Associate Principal Engineer - job 2 of 5

The Associate Principal Engineer at Nagarro takes on a vital role by leading mobile application development teams. Responsibilities include writing and reviewing high-quality code, coordinating project requirements and schedules, providing technical leadership, mentoring team members, and conducting thorough code reviews. The engineer also designs solutions that meet both functional and non-functional requirements, engages in UAT and production rollouts, and addresses any issues that arise, ensuring quality and compliance with app store guidelines.

To qualify for the Associate Principal Engineer position at Nagarro, candidates should possess a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field. Additionally, applicants should have over 11 years of hands-on experience in mobile development, specifically in iOS and Android platforms, along with a strong understanding of architectural patterns such as MVC and MVVM. Experience in leading teams and excellent communication skills are equally essential.

At Nagarro, an Associate Principal Engineer should be proficient in iOS (Swift, Objective-C) and Android (Kotlin, Java) development. Key skills also include fluency in architectural patterns like MVC and MVVM, strong knowledge of API integration and mobile performance tuning, and familiarity with automated testing and CI/CD processes. Leadership capabilities and effective communication are crucial to guide and mentor the mobile development team.

The mobile app development process at Nagarro involves comprehensive planning, where the Associate Principal Engineer coordinates with cross-functional teams to gather and understand functional requirements. This role entails envisioning the overall solution, defining the necessary technologies and frameworks, and implementing design methodologies. The engineer leads the team during development, testing, and production rollouts, ensuring quality and performance optimization throughout.

Nagarro is committed to fostering the professional growth of its Associate Principal Engineers. We offer various opportunities for mentorship, training, and exposure to the latest technologies and industry practices. The non-hierarchical culture encourages open communication and feedback, allowing engineers to share insights and learn from one another, thus cultivating a collaborative environment for continuous improvement.

When answering this question, provide a clear overview of your hands-on experience with both platforms. Discuss specific projects you've worked on, highlighting the technologies used (like Swift for iOS and Kotlin for Android), and the challenges you overcame. Be specific about your role in leading teams and delivering applications from concept to deployment to showcase your leadership skills.

To ensure code quality, emphasize your experience with automated testing, code reviews, and adherence to best practices. You could mention specific tools and methodologies you’ve used, such as unit tests and continuous integration. Discuss how you foster a culture of quality within your team by providing constructive feedback and mentoring junior developers.

Begin by citing specific architectural patterns like MVC and MVVM, then explain how you utilize them in your projects. Provide examples of how these methodologies guided your development decisions, improved collaboration within the team, and enhanced app performance. This will demonstrate your deep understanding of structuring mobile applications effectively.

Discuss your approach to time management and prioritization. You could provide an example of a project where you faced tight deadlines, explaining how you coordinated with your team and stakeholders to ensure successful delivery. Highlight your problem-solving skills and ability to adapt under pressure while maintaining focus on quality.

Be honest and share a specific instance where you faced a challenge or made a mistake in your project. Explain the context, your action at that time, and the lessons learned. This demonstrates your ability to reflect on experiences and showcases your problem-solving approach and drive for continuous improvement.

Describe your familiarity with Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment practices. Mention the tools and frameworks you’ve worked with, and explain how CI/CD has improved your team's workflows. Showcase specific examples of how these practices have helped with testing, deployment, and maintaining code quality.

Collaboration is key in mobile development. Share how you engage with designers, product managers, and backend developers to create a seamless development experience. Discuss any tools and communication strategies you use to keep everyone informed, and how you encourage open feedback among team members.

Explain your systematic approach to troubleshooting, starting from reproducing the issue to isolating the root cause. Provide an example of a complex bug you resolved and the methodologies used to diagnose it. This showcases your analytical skills and ability to remain calm under pressure.

Share your methods for continuous learning, whether it’s through online courses, attending conferences, reading industry blogs, or participating in developer communities. Emphasize your passion for technology and how it drives innovation in your projects.

Discuss the importance of user experience (UX) in mobile apps, and how it influences your development decisions. Highlight examples of how you have prioritized UI/UX design in your projects and the impact it had on user engagement and satisfaction, demonstrating your understanding of the holistic app development process.