Software Engineer, Android, Level 5

Location: Bellevue, India | Los Angeles, Canada | New York, United States | Palo Alto, Canada | San Francisco, Canada | Seattle, India

Department: Engineering

Employment Type: Full time

About Snap Inc

Snap Inc is a technology company. We believe the camera presents the greatest opportunity to improve the way people live and communicate. Snap contributes to human progress by empowering people to express themselves, live in the moment, learn about the world, and have fun together.

About the Role

Snap Inc is a camera company that believes the lens presents the greatest opportunity to improve the way people live and communicate. We empower Snapchatters to express themselves authentically, live in the moment, and have fun together through innovative products like Snapchat, Lens Studio, and Spectacles. Our Engineering teams build technically sophisticated AR experiences that reach hundreds of millions daily, always prioritizing privacy, speed, and creativity. As a Software Engineer, Android, Level 5 in our Engineering department, you'll join a dynamic team pushing the boundaries of mobile AR and camera technology to create magical, real-time interactions that redefine social connection. In this role, you'll architect and ship high-impact features for Snapchat's Android app, from AR Lenses and camera effects to seamless visual messaging. You'll collaborate closely with designers and product teams to translate creative visions into smooth, performant code, evaluating tradeoffs to deliver fun, stable experiences at global scale. Using Kotlin, RxJava, and cutting-edge Android tools, you'll optimize for diverse devices, ensuring low-latency AR rendering and intuitive interfaces that capture life's spontaneous moments. Your work will directly influence how millions discover the world through Snap's AR innovations. We're seeking a seasoned Android engineer with 6+ years of experience who thrives in a fast-paced, creative culture. Snap's 'Default Together' policy emphasizes 4+ days in-office to spark collaboration and reinforce our values. We celebrate diverse backgrounds and are committed to equal opportunity, accommodating disabilities and considering qualified applicants with criminal histories per applicable laws. Join us to build the future of AR storytelling!

What You'll Do

• Push the limits of mobile devices to create immersive camera and AR experiences on Snapchat
• Build smooth, stable, and fun Android products that delight hundreds of millions of Snapchatters
• Develop end-to-end features from design mocks through implementation, testing, and launch
• Optimize AR Lenses, filters, and real-time camera effects for performance across devices
• Collaborate with designers to craft intuitive UI/UX for creative expression and live moments
• Evaluate technical tradeoffs to balance innovation, speed, and reliability in a fast-paced environment
• Conduct thorough code reviews to maintain Snap's high standards of code quality and security
• Integrate with Snap's AR platforms like Lens Studio to power next-gen augmented reality
• Monitor and improve app stability, crash rates, and battery efficiency for global scale
• Experiment with emerging Android APIs to enhance storytelling through ephemeral content
• Work cross-functionally with product, design, and backend teams to ship innovative features
• Champion privacy-by-design in all camera and AR implementations

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related technical field, or equivalent practical work experience
• 6+ years of post-Bachelor’s software development experience in Android development
• Master’s degree in a technical field + 5+ years of post-grad software development experience, or PhD + 2+ years
• Proven experience building and shipping Android applications from design to launch
• Strong understanding of Android SDK, mobile performance optimization, and user experience principles
• Experience with code reviews and ensuring high code quality standards
• Ability to evaluate technical tradeoffs and collaborate with design teams on UI/UX
• Commitment to privacy, security, and scalable infrastructure practices

Preferred Qualifications

• Deep expertise in Kotlin and modern Android development practices
• Experience with RxJava, Dagger, and other advanced Android tools
• Background in camera technologies, AR development, or real-time multimedia processing
• Prior work on high-scale consumer apps reaching millions of users
• Familiarity with AR frameworks like ARCore or Lens Studio integration
• Contributions to open-source Android projects or published apps on Google Play

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Kotlin
• Java
• Android SDK
• RxJava
• Dagger/Hilt
• Camera APIs
• ARCore
• Mobile performance optimization
• UI/UX design collaboration
• Code review and refactoring
• Technical tradeoff evaluation
• Privacy and security best practices
• Agile development methodologies
• Cross-functional teamwork
• Problem-solving in high-scale environments
• Real-time multimedia processing
• Git and CI/CD pipelines
• Unit testing and debugging

Our Benefits

• Competitive base salary with pay zones: Zone A (CA, WA, NYC) $209,000-$313,000; Zone B $199,000-$297,000; Zone C $178,000-$266,000
• Equity in the form of RSUs to share in Snap’s long-term success
• Paid parental leave for new parents
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Emotional and mental health support programs
• Flexible paid time off and wellness stipends
• “Default Together” policy with 4+ days in-office to foster creative collaboration
• Snacks, meals, and perks in Snap offices worldwide
• Professional development opportunities in AR and mobile innovation

Compensation

$209,000-$313,000 annually

This position is eligible for equity in the form of RSUs.

"Default Together" Policy: At Snap Inc, we practice a "default together" approach and expect team members to work in an office 4+ days per week.

Snap is proud to be an equal opportunity employer.