Android Systems Engineer

About Imagine Worldwide

Imagine Worldwide is a California-based nonprofit organisation working to solve the global literacy and numeracy crisis. We partner with governments, organisations, and communities across Sub-Saharan Africa to deliver child-directed, tablet-based learning solutions that are accessible, effective, and affordable. Operating in Malawi, Sierra Leone, and Tanzania, our mission is to empower every child with foundational literacy and numeracy skills. Over the next six years, we aim to serve more than 10 million children across at least four countries, delivering outcomes three times above typical national education system levels—all at less than $5 per child per year.

Role Overview

The Android Systems Engineer will design, test, and scale the tablet-based platform that underpins Imagine's educational programmes. Reporting to the Head of Technology, you will collaborate with software engineers, product managers, device manufacturers, and external technical partners to build and maintain a reliable, secure, and maintainable Android device platform across multiple hardware variants.

This is a systems engineering role with primary focus on Android firmware, bootloader/BSP work, device configuration, and long-term device maintainability. You will contribute to Android application development and diagnostics tooling where close platform integration is required. A major near-term priority involves supporting component changes in Android tablets, including MediaTek-based devices, while preserving a safe and consistent software experience for existing and future deployments.

Key Responsibilities

• Android Systems Design: Collaborate with engineers, product managers, operations teams, contract manufacturers, and Industrial Design Houses to translate device, programme, manufacturing, and support requirements into maintainable Android architectures.
• Platform Architecture: Design Android device software architectures that support multiple tablet hardware variants while preserving consistent user and operational experience.
• Hardware/Software Compatibility: Ensure seamless integration across device components, firmware versions, and hardware platforms.
• Device Configuration & Maintenance: Configure, test, and maintain Android tablets for scalable, reliable deployment in challenging educational environments.
• Firmware & Bootloader Development: Develop and optimise Android firmware and bootloader components for stability and security.
• Diagnostics & Tooling: Build diagnostics tools and systems to support device health monitoring, troubleshooting, and operational visibility across deployments.
• Stakeholder Collaboration: Work cross-functionally with product, operations, and external partners to prioritise platform improvements and resolve technical challenges.

What We're Looking For

• Strong experience with Android systems engineering, firmware development, or bootloader/BSP work.
• Proficiency in C, C++, Java, or Kotlin.
• Experience with Android Open Source Project (AOSP) customisation and device integration.
• Familiarity with hardware platforms, device tree configuration, and cross-compilation toolchains.
• Experience with embedded Linux, kernel-level debugging, or low-level device integration.
• Problem-solving mindset with ability to work in resource-constrained, high-impact environments.
• Strong communication skills and collaborative approach to cross-functional teamwork.
• Passion for education, social impact, or mission-driven work is a plus.

Why Join Imagine Worldwide

You will join a highly committed and collaborative team working directly on one of the world's most pressing challenges: educational inequality. Your work will directly impact millions of marginalised children, enabling them to access quality learning at scale. We offer the opportunity to apply deep technical expertise to meaningful, evidence-based impact.

Salary Disclosure: The employer has not published compensation for this role. This range ($120,000–$175,000 USD annually) is an editorial market estimate based on comparable Android systems engineering positions and does not represent an employer-provided figure. Actual compensation will vary based on experience, qualifications, location, and other factors.