Software Engineer II, Android Ad Tech

The Washington Post Open · verified Oct 24, 2026

DC-Washington-TWP Full-time Mid-level Software Engineering

At a glance

Mid-level Software Engineering role at The Washington Post. DC-Washington-TWP · full-time · $98,800–$164,600 base.

SalaryStated by The Washington Post

$98,800 – $164,600

Base salary for this role, in USD per year, as published in the posting.

RoleSoftware Engineering

SeniorityMid-level

LocationDC-Washington-TWP

EmploymentFull-time

Base pay$98,800–$164,600

PostedSep 4, 2026 · 7w ago

Role brief

techroles summary, based on the employer's posting.

What you'll do

Build Android ad formats and connect real-time bidding with ad measurement across the app
Study in-feed ads, native video and sponsored posts from other apps, then adapt those patterns for Android
Track ad visibility, clicks and latency so partnership decisions can use measured results
Guide advertising partners on Android privacy rules and platform capabilities, including Privacy Sandbox and advertising IDs
Diagnose ad delays, battery drain and stability issues across varied Android devices

What you bring

At least two years of Android SDK experience, or equivalent practical expertise in the field
Proficiency in Java or Kotlin, with experience improving code efficiency and app performance
A degree in computer science, engineering or a related technical area, unless equivalent experience meets the requirement
Experience shipping Android apps and integrating or maintaining mobile ad frameworks and SDKs
Experience using AI-assisted or automated engineering tools to improve delivery and development workflows

Who this fits

This mid-level role suits an Android engineer who enjoys native app development, advertising technology and solving performance problems. It is an on-site position in Washington, DC, five days a week.

From the employer

Join the future of news

We’re on a mission to deliver riveting storytelling for all of America. At The Washington Post, you’ll help reinvent news. Our work is driven by a deep investigative spirit and enhanced by innovation to bring audiences closer to the stories that matter most.

About Our Team

The Washington Post is powered by the passion and talent of our people. It takes all of us to reinvent news. Beyond our award-winning News and Opinions teams, we work across many departments, including Brand & Events, Communications, Customer Care, Engineering & Product, Finance, Human Resources, Legal, Marketing & Advertising, Print Operations, and Sales.

Why This Role Matters

The Washington Post is looking for a Software Engineer to support our flagship apps engineering team. Under general supervision, you will perform technical analysis, design and development or enhancement of Android applications and play an integral role in helping deliver increasingly smarter mobile apps to our users. You will participate in all facets of the agile development process and will have the opportunity to contribute to products that will be used by millions of people. We are looking for someone with strong interest in all things mobile and a passion for delivering high quality, solid applications.

What Motivates You

You want to help bring our award-winning journalism to people every day.
You are passionate about delivering high-quality products.
You have opinions about leveraging the latest technology from Google and other solution providers to enhance the news-reading experience.
You enjoy collaborating with colleagues across disciplines to solve problems and deliver new functionality.
You have opinions about what makes for a good native app experience.
You enjoy breaking down complicated problems into distinct workable pieces.

How You'll Support the Mission

Own the intersection of native ad format development, real-time bidding (RTB/header bidding) integration, and ad measurement on Android.
Research and apply native advertising patterns proven out by leading Android social and content apps (in-feed cards, native video units, sponsored content styled to match organic posts) to our own app surfaces.
Build and maintain measurement pipelines around ad viewability, click-through rates, and latency to support data-driven partnership decisions.
Serve as a subject matter expert on Android privacy standards (Privacy Sandbox, advertising ID policies) and modern Android capabilities, advising advertising partners on platform constraints and opportunities.
Identify, troubleshoot, and solve complex problems, including those affecting ad display latency, battery usage, and app stability across a fragmented device ecosystem.

The Skills and Experience You Bring

Design and develop advanced applications for Android platform
Collaborate with cross-functional teams to define API contracts, design and ship new features.
Design high-level mobile solutions to meet product requirements and following established development methodologies and standards.
Understand the complexities of and help integrate different third-party SDKs
Identify, troubleshoot, and solve complex problems
Participate in agile software development practices and peer/code reviews.
Unit-test code for robustness, including edge cases, usability and general reliability
Stay on top of latest technologies/ mobile trends and recommend appropriate design solutions.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, engineering or related technical field or equivalent experience.
Minimum of 2 years of experience with Android SDK required; prior experience in a similar role preferred.
Strong analytical, evaluation and problem-solving skills
Experience working with Android SDK
High level of proficiency in Java/Kotlin with an understanding of code optimization and application performance
Experience working on and releasing one or more applications to Google Playstore and/or Amazon Appstore
Experience implementing, optimizing, and maintaining mobile advertising frameworks and SDKs within native Android applications.
Experience leveraging AI tools and automated platforms (e.g., AI pair-programmers, automated testing, or code-generation assistants) to improve engineering productivity, accelerate code delivery, and optimize development workflows across the lifecycle.
Strong grasp of computer science fundamentals
Solid understanding of Version Control principles, preferably using Git and Pull Requests
Familiarity with Agile/Scrum methodologies
Knowledge of testing and quality assurance practices including unit testing and code documentation.
Excellent verbal/written communication and collaboration skills.
Ability to deliver quality solutions within established timelines.
Additional knowledge of RESTful services and other server-side principles is a plus

Collaboration makes us stronger. That’s why our offices are designed with open layouts, modern technology, and easy access to transportation. With certain exceptions for newsgathering and business travel, we work on-site five days a week.

Compensation and Benefits

Wherever you are in your life or career, The Washington Post offers comprehensive and inclusive benefits for every step of your journey:

Competitive medical, dental and vision coverage
Company-paid pension and 401(k) match
Three weeks of vacation and up to three weeks of paid sick leave
Nine paid holidays and two personal days
20 weeks paid parental leave for any new parent
Robust mental health resources
Backup care and caregiver concierge services
Gender affirming services
Pet insurance
Free Post digital subscription
Leadership and career development programs

Benefits may vary based on the job, full-time or part-time schedule, location, and collectively bargained status.

The salary range for this position is:

$98,800 - $164,600 Annual

The actual salary within this range will depend on individual skills, experience, and qualifications as they relate to specific job requirements. This position may be eligible for a bonus or incentive program, and a member of the Talent Acquisition team will discuss bonus payment terms and conditions during the interview process.