technologies.
- Drive improvements in performance, reliability, accessibility and maintainability.
- Champion engineering excellence through testing, automation, CI/CD and modern development practices.
- Mentor and coach engineers, sharing knowledge and helping teams solve complex technical challenges.
- Collaborate closely with iOS, backend, product and design teams to deliver cohesive user experiences.
- Take ownership of technical initiatives or features from discovery through to delivery, balancing long-term technical health with delivering value to users.
- Extensive experience as an Android engineer with deep expertise in Kotlin and modern Android development, including Jetpack Compose, Coroutines & Flow, MVVM, WebViews, Jetpack libraries and modular application architectures.
- Experience designing scalable, maintainable mobile architectures and evolving applications over time.
- You champion a culture of quality, shaping testing strategies and helping teams adopt effective unit, integration and UI testing practices to deliver reliable, maintainable software.
- You have the ability to influence technical direction, establish engineering best practices and raise the engineering bar across multiple teams.
- You demonstrate a curious mindset, always looking for opportunities to improve products, engineering practices and developer experience.
- You show an appreciation for cross-platform development and enjoy collaborating with iOS and backend engineers.
Our developers operate in a hybrid environment working 1 day a week from our offices in Kings Cross and 4 days a week remotely. We believe in salary transparency where possible. The starting salary for new Staff Apps Developers at the Guardian is 92,000 per annum.
We value and respect all differences (seen and unseen) in all people. We aspire to have inclusive working experiences and an environment that reflects the audience we serve, where our people have equal access to career development opportunities, their voices are heard and can contribute to our future. We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds.
How to applyTo apply, please upload your latest CV. We don't require a cover letter but we'll ask you a question about your experience as an android developer as part of the application questionnaire. This question should take no longer than 5 minutes to answer, so please factor in the extra time when applying.
We appreciate the time taken to prepare each application we receive. We do not use AI-assisted technology to review applications; every application is reviewed by a member of our recruitment team. Thank you for bearing with us during the screening process. The closing date for applications is Monday 24th August 2026.
All roles at the Guardian are open for everybody to apply. It is important to us that you feel supported and comfortable throughout your recruitment process, in order to perform your best. Please let us know if there are any changes we could make to help your application, this includes providing documents in accessible formats or personalising the process to better support your needs. Please contact Anna Vipers on anna.vipers@theguardian.com to discuss further so we can work with you to support you through your application.
Benefits at the Guardian- You'll have 30 days of annual leave per year (plus bank holidays) with the option to purchase an additional 5 days.
- Our pension scheme is generous; if you contribute 5% then we will contribute 8-12% (depending on your age).
- We believe in giving back, which is why employees are given 2 volunteering days annually and the option of payroll giving.
- Season ticket loans are also available.
- You are entitled to private healthcare, life cover, income protection, and eye tests. You can also opt in to dental insurance.
- We have enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption and shared parental leave policies in place.
- We also support our employees by offering an IVF, menopause, baby loss, and trans equality policy.
We want everyone to feel like they belong at the Guardian and we champion diversity of thought. Our various employee forums provide a platform to use their voice to foster an inclusive workplace. We became the first major media organisation to achieve B Corp status.
We offer tools to help you prioritise your wellbeing including access to our employee benefits platform which provides tailored support for health and wellbeing. In addition, we also offer free yoga and pilates classes. These run alongside our corporate gym membership and cycle to work scheme.
Our canteen has views overlooking the Regents Canal and caters for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Learning and developmentWe encourage personal and professional growth. Employees have access to a broad range of tools and solutions, and we are happy to support the pursuit of professional qualifications through vocational courses and apprenticeships.
We value honesty in your application.
Staff Android Developer in London employer: Guardian Media Group
At the Guardian, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that champions diversity and inclusivity within a dynamic work environment. As a Staff Android Developer, you'll enjoy a generous benefits package, including 30 days of annual leave, private healthcare, and opportunities for professional growth through training and mentorship. Our hybrid working model allows for flexibility, while our commitment to employee wellbeing ensures you can thrive both personally and professionally in our vibrant Kings Cross location.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Staff Android Developer in London
✨Join Local Tech Meetups
Get out there and mingle with fellow developers by joining local tech meetups. It’s a fantastic way to meet people who might be working at Guardian Media Group or know someone who does. Plus, you can pick up some trendy tech skills and trends while you're at it!
✨Contribute to Open Source Projects
Show off your coding chops by jumping into open-source projects. Not only does this give you practical experience, but it also gets you noticed in the dev community. You'll create a killer portfolio that speaks volumes about your skills to Guardian Media Group.
✨Tap into Online Developer Communities
Don’t underestimate the power of online developer communities like GitHub, Stack Overflow, and even Reddit. Participate in discussions, share your projects, and build your visibility. We can often find opportunities through these channels that can lead to a full-time gig at companies like Guardian Media Group.
✨Explore Job Boards Specifically for Tech Roles
Keep your eyes peeled on job boards that focus on tech roles. Sites like TechCareers or Stack Overflow Jobs can often have listings for companies like Guardian Media Group that might not show up on broader job sites. Make it a habit to check these regularly, and don’t hesitate to apply directly through our website!
We think you need these skills to ace Staff Android Developer in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show off your coding skills:When applying for a software engineering role, it's super important to showcase your coding skills. Make sure your CV includes your tech stack, any relevant programming languages you’re comfortable with, and examples of projects you've worked on. If you have a GitHub profile, link it up! We love to see code in action.
Tailor your portfolio:For a full-time role, we’d expect to see some solid examples of your work in your portfolio. Make sure to include at least two or three projects that highlight your problem-solving skills and your ability to work with different technologies. Focus on the projects that are most relevant to the position at Guardian Media Group.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Guardian Media Group and how your skills align with the role. Show us your passion for software development. We dig enthusiastic candidates who understand the value of collaboration and continuous learning!
Be clear and concise:When it comes to writing your CV and cover letter, clarity is key. Avoid jargon that could confuse us and stick to simple, direct language. Highlight your achievements with quantifiable results where possible, and keep everything easy to read. A well-organised application goes a long way!
How to prepare for a job interview at Guardian Media Group
✨Brush Up on Your Coding Skills
For a full-time software engineering role, it's crucial that we stay sharp with our coding abilities. Expect technical questions that might involve solving problems on the spot or discussing algorithms. Practise on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank to get comfortable with the types of questions that often come up.
✨Know Your Tools and Frameworks
Make sure we’re well-acquainted with the tools and technologies listed in the job description. Familiarise ourselves with any specific frameworks or programming languages mentioned. If Guardian Media Group uses React or Node.js, for instance, be ready to discuss how we’ve used them in previous projects or coursework.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Bring along a portfolio that highlights our best work. This could be code samples, GitHub repositories, or any side projects we’ve built. Make sure we can talk through our thought process for each project, especially the challenges we faced and how we solved them—this shows our problem-solving skills in action.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
While technical skills are key, full-time positions also require cultural fit. Be ready to discuss our previous experiences and how we handle teamwork, conflict, and deadlines. Brush up on the STAR method—Situation, Task, Action, Result—to clearly articulate our past experiences when discussing how we've contributed to a team.
