Role Description
Lead SDK Architect (Mobile Platform)
Type: Contract, Fixed-Term or Permanent
Location: London / Leeds (Hybrid)
Start: ASAP
Shape the future of mobile SDK architecture used at enterprise scale. UST is seeking an exceptional Lead SDK Architect to define and drive the next generation of our mobile SDK platform across iOS and Android.
This is a rare opportunity for an architect who thrives on solving complex platform challenges, designing elegant developer experiences, and modernising SDK ecosystems that are consumed by thousands of applications and developers.
You’ll take ownership of the target architecture and modernisation strategy for a business‑critical mobile SDK, creating a scalable, secure, and future‑ready platform that improves performance, reduces integration complexity, and accelerates product innovation.
Whether you’re available immediately for a contract engagement or seeking a fixed‑term employment opportunity, we’d love to hear from you.
About The Role
You’ll be leading a high‑profile SDK transformation programme where you’ll have the opportunity to:
- Define the future architecture for a large‑scale mobile SDK ecosystem
- Create an enterprise‑grade platform consumed by third‑party developers and partners
- Drive modernisation across iOS and Android without disrupting existing integrations
- Influence technical strategy, engineering standards, product direction, and developer experience
- Work alongside senior architecture, engineering, and product leadership teams
What You’ll Be Doing
As the Lead SDK Architect, you’ll be responsible for defining and delivering the technical vision for our mobile SDK platform.
Key Responsibilities
Architecture & Strategy
- Define the target SDK architecture and long‑term modernisation roadmap across iOS and Android
- Establish architectural principles, standards, and governance for SDK development
- Design a scalable, modular, and secure platform that supports future business growth
- Create a migration strategy that enables incremental adoption while maintaining compatibility for existing consumers
Developer Experience & SDK Design
- Define public API contracts and versioning strategies
- Improve SDK usability and reduce integration effort for external developers
- Drive consistency across platforms while respecting native platform best practices
- Champion SDK design patterns that maximise maintainability and extensibility
Platform Modernisation
- Lead architecture decisions around modularisation, packaging, dependency management, and release engineering
- Guide Proof of Concepts and technical validation activities
- Partner closely with Product Owners, Engineering Leads, and Enterprise Architects
- Provide architectural leadership throughout delivery and implementation
Essential Experience
- Minimum of 8+ years of software engineering and architecture experience
- Significant hands‑on experience with mobile platforms (iOS and/or Android)
- Proven track record designing and evolving mobile SDKs consumed by external developers
- Experience leading large‑scale platform modernisation or transformation programmes
- Strong stakeholder management and executive communication skills
- Ability to balance strategic architecture with practical delivery
Technical Expertise
API & SDK Architecture
- Public API design and governance
- Semantic versioning strategies
- Backward and forward compatibility
- SDK evolution and deprecation management
- Stable ABI considerations
Mobile SDK Distribution
Android
- AAR packaging
- Maven publishing
- Gradle plugins
iOS
- XCFrameworks
- Swift Package Manager
- CocoaPods
- Strong understanding of binary versus source distribution trade‑offs
Modular Platform Design
- Feature modularisation
- Dependency isolation
- Transitive dependency management
- Library version conflict mitigation
Performance & Optimisation
- Binary footprint reduction
- Startup performance optimisation
- Memory and CPU efficiency
- Battery and network usage optimisation
- Runtime performance governance
Security & Hardening
- R8 / ProGuard optimisation
- Anti‑tampering controls
- Runtime Application Self‑Protection (RASP)
- Root and jailbreak detection
- Certificate and public key pinning
- Secure storage using Keychain, Keystore, and Secure Enclave
Privacy & Compliance
- Privacy‑by‑design principles
- Data minimisation frameworks
- Apple Privacy Manifests
- Required Reason APIs
- Android Data Safety requirements
- GDPR and broader privacy compliance considerations
Observability & Release Engineering
- Telemetry and diagnostics
- Crash reporting frameworks
- Remote configuration
- Automated CI/CD pipelines
- SDK signing and release management
Desirable Experience
- Experience within Financial Services, Fraud Prevention, Cyber Security, Enterprise Software Platforms, Identity & Authentication Solutions, Mobile Risk or Behavioural Analytics
- Experience working with on‑device sensor data, behavioural signal collection, and platform‑specific background execution constraints would be highly advantageous.
