Product Engineer, Mobile & UX

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Engineer, Mobile & UX

Company: Pontosense

Location: Toronto or Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Product Engineering / Mobile Development / UX/UI Design

Date Posted: 2026-11-04

Experience Level: Mid-Level (3-5 years)

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• This hybrid role focuses on building and enhancing iOS and Android applications using React Native and TypeScript, with a strong emphasis on user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) design.

• The Product Engineer will collaborate closely with product management to translate complex technology, including radar sensing and AI, into intuitive and polished mobile experiences.

• A key aspect of the role involves leveraging AI tools daily for scaffolding, refactoring, testing, and prototyping to accelerate development cycles and enhance product innovation.

• Candidates will be responsible for ensuring the quality, performance, and accessibility of the mobile applications, contributing to a product that provides peace of mind to families.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title includes "Product Engineer," the core responsibilities and required skills heavily lean into mobile development (React Native, native platforms) and UX/UI design, with a significant AI-assisted development component. This is not a traditional backend or pure product management role but a hybrid engineering position with a strong design and user-centric focus. The "Product" aspect implies involvement in the entire lifecycle from idea to shipped feature, influencing design and user flow.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Develop, test, and deploy high-quality features for both iOS and Android platforms using React Native and TypeScript, ensuring a seamless user experience.

• Collaborate directly with the Senior Product Manager and engineering team to conceptualize, design, and implement intuitive mobile user interfaces and interactions.

• Actively contribute to UX/UI discussions, translating Figma designs into pixel-perfect, responsive, and accessible mobile components.

• Integrate and utilize AI development tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Claude Code, Cursor) daily to enhance productivity in coding, refactoring, testing, and rapid prototyping.

• Optimize application performance, reliability, and overall user experience, focusing on areas such as speed, responsiveness, and resource management.

• Implement robust automated testing strategies, including unit, integration, and end-to-end testing, to ensure application stability and quality.

• Manage connected, real-time data flows, including REST/GraphQL APIs and WebSocket/MQTT integrations, with a strong emphasis on secure handling of sensitive personal data.

• Ensure applications adhere to accessibility standards, supporting features like dynamic type, screen readers, and sufficient color contrast for users of all ages.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a hands-on engineering role with significant influence on the user-facing aspects of the product. The emphasis on AI tools is not just a preference but an integrated part of the daily workflow, suggesting a forward-thinking development environment. The "building role" aspect implies a focus on tangible output and innovation.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is listed, a strong foundation in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field is implied by the technical requirements. Candidates demonstrating equivalent practical experience and a robust portfolio will be highly considered.

Experience: Approximately 3 to 5 years of professional software development experience, with a proven track record of shipping production-ready React Native applications to the App Store and Google Play.

Required Skills:

• React Native & TypeScript Mastery: Deep understanding of modern React (hooks, state management, data fetching), robust TypeScript proficiency, and familiarity with Expo or bare workflows, including experience with the New Architecture.

• Native Mobile Development: Competence in Xcode and Android Studio, including debugging native builds, integrating native modules, and managing platform-specific features like push notifications and background processes.

• UI/UX Craftsmanship: Ability to create polished, responsive, and animated interfaces (e.g., using Reanimated) that are accessible by default (dynamic type, screen readers, contrast).

• Design Collaboration: Proficiency in interpreting and critiquing Figma designs, translating them into accurate code, and proposing interaction enhancements.

• AI-Assisted Development: Daily hands-on experience with AI coding assistants (e.g., Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, ChatGPT) for code generation, refactoring, testing, and prototyping, coupled with the critical judgment to review and refine AI output.

• Quality Assurance & CI/CD: Experience with automated testing frameworks (Jest, React Native Testing Library, Detox, Maestro) and CI/CD pipelines (EAS, Fastlane, GitHub Actions). Familiarity with performance and crash monitoring tools (Sentry, Crashlytics).

• API & Real-time Data Handling: Experience with REST or GraphQL APIs, real-time communication (WebSocket, MQTT), authentication, offline states, and secure data management.

Preferred Skills:

• Device Connectivity: Experience with Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), Wi-Fi provisioning, or other IoT onboarding and pairing flows.

• Broader Native/Cross-Platform Skills: Proficiency in Swift or Kotlin, or experience with Flutter.

• Product & Design Acumen: Ownership of design systems, experience with analytics and experimentation platforms (feature flags, A/B tests), or user research and usability testing.

• AI in Product Features: Experience building consumer-facing applications with LLM-powered or on-device AI features.

• Domain Knowledge: Familiarity with HealthTech, eldercare, smart-home technologies, or privacy-sensitive consumer products (awareness of PIPEDA or HIPAA).

