At a Glance
- Tasks: Build and enhance The Guardian's award-winning Android app using Kotlin and Java.
- Company: Join one of the world's leading liberal news organisations with a collaborative culture.
- Benefits: Enjoy 30 days annual leave, flexible holidays, and a generous pension scheme.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on journalism while developing your skills in a supportive environment.
- Qualifications: Experience in Android development, confident in Kotlin, and eager to learn Java.
- Other info: Hybrid work model with excellent career growth and personal development opportunities.
The predicted salary is between 52000 - 70000 £ per year.
The Guardian is one of the world's biggest liberal news organisations, renowned for our ground-breaking independent journalism, award-winning digital products, and excellent engineering team. We are looking for an Android Developer/Engineer to join our Apps team on a 12-month fixed-term contract.
Development of digital products is central to the Guardian. You could be building the products that showcase our progressive and independent journalism, crafting the tools that journalists use to write their stories, developing the services that allow those stories to be distributed across the globe, or safeguarding our financial future.
We create our award-winning Android app primarily in Kotlin and Java using Android Studio. We are focused on providing a fast and stable experience to our users, and our Play Store rating of 4.7 stars is testament to that.
About the RoleYou will be building and testing major new features, as well as improving and maintaining existing functionality for The Guardian's Android apps. Our current codebase is 90%+ in Kotlin, but you may be required to work with Java too. You won't be coding in isolation - our culture is strongly collaborative, whether pair programming with other developers or working closely with other stakeholders. You can expect to work closely with iOS, server-side, and web engineers, designers, product managers, editorial and commercial colleagues. You will have a voice in all big decisions the team makes. Sometimes deciding what code to write is as hard as writing the code itself. As an engineer, you will be involved in product decisions as well as technical ones. You will be reviewing the code of other engineers to ensure we maintain our app's high standard. You will strive to be innovative on a daily basis, as well as at our regular hack days.
About YouYou have demonstrated experience building and deploying Android applications. You aspire to be an expert in Android development and have a strong interest in growing your skills. You are confident coding in Kotlin building in Android Studio. You have some experience with Java or are willing to learn. You can make considered and confident choices regarding what technologies to use and when to use them. You drive code quality and best practices. You have experience of, and a willingness to work in Agile development environments.
We operate in a hybrid environment. Our Software Engineers/Developers are expected to come into the office at least 1 day per week. If you want to come in more than that, that's great too.
We strive for transparency in remuneration. The salary for new Apps Developers at the Guardian is £62,000 per year.
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. Many of our staff work flexibly and we will consider all requests for flexible working arrangements.
How to ApplyTo apply, please upload your latest CV and a cover letter which outlines why you would love to take on this role, and why you are a great match for what we are looking for. 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. The closing date for applications is Monday 2nd February 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 at anna.vipers@guardian.co.uk to discuss further so we can work with you to support you through your application.
Benefits in our Product & Engineering team- 30 days annual leave and the option to purchase an extra 5 days
- Flexible public holidays
- Generous pension scheme; if you contribute 5% then the Guardian will contribute 8-12% (depending on your age)
- Multi-faith prayer room
- Cycle to work scheme and subsidised gym membership
- Paid volunteering days
- 10% time - Dedicated time for personal development, separate from time spent contributing to your team's delivery
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.
Android Developer in London employer: GUARDIAN NEWS AND MEDIA
Contact Detail:
GUARDIAN NEWS AND MEDIA Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Android Developer in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current or former employees at The Guardian on LinkedIn. A friendly chat can give you insider info and maybe even a referral, which can really boost your chances.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! If you’ve got a portfolio of Android projects, make sure to highlight them during interviews. Demonstrating your coding prowess in Kotlin and Java will definitely catch their eye.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for collaboration questions! Since the role involves working closely with other teams, be ready to discuss how you’ve successfully collaborated in the past. Share specific examples that showcase your teamwork skills.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining The Guardian's awesome team.
We think you need these skills to ace Android Developer in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Android Developer role. Highlight your experience with Kotlin and Java, and any projects that showcase your skills in building and deploying Android applications.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Explain why you’re excited about working at The Guardian and how your skills align with their mission. Be genuine and let your passion for Android development come through.
Showcase Collaboration Skills: Since the role involves working closely with other teams, mention any experiences where you’ve collaborated effectively. Whether it’s pair programming or working with designers, show us you’re a team player!
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our awesome team at The Guardian.
How to prepare for a job interview at GUARDIAN NEWS AND MEDIA
✨Know Your Tech Stack
Make sure you’re well-versed in Kotlin and Java, as these are key for the role. Brush up on your Android Studio skills and be ready to discuss your previous projects where you’ve used these technologies.
✨Showcase Collaboration Skills
Since the role involves working closely with other engineers and stakeholders, prepare examples of how you've successfully collaborated in past projects. Highlight any pair programming experiences or teamwork in Agile environments.
✨Prepare for Product Discussions
The Guardian values input on both technical and product decisions. Think about how you can contribute to product discussions and be ready to share your thoughts on what makes a great user experience in an app.
✨Ask Insightful Questions
At the end of the interview, don’t shy away from asking questions. Inquire about the team’s current projects, their approach to innovation, or how they maintain code quality. This shows your genuine interest in the role and the company.