Founding iOS Engineer

Babylist Inc.

Job Overview

Location

Needham, MA

Job Type

Full-time

Full Job Description

📋 Description

• Babylist is seeking a visionary Founding iOS Engineer to spearhead the development of a brand-new, standalone mobile application designed to foster deeper connections within growing families. This is a unique opportunity to be at the forefront of a groundbreaking venture, operating with autonomy and shaping a product from its nascent stages into a validated vision. You will be an integral part of a small, in-person team based in the Boston area, working outside of Babylist's established processes and tech stack to rapidly prototype and launch an entirely new product within a 9-month sprint.
• As the Founding iOS Engineer, you will own the end-to-end development lifecycle of our iOS application. This includes conceptualizing, designing, and building core features and functionalities that will define the user experience. Your primary goal will be to create an intuitive, engaging, and delightful application that amplifies the natural love and excitement surrounding family milestones, from a baby's first smile to their first birthday and beyond.
• You will collaborate intimately with a dedicated Product Manager and Designer to translate ambitious product ideas into tangible technical specifications and user-friendly interfaces. Your deep understanding of iOS development will be crucial in transforming initial concepts and designs into a visually appealing and highly functional application that resonates with our target audience.
• A key aspect of this role involves close partnership with a full-stack web engineer. Together, you will align on critical architectural decisions, API design, and ensure seamless integration between the front-end and back-end systems, laying a robust foundation for future scalability and innovation.
• You will be responsible for writing clean, efficient, and maintainable Swift code, adhering to industry best practices and established coding standards. This commitment to code quality will ensure the long-term health and success of the application.
• Employing a comprehensive testing strategy is paramount. You will write unit tests, leverage debugging tools, and implement various testing techniques to proactively identify and resolve any issues or bugs, ensuring a stable and reliable user experience.
• Active participation in team discussions, brainstorming sessions, and code reviews will be essential. Your insights and expertise will be invaluable in shaping the product's direction, contributing to feature ideation, and fostering a collaborative and innovative team environment.
• This role is for an individual who thrives in a zero-to-one product development environment, possesses a passion for building consumer-facing products, and is driven by the opportunity to move quickly and iterate effectively. You understand the critical importance of delivering an exceptional user experience and are motivated to create engaging and intuitive iOS applications.
• You will be instrumental in defining the technical roadmap for the iOS app, making key architectural decisions, and setting the standard for engineering excellence within this new venture.
• Embrace and leverage AI-driven software development practices and tools to enhance productivity, accelerate development cycles, and explore innovative solutions. You should be comfortable and enthusiastic about working in an AI-forward environment where these tools are integrated into daily operations, always with the goal of augmenting human creativity and efficiency.
• Your role will extend to ensuring the application's performance, scalability, and security, anticipating future needs and implementing solutions that support long-term growth.
• You will contribute to the overall product strategy by providing technical feasibility assessments and innovative suggestions based on your deep understanding of the iOS platform and emerging technologies.
• The ideal candidate will possess a strong understanding of the capabilities and limitations of the iOS platform, navigating its unique features and constraints with expertise. This includes a deep familiarity with foundational Apple frameworks and patterns such as Foundation, SwiftUI, and CoreAnimation, with hands-on experience in SwiftUI, Previews, and rapid prototyping being essential.
• You will be a key player in shaping the culture and technical direction of this new product team, embodying a proactive and collaborative spirit.
• Your work will directly impact the lives of millions of families, helping them stay connected and celebrate the precious moments of their children's lives, aligning with Babylist's mission to help growing families thrive.

🎯 Requirements

• 8+ years of proven experience in iOS app development using Swift, with a deep understanding of syntax, features, and best practices.
• Strong proficiency in SwiftUI, Foundation, CoreAnimation, and other foundational Apple frameworks and patterns, with hands-on experience in rapid prototyping.
• Experience building consumer-facing products from concept to launch, with a passion for zero-to-one product development.
• Familiarity with AI-driven software development practices and tools, and enthusiasm for working in an AI-forward environment.
• Solid understanding of the Android ecosystem; direct Android development experience is a plus.

🏖️ Benefits

• Competitive salary with equity and bonus opportunities.
• Company-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Generous paid parental leave and PTO.
• Retirement savings plan with company matching and flexible spending accounts.
• Perks for physical, mental, and emotional health, parenting, childcare, and financial planning.

Skills & Technologies

Swift

iOS

Android

Mobile

Remote

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Babylist Inc.

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About Babylist Inc.

Babylist operates an online baby registry platform that lets expectant parents add items from any retailer, book services, and create cash funds. It aggregates products across major stores, offers a universal registry browser button, and provides personalized checklists. The company also sells its own line of baby merchandise, including nursery furniture, strollers, and accessories, through its e-commerce storefront. Headquartered in Oakland, California, Babylist supports parents with expert guides, product reviews, and a mobile app for managing registries, tracking gifts, and coordinating shipping to recipients.

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