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Must have" section is exceptionally detailed, indicating a high bar for technical proficiency in React Native, native development, and AI integration. The emphasis on UI craft and accessibility suggests a user-centric approach to development. Preferred skills provide clear pathways for candidates with specialized experience to stand out.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Shipped Production Applications: Evidence of successfully launched iOS and Android applications on the App Store and Google Play Store.

• Code Contributions: Links to GitHub repositories or specific project contributions showcasing React Native, TypeScript, and potentially native code.

• AI Integration Examples: Demonstrations or explanations of how AI tools were utilized in the development process for specific features or projects, highlighting efficiency gains or novel solutions.

• Design Implementation: Examples of translating Figma designs into functional, pixel-accurate mobile interfaces, demonstrating UI/UX fidelity and responsiveness.

• Problem-Solving Case Studies: Clear articulation of a complex technical or UX challenge encountered, the approach taken (including AI assistance), and the resulting solution and impact.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design: Ability to document and communicate mobile development workflows, including CI/CD pipelines, testing strategies, and release processes.

• AI Integration Strategy: Articulate how AI tools are incorporated into the development lifecycle for maximum impact, including best practices for prompt engineering and output verification.

• Performance & Accessibility Audits: Documentation of processes for monitoring app performance, identifying bottlenecks, and ensuring adherence to accessibility standards.

📝 Enhancement Note: The application instructions explicitly state "Show us what you've built. A resume alone isn't enough," making a strong portfolio and demonstrable project work critical. The emphasis is on tangible output and personal contribution, especially regarding AI usage and problem-solving.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Given the mid-level experience (3-5 years), hybrid work arrangement in Toronto/Waterloo, and the technical demands, a competitive salary range is expected. For a Product Engineer with this profile in Toronto, Ontario, the estimated annual salary range would typically fall between CAD $85,000 - $120,000.

Benefits:

• Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance: Comprehensive coverage to support employee well-being.

• Equity Opportunity: Potential for stock options, allowing employees to share in the company's growth and success.

• Product Discount: Employees receive a "sensor for your parents" as a benefit, allowing them to experience the product firsthand.

• Professional Development: Opportunities to work with emerging AI tools and modern development workflows, fostering continuous learning.

• Hybrid Work Model: Flexibility with a hybrid arrangement in Toronto or Waterloo, balancing in-office collaboration with remote work.

Working Hours: The role specifies approximately 40 hours per week, common for full-time engineering positions. The hybrid model allows for some flexibility in scheduling, although specific team collaboration needs will dictate in-office days.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary estimation is based on industry benchmarks for mid-level mobile engineers in the Toronto/Waterloo tech corridor, factoring in the specific skills (React Native, AI, UX/UI) and the company's stage. Benefits listed are typical for tech startups offering competitive packages, with equity being a significant draw for early-stage companies.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology (specifically HealthTech/Seniors' Care Technology, leveraging AI and IoT). Pontosense operates at the intersection of hardware (radar sensing) and software (mobile applications, AI), aiming to improve the lives of older adults.

Company Size: Pontosense is a growing startup, likely in the small to medium-sized enterprise (SME) bracket (estimated 50-200 employees based on typical startup growth trajectories). This size offers a dynamic environment with significant opportunities for impact.

Founded: Founded in 2018, Pontosense has established its technology and is now scaling its consumer product, Silvie. This indicates a company that has moved past the initial ideation phase and is focused on product-market fit and growth.

Team Structure:

• The Product Engineer reports to the COO, indicating a direct line to senior leadership and a potentially flatter organizational structure.

• The role involves close collaboration with the Senior Product Manager and the broader engineering team, suggesting a cross-functional, agile team environment.

• The company emphasizes direct access to leadership ("No layers"), fostering open communication and faster decision-making. Methodology:

• AI-First Development: AI tools are integral to the daily workflow, not just an occasional resource. This implies a culture of experimentation and continuous learning around AI applications in software development.

• User-Centric Design: A strong focus on turning complex technology into simple, intuitive experiences that provide "relief" rather than selling "fear." This means user needs and experience are paramount.

• Agile & Iterative: The "Build it right, then make it better" mantra suggests an iterative development process focused on rapid prototyping, shipping, and continuous improvement based on feedback and data.

• Hands-on & Experimental: The company values curiosity, experimentation, and a willingness to challenge assumptions, fostering an environment where engineers can bring their ideas forward.

Company Website: https://pontosense.bamboohr.com/careers

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture is characterized by innovation, user focus, and a pragmatic approach to development, leveraging cutting-edge AI. The startup environment means high impact potential and direct exposure to leadership, which is a significant draw for ambitious engineers. The "two users, different needs" aspect highlights a nuanced approach to product design.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a mid-level Product Engineer. It offers significant opportunities to grow beyond a traditional mobile developer role by influencing UX/UI decisions, contributing to product strategy, and deeply engaging with AI-assisted development. It's a "building role" where hands-on contribution and innovation are highly valued.

