Android & iOS Developer Recruitment and Jobs in Ireland
Below are some opportunities for Android and iOS jobs. Many of the positions in this sector are confidential and not all our positions are listed below so, please feel free to reach out to us directly at info@archer.ie
If you develop in Java, you may also wish to view our Java Jobs. We would also welcome hearing from people who have Objective-C experience. Mobile Development is a growing sector and we are happy to discuss your career options with you. If you would like to review our most recent IT Salary Survey for general information, however, if you would like to get specific salary guidance for your unique personal circumstances, feel free to reach out to us.
Archer also offers complimentary interview coaching to our candidates, please feel free to mention it when you are talking with our consultants. Our focus is on IT Recruitment in Dublin and Ireland.
Key Tech in Demand in Android & iOS Developer Jobs
For Android developers, a strong understanding of the Java and Kotlin programming languages is essential as they are the primary languages used in Android development. Familiarity with the Android SDK and Android Studio, the official integrated development environment (IDE) for Android, is also crucial. Developers should understand how to work with various Android APIs for tasks like location services, networking, and database management. Familiarity with tools and libraries such as Gradle, Jetpack, and Retrofit is often required. An understanding of Material Design principles can be a significant advantage in creating user-friendly interfaces. Experience with testing frameworks like JUnit and Espresso is also beneficial for ensuring the quality of software.
On the other hand, iOS developers must have a strong grasp of Swift, the primary language used for iOS app development. Objective-C knowledge can still be useful, especially for maintaining older applications. Understanding of the iOS SDK and proficiency with Xcode, Apple’s IDE, is crucial. Developers should be familiar with Apple’s UI design principles and interface guidelines to create apps that feel native to the platform. Experience with tools and libraries like CocoaPods and Alamofire can be beneficial. Knowledge of Core Data for database management and testing frameworks such as XCTest is often required.
For both Android and iOS developers, a strong understanding of the mobile development life cycle and principles of mobile UI/UX design is necessary. Experience with RESTful APIs is required to interface mobile applications with server-side services. Familiarity with version control systems, especially Git, is essential for any modern development role.
Knowledge of cross-platform frameworks like React Native or Flutter can also be highly advantageous. These tools allow developers to write code once and deploy it on both Android and iOS, which can save significant time and resources.
Furthermore, understanding how to publish applications on the Google Play Store or Apple App Store, including handling app versioning, updates, and addressing user feedback, is a key part of a developer’s job.
What does the Career Journey for an Android & iOS Developer look like?
The career journey for both Android and iOS developers often starts with a strong foundation in computer science or a related field, typically achieved through a degree program or intensive self-study. This forms the basis of understanding key concepts such as data structures, algorithms, and object-oriented programming.
A budding developer then generally chooses a platform to specialise in – either Android or iOS. For Android, this means learning Java or Kotlin, along with the Android Software Development Kit (SDK) and Android Studio. For iOS, the primary language is Swift, although Objective-C is still relevant. Developers must also learn the iOS SDK and how to use Xcode, Apple’s development environment.
Once a basic understanding of the platform is established, early career developers often build their own applications or work on open-source projects to gain practical experience. This phase typically involves learning about mobile UI/UX design, working with APIs, databases, and understanding the principles of secure and performant mobile app design.
After gaining some experience, the developer might land an entry-level job, often working as part of a larger team under the guidance of more experienced developers. Here, they get to learn about industry practices, such as version control with Git, Agile methodologies, and test-driven development.
As they gain more experience and expertise, developers can move into senior roles, leading the design and development of complex applications, making key decisions about architecture, and mentoring less experienced team members.
Some developers choose to broaden their skills to become full-stack developers, learning back-end technologies to complement their mobile development skills. Others might specialise further, perhaps becoming experts in certain types of apps or specific aspects of the platform.
Beyond senior developer roles, there are paths into management, such as becoming a team lead, project manager, or CTO. Alternatively, many experienced developers choose to work as freelancers or consultants, or even start their own software development companies.
In recent years, another path has emerged with the rise of cross-platform frameworks like React Native and Flutter. Some developers start with one platform, then learn the other, and then move into cross-platform development, effectively doubling their potential job market.