a16z Speedrun Founding iOS Engineer
Summary
Build and polish Sekai’s iOS app using Swift and modern iOS practices, while integrating AI tools to accelerate development and rethink mobile workflows.
Role Description
We are looking for a Senior iOS Engineer to own Sekai’s iOS app and help us build a fast, polished, AI-native consumer experience. This role is for someone with strong iOS experience, good consumer product taste, and the ability to move quickly in a startup environment. You should keep up with the latest Apple platform updates, understand what great mobile apps feel like, and be excited to use AI to rethink how fast a small team can build.
You will work closely with Product, Design, Backend, and Mobile engineers to improve the iOS app experience, ship new features, and help define our AI-native mobile development workflow.
Responsibilities
- Own and improve Sekai’s iOS app experience, quality, and release velocity
- Build and ship consumer-facing iOS features with strong attention to speed, polish, and reliability
- Bring modern iOS best practices and the latest Apple platform knowledge to the team
- Work across native iOS, hybrid mobile, and web-based app experiences when needed
- Partner closely with Product, Design, Backend, and Mobile engineers to move from idea to shipped product quickly
- Use AI development tools to accelerate coding, debugging, refactoring, and product iteration
Qualifications
- Strong professional experience building and shipping iOS apps
- Deep familiarity with Swift, iOS SDK, and modern iOS development practices
- Experience working on consumer mobile apps with high standards for UX, performance, and reliability
- Experience owning projects end-to-end in a startup, 0-to-1 product environment, or similarly fast-moving team
- AI-native mindset: you actively use AI tools to build faster, explore better implementation paths, and improve engineering productivity
- Strong product sense and willingness to work closely with design and product teams
Nice to Have
- Experience with social, entertainment, creator, gaming, UGC, or feed-based consumer products
- Experience with React Native, Flutter, WebView, or other hybrid mobile architecture
- Familiarity with Android, backend systems, or full-stack product development
- Experience working on AI-native products or teams that heavily use AI in day-to-day development
Benefits
- Work with an AI-native team
- Move fast and own meaningful problems
- Flexibility to explore new ideas from an early stage