Reporting Structure: Reporting directly to the COO, the engineer has high visibility and direct access to senior leadership. This structure facilitates faster feedback loops and greater influence on product direction compared to more hierarchical organizations.

Operations Impact: The Product Engineer's work directly impacts the core consumer product, Silvie, which is central to Pontosense's mission. The success of the mobile app is critical for user adoption, customer satisfaction, and the company's overall growth and market penetration in the HealthTech sector. The role has a direct line to improving the safety and well-being of end-users.

Growth Opportunities:

• Deepening AI Expertise: Continuous learning and application of emerging AI tools in software development, potentially leading to specialization in AI-driven product features.

• UX/UI Influence: Growing influence on product design, user flows, and interaction patterns, potentially leading to senior UX Engineer or Product Design roles.

• Technical Leadership: As the company scales, opportunities may arise to lead specific feature development, mentor junior engineers, or take on more architectural responsibilities within the mobile team.

• Cross-Functional Exposure: Working closely with product management, hardware teams, and leadership provides broad exposure to business strategy and product lifecycle management.

• Domain Specialization: Developing expertise in HealthTech, eldercare, and privacy-sensitive consumer products.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a blend of deep technical development, user experience focus, and strategic product involvement, providing a rich environment for mid-level engineers looking to expand their skill set beyond pure coding. The direct reporting line and startup environment amplify growth potential.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid model, with employees expected to work from the Toronto or Waterloo office on certain days. This suggests a blend of collaborative in-office work and flexible remote work. The company culture values collaboration and fast learning, which are often enhanced by in-person interaction.

Office Location(s): Toronto and Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. These are significant tech hubs, offering access to talent and a vibrant ecosystem. The hybrid nature means employees can choose their primary location within these regions.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The hybrid setup and emphasis on collaboration imply an office space designed to foster teamwork, brainstorming, and direct interaction with colleagues and leadership.

• Technology Access: As a tech company, expect access to modern development tools, hardware (including their own sensors), and potentially advanced AI development resources.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities to engage directly with product managers, fellow engineers, and potentially leadership to discuss ideas, review work, and solve problems collectively.

Work Schedule: The role is full-time, typically around 40 hours per week. The hybrid nature allows for some flexibility in daily scheduling, but core collaboration hours and team syncs will likely be established. The company culture emphasizes "real impact" and "building," suggesting a focus on productive work rather than strict adherence to hours.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid environment in established Canadian tech hubs provides a balance of flexibility and in-person collaboration. The company's focus on innovation and direct leadership access suggests a dynamic and engaging workspace.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

1. Initial Screening: A review of your resume and, crucially, your portfolio (app links, GitHub, demos, personal contributions). Applications without demonstrated work will not proceed.

2. Technical & AI Discussion: Likely involves discussions about your React Native experience, native mobile development capabilities, and specifically your hands-on experience and philosophy regarding AI-assisted development. Expect questions about how you integrate AI, review its output, and its impact on your workflow.

3. UX/UI & Product Sense Assessment: You may be asked to critique designs, discuss user experience challenges, or walk through how you'd approach turning a product idea into a functional feature, emphasizing simplicity and user relief. Figma proficiency will be assessed.

4. Portfolio Deep Dive: A detailed walkthrough of your submitted projects. Be prepared to explain your specific contributions, technical decisions, challenges faced, and how you applied AI tools.

5. Behavioral & Cultural Fit: Questions assessing curiosity, proactivity, constructive challenge, and a focus on solving real user problems. Understanding Pontosense's mission (seniors' safety and independence) will be key.

6. Final Round: Potentially with the COO or other senior leaders, focusing on overall fit, vision, and potential impact.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Highlight AI Usage: Clearly articulate how you used AI tools (ChatGPT, Claude Code, Cursor, etc.) in your projects. Provide specific examples of prompts, code generated, how you refined it, and the benefits realized (speed, quality, new ideas). This is a major differentiator for Pontosense.

• Quantify Impact: For each project, describe what you personally built. Use metrics where possible (e.g., performance improvements, feature adoption, user feedback).

• Showcase UI/UX Craft: Ensure your app examples demonstrate polished, responsive, and accessible interfaces. Be ready to discuss design decisions and how you translated Figma mockups into code.

• Demonstrate Problem-Solving: Select projects that highlight your ability to tackle complex technical challenges or user experience issues. Explain your thought process and the solutions you implemented.

• Live Links & Demos: Prioritize live app store links or functional demos. If sharing GitHub, ensure repositories are clean, well-documented, and showcase relevant skills.

Challenge Preparation:

• AI Prompting & Review: Practice generating code snippets, refactoring, and writing tests using AI tools. Be ready to discuss the limitations and ethical considerations of AI in development.

• React Native Performance: Brush up on performance optimization techniques for React Native, especially regarding rendering, state management, and native module integration.

• Accessibility Best Practices: Review WCAG guidelines and how to implement accessibility features in mobile apps (e.g., VoiceOver, TalkBack support).

• Figma to Code: Be prepared to discuss or even demonstrate how you would implement a given Figma design in React Native.

📝 Enhancement Note: The application process is heavily portfolio-driven, with a specific emphasis on AI tool usage. Candidates must be prepared to "show, not just tell," providing concrete examples of their work and how they leverage modern development techniques.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• React Native: The core framework for cross-platform mobile development. Proficiency with modern React features (hooks, context API) is essential.

• TypeScript: For type safety and enhanced code quality in JavaScript development.

• Expo / Bare Workflow: Familiarity with both managed (Expo) and custom (bare) React Native workflows.

• AI Development Assistants: Daily use of tools like ChatGPT, Claude Code, Codex, and Cursor for code generation, debugging, refactoring, and prototyping.

• Figma: For UI/UX design collaboration, prototyping, and translating designs into code.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Crash & Performance Monitoring: Tools such as Sentry or Firebase Crashlytics for tracking application stability and performance issues.

• Analytics Platforms (Implied): While not explicitly listed, experience with mobile analytics tools (e.g., Amplitude, Mixpanel, Firebase Analytics) for tracking user behavior and feature adoption would be beneficial, especially for product-focused roles.

CRM & Automation:

• CI/CD & Release Tooling: Platforms like EAS (Expo Application Services), Fastlane, and GitHub Actions for automating builds, testing, and deployments.

• Version Control: Git, with GitHub being the likely platform given the mention of GitHub Actions.

• API Technologies: Experience with RESTful APIs and GraphQL for data fetching, and potentially WebSocket or MQTT for real-time data synchronization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The technology stack is modern and focused on efficient, cross-platform development, heavily integrating AI. Proficiency in these tools, particularly the AI assistants, is a critical requirement and differentiator.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Impact & Purpose: A strong drive to build products that have a tangible positive impact on users' lives, specifically enhancing safety and independence for older adults.

• Curiosity & Experimentation: A culture that encourages asking "why," exploring new technologies (especially AI), and being willing to try new approaches.

• User-Centricity: Prioritizing the user experience, aiming for simplicity and relief, and understanding the unique needs of different user groups (families vs. older adults).

• Collaboration & Direct Communication: Valuing teamwork, open feedback, and direct interaction with leadership, fostering an environment with "no layers."

• Quality & Craftsmanship: A commitment to building well-crafted, reliable, and polished software, evident in the focus on UI/UX, performance, and accessibility.

• Efficiency & Innovation: Embracing AI and modern workflows to build smarter and faster, pushing the boundaries of what's possible.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Close working relationships between product engineers, product managers, and potentially hardware teams to ensure seamless integration of software and hardware.

• Agile & Iterative: A development approach that involves rapid iteration, continuous feedback, and a "build it right, then make it better" mentality.

• Open Dialogue: Encouraging constructive challenge of ideas and open communication to drive innovation and problem-solving.

• Knowledge Sharing: Implicitly, a culture where team members share learnings, especially around new technologies like AI, to elevate the collective skill set.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture at Pontosense is a blend of a mission-driven startup focused on a meaningful problem (seniors' well-being) with a forward-looking, tech-savvy approach that embraces AI and modern development practices. Collaboration is key, with direct access to leadership reinforcing transparency and agility.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing User Needs: Designing and building experiences that are intuitive and reassuring for families while respecting the privacy and independence of older adults.

• Hardware-Software Integration: Effectively integrating sophisticated radar sensing hardware with a user-friendly mobile application, requiring understanding of both domains.

• AI Integration Maturity: While AI tools are embraced, ensuring their reliable and ethical application in a sensitive domain like eldercare requires careful judgment and validation.

• Scalability & Reliability: Building a robust and scalable mobile platform that families can depend on for critical safety information.

• Startup Environment Dynamics: Navigating the fast-paced, often ambiguous nature of a growing startup, requiring adaptability and proactive problem-solving.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Cutting-Edge AI Application: Gaining hands-on experience with a wide array of AI development tools and potentially contributing to AI-powered features within the product itself.

• Deep UX/UI Craftsmanship: Honing skills in creating highly polished, accessible, and intuitive user interfaces for a diverse user base.

• HealthTech Domain Expertise: Developing specialized knowledge in the HealthTech sector