Senior mobile developer

About the role

Cactuslab is looking for a senior mobile developer to lead the mobile team and take technical ownership of projects from idea to deployment. You'll be an expert across native iOS and Android, with experience in mobile web and cross-platform frameworks such as Capacitor, API implementations and databases and enough breadth across the stack (ideally including experience with Java) to guide and mentor developers across technologies. The ideal candidate combines deep hands-on skill with sound judgement, a head for delivery, and a real interest in helping others grow.

Key responsibilities

• Lead the design, development and delivery of mobile apps and mobile-friendly web experiences, and be accountable for the quality of what ships.
• Make key architecture decisions, keep projects on track and within budget, and be the person the team turns to when things get difficult.
• Lead the development of native and hybrid mobile applications for iOS and Android.
• Make and justify architecture and technology decisions across mobile, web and back end.
• Lead a small development team: breaking work down, assigning it sensibly, and tracking progress against milestones.
• Produce realistic estimates, keep the team on task and within budget, and flag the budget impact of scope changes.
• Set and uphold code quality standards through thorough code reviews.
• Own the quality of what ships, including testing, release readiness, and deployment.
• Apply security and privacy best practice across the full stack and identify risks at the design stage.
• Mentor junior and mid-level developers across technologies and give honest, constructive feedback.

About you

• Extensive experience building and shipping apps for iOS and Android.
• Strong experience with Capacitor, React, or similar cross-platform frameworks, and proficiency with JavaScript/TypeScript, HTML and CSS.
• Working knowledge of back-end development, ideally Java, and of REST API design.
• A track record of sound architecture and technology decisions on production apps, and the ability to explain and justify them.
• Deep understanding of security best practice across the full stack.
• Experience leading a development team, including estimating, planning, and delivering to budget.
• Experience mentoring developers, conducting code reviews, and giving constructive feedback.
• A strong sense of ownership over quality, testing and release readiness.
• Confidence working directly with clients, including negotiating scope and explaining technical issues in plain language.
• Understanding of user experience, performance optimisation, accessibility and responsive design principles.

About us

Cactuslab is an independent software development and design studio founded in 2001 located in Auckland, New Zealand. We build websites and mobile apps with the ethos that there should be no compromise between form and function. We bring to each project a long-term strategic mindset, a thorough understanding of appropriate technology, a commitment to quality, a focus on humans and a relentless eye for detail. We do work for several loyal clients and also work on internal / joint ventures. A portion of Cactuslab and venture equity is allocated to eligible employees via an employee share scheme. Located in Queen Street, Auckland, Cactuslab offers a supporting, welcoming environment and the opportunity to work on a variety of interesting projects and technologies.