Confirmed Android Engineer - Post Booking

As a Confirmed Android Engineer at BlaBlaCar, your key responsibilities will include collaborating with non-technical stakeholders to Shape the feature roadmap, designing and developing post-booking features in the Android application, ensuring the application's quality, and sharing your insights through documentation and peer code reviews. This role empowers you to substantially impact customers' satisfaction and loyalty by fine-tuning features that create seamless post-purchase experiences.

To qualify for the Confirmed Android Engineer position at BlaBlaCar, candidates should ideally have over 3 years of experience in building Android applications. Proficiency in MVVM architecture, clean architecture, and RESTful APIs is crucial. Familiarity with Kotlin, Dagger, Retrofit, and experience with unit and integration testing will be advantageous. Most importantly, strong communication skills and a team-oriented mindset are essential for effectively collaborating with diverse stakeholders.

At BlaBlaCar, the work environment for a Confirmed Android Engineer is dynamic and collaborative, set within a full-stack squad comprising six engineers, a product manager, and a UX designer. You'll also engage with a wider Android chapter of 11 engineers dedicated to our mobile app. The culture emphasizes communication, adaptability, and a strong product focus while allowing for flexibility through remote work options in France. Additionally, employees enjoy the perks of working in a diverse and inclusive environment.

Confirmed Android Engineers at BlaBlaCar enjoy an array of competitive benefits, including the possibility of full remote work, financial support for home office equipment, a relocation package, and generous parental leave. You'll also benefit from unlimited free carpooling and bus rides, stock ownership plans, 25 vacation days plus RTT, local meal subsidies, and mental health support, demonstrating BlaBlaCar’s commitment to employee well-being.

The hiring process for the Confirmed Android Engineer position at BlaBlaCar typically lasts between 25 to 30 days and includes several structured stages: initial video calls with the Talent Acquisition Manager and Engineering Manager to discuss your fit, along with technical assessments like design case interviews, live coding, and code reviews with software engineers. Finally, a conversation with the VP Engineering rounds off the process. Offers are usually extended within 48 hours after completion.

When discussing your experience with MVVM architecture, focus on how you've implemented it in past projects. Share specific scenarios where this architectural pattern improved the code maintainability and separation of concerns. Include examples of how you handled data binding and view models, emphasizing your understanding of lifecycle components within Android applications.

In designing a feature for the post-booking experience, start by analyzing user needs through feedback and research. Discuss how you collaborate with UX/UI designers to create intuitive interfaces and work closely with product managers to align with business goals. Highlight the importance of creating a seamless experience, such as implementing real-time updates for bus tracking, ensuring high performance and usability.

For API integration, I commonly use tools like Retrofit for making network requests due to its efficiency and ease of use with RESTful APIs. Discuss how you ensure effective data parsing, error handling, and the importance of using Kotlin coroutines for managing asynchronous tasks, ensuring a responsive user experience in your Android applications.

I maintain application quality through a combination of unit testing, integration testing, and code reviews. Explain your process for writing test cases and using tools such as JUnit and Espresso to automate testing. Discuss the significance of peer reviews, learning from team feedback, and staying up-to-date with the latest best practices and coding standards in Android development.

Effective communication with non-technical stakeholders involves simplifying technical jargon and focusing on the value and outcomes of the features being discussed. Share your approach of using visuals, such as mockups and flowcharts, to illustrate concepts and ensure alignment. Emphasize your commitment to active listening and adaptability to cater to varying levels of technical understanding.

When discussing a challenging problem, provide a specific example involving a complex feature or performance issue. Detail the steps you took to diagnose the problem, the tools and techniques you utilized to solve it, and how you validated that the solution worked. Highlight the impact of your solution on overall user experience and app performance.

I stay current with Android development trends by actively participating in communities, attending conferences, and following reputable sources such as blogs, podcasts, and online courses. Mention any specific conferences or platforms that are helpful for learning new tools and techniques which can benefit your work and how you implement new knowledge into your projects.

Feedback plays a pivotal role in my development process. Describe how you embrace both receiving and providing constructive feedback to facilitate continuous improvement and collaboration within your team. Provide examples of how changes made from feedback have led to enhanced features or improved workflows.

I prioritize tasks through a combination of urgency and impact assessment. Discuss your method for evaluating deadlines, the complexity of tasks, and stakeholder dependencies. It’s important to mention collaboration with team members to ensure progress aligns with broader project goals and company objectives.

Convey your enthusiasm for BlaBlaCar’s mission to enhance travel experiences and your desire to contribute to a diverse and innovative team. Discuss how the company’s values align with your professional goals, particularly the emphasis on collaboration, user satisfaction, and product development. Express your excitement about working on impactful projects that leverage technology for better travel solutions.