NIKE, Inc

Lead Engineer, Activity Apps

NIKE, Inc$130K — $155K *
Consumer Technology
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 7+ years of software engineering experience shipping consumer mobile applications; Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or equivalent experience
  • Expert in Swift/SwiftUI or Kotlin/Compose with a strong track record in high-scale consumer apps
  • Deep knowledge of systems for activity apps, including Core Location and background execution
  • Hands-on experience with companion-device work on watchOS and/or Wear OS
  • Familiarity with HealthKit and integrations with third-party fitness devices
  • Fluency in mobile CI/CD practices and testing frameworks
  • Experience with Spec Driven Development using LLM coding agents

Responsibilities

  • Lead end-to-end design and delivery of features across mobile platforms and wearables
  • Own technical health aspects such as architecture, code quality, and performance metrics
  • Contribute to sensor and GPS functionalities for workout reliability
  • Drive initiatives to streamline code practices across applications
  • Partner on long-term technical planning, converting strategy into deliverables
  • Mentor engineering team members and raise technical standards through reviews
  • Collaborate with security teams to ensure athlete data safety
  • Champion AI-native development practices in the team

Benefits

  • Generous total rewards package
  • Casual work environment
  • Diverse and inclusive culture
  • Opportunities for professional development
Full Job Description
WHO YOU'LL WORK WITH

The Activity Apps team builds and operates Nike Run Club (NRC) and Nike Training Club (NTC) - the mobile experiences that move millions of Nike athletes through runs, workouts, training plans, and guided coaching every day. As a Lead Engineer, you'll be one of the senior technical voices on the team, partnering daily with Principal Engineers, Engineering Managers, Product, Design, Sport Science, and squads across iOS, Android, wearables, and the backend services that power activity at Nike. This role reports to the Engineering Manager for Activity Apps and works closely with peers across mobile platform, athlete, and coaching content teams.

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

Nike is seeking a Lead Software Engineer who combines strong architectural instincts with a hands-on delivery mindset and a passion for consumer mobile at scale. You'll set the technical direction for a squad or a critical feature area within NRC or NTC, lead the design and execution of complex features end-to-end, and elevate the engineers around you through code review, design leadership, and mentorship. The ideal candidate is a senior IC ready to own the hardest problems on the team - background workout reliability, sensor accuracy, watch-to-phone sync, content delivery - and pull the rest of the squad up with them.
  • 7+ years of software engineering experience shipping consumer mobile applications; Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or equivalent experience
  • Expert proficiency in Swift/SwiftUI or Kotlin/Compose (or both), with a track record of delivering features in high-scale consumer apps
  • Deep experience with the systems that make activity apps work: Core Location / FusedLocationProvider, Core Motion / SensorManager, background execution and lifecycle, audio session management, push and silent-push pipelines, and durable offline session storage
  • Hands-on experience with companion-device work on watchOS and/or Wear OS - phone-to-watch sync, standalone workouts, state reconciliation
  • Working familiarity with HealthKit and Health Connect / Google Fit, and integrations with third-party fitness devices and services (Apple Watch, Garmin, Strava-class partners)
  • Fluency in modern mobile CI/CD, testing, and release practices (Xcode, Gradle, Fastlane, App Store Connect, Google Play, feature flagging, experimentation)
  • Proven ability to lead technical design reviews, break down ambiguous problems, and drive cross-squad alignment on architecture and standards
  • Strong written and verbal communication; comfortable authoring design docs and technical strategy for a mixed audience of engineers, product, and design
  • Experience with Spec Driven Development leveraging LLM coding agents and autonomous build and review loops


WHAT YOU'LL WORK ON

You'll be the technical lead for a squad or a critical feature area inside NRC or NTC - the person the team looks to for hard architectural calls, complex feature design, and quality standards. Your work directly shapes the athlete's day-to-day experience of running and training with Nike.
  • Lead the end-to-end design and delivery of high-impact features across iOS, Android, and companion wearables - from spec refinement through shipped release and post-launch telemetry
  • Own the technical health of your area: architecture, code quality, test coverage, performance, crash-free rate, and battery/thermal budgets
  • Contribute directly to the workout session stack - sensor capture, GPS pipelines, background reliability, recovery from process death, durable upload - so every started workout becomes a saved workout
  • Drive cross-squad initiatives that consolidate fragmented paths across NRC and NTC, defining reusable patterns and migrating legacy code toward them
  • Partner with the Principal Engineer and Engineering Manager on multi-quarter technical planning for your area, translating platform strategy into concrete quarterly deliverables
  • Mentor Senior and mid-level engineers through design reviews, pairing, and structured feedback; raise the technical bar in code review across the squad
  • Partner with Security, Privacy, and Platform teams to keep athlete data - location, health, biometric - safe, compliant, and trustworthy
  • Contribute to communities of practice around Mobile Architecture, Observability, Performance, and Wearables; represent your squad in cross-team technical forums
  • Adopt and champion AI-native development practices on the team - internal AI tooling, code assistance, evaluation harnesses - and share what's working with the broader engineering org

NIKE, Inc. is a growth company that looks for team members to grow with it. Nike offers a generous total rewards package, casual work environment, a diverse and inclusive culture, and an electric atmosphere for professional development. No matter the location, or the role, every Nike employee shares one galvanizing mission: To bring inspiration and innovation to every athlete* in the world.

About NIKE, Inc

Nike is a sporting goods company that designs, develops, and markets footwear, apparel, equipment, and accessory products. The company offers various categories of shoes including running, training, basketball, soccer, sport-inspired urban shoes, and kids' shoes. It also provides shoes for aquatic activities, baseball, football, cheerleading, golf, lacrosse, outdoor activities, skateboarding, tennis, volleyball, walking, wrestling, and various athletic and recreational uses. In addition, the company offers sports-inspired lifestyle apparel, athletic bags, and accessory items. Further, it provides a line of performance equipment including bags, socks, sports balls, eyewear, timepieces, electronic devices, bats, gloves, protective equipment, golf clubs, and various equipment designed for sports activities under the NIKE brand name, as well as markets apparel with licensed college and professional team and league logos. Additionally, it offers licenses to produce and sell NIKE brand swimwear, children's apparel, training equipment, eyewear, electronic devices, and golf accessories. The company also markets its products under the brand names of Converse, Chuck Taylor, All Star, One Star, Umbro, Jack Purcell, Cole Haan, Bragano, and Hurley. It sells its products to retail accounts through stores, independent distributors, and licensees, as well as through its Website, nikestore.com. As of May 31, 2009, Nike, Inc. operated 338 retail stores in the United States and 336 retail stores internationally. The company was founded in 1964 and is headquartered in Beaverton, Oregon.

Nike Careers

Join the dynamic world of Nike, Inc., a global leader in sports apparel and innovation, where your career can flourish in an environment that fosters diversity, leadership, and growth. At Nike, we believe in bringing out the best in our team members through continuous professional development and a culture that celebrates creativity and innovation. Work You’ll Do Become a part of Nike’s mission to inspire and innovate towards a better world. Engage in work that intersects with cutting-edge technology, market-leading strategies, and sustainable practices that define the future of the sports industry. Lead with us at the forefront of the global marketplace, where your skills in leadership, teamwork, and innovation can shine. Nike offers a unique position in the industry, combining deep industry expertise with a relentless pursuit of excellence. Collaborate with a diverse team of professionals who are pioneers in their fields. Nike, Inc. employs over 75,000 passionate and talented individuals worldwide, all dedicated to moving the world of sports forward. Introducing Nike’s Professional Growth and Development Opportunities We are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where every team member can succeed. Nike offers a variety of job opportunities, from in-store retail positions to corporate roles in design, marketing, and technology. Do Innovative Work Join us and contribute to our mission of bringing inspiration and innovation to every athlete* in the world. (*If you have a body, you are an athlete.) Deliver targeted solutions and drive innovation through your unique perspective and skills. At Nike, Inc., your work directly contributes to our global impact. Be Part of a Great Team Engage in meaningful work that connects with consumers and impacts millions worldwide. Our team benefits from unparalleled capabilities, a commitment to diversity training, and a culture that encourages professional growth and networking. Future-Proof Your Career Advance your career with Nike’s comprehensive benefits and support systems. We provide extensive training, development programs, and leadership courses to help you reach your full potential. Explore Discover how Nike is leading in sustainable innovation and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in the sports industry. The Nike Employment Experience Our combined efforts in innovation, culture, and leadership make Nike, Inc. not just a place to work, but a place to grow a rewarding career. Clients and employees alike look to Nike for new strategies and impactful solutions in a rapidly evolving industry. Stay Connected Join Our Team Search for open positions that match your skills and interests. We are always on the lookout for curious, driven, creative, and solution-oriented team players. SEARCH NIKE JOBS Keep Up to Date Stay ahead with career tips, insider perspectives, and industry-leading insights you can put to use today—all from the people who work here. READ CAREERS BLOG Job Alert Emails Customize your subscription to receive job alerts, the latest news, and insider tips tailored to your preferences. Explore the exciting and rewarding opportunities that await at Nike, Inc.
Learn more about NIKE, Inc
Size
73,300 employees
Market Cap
$184.6 billion
Industry
Net Income
$2.8 billion
Founded
1964
5 Year Trend
+6.3%
Revenue
$38.2 billion
NASDAQ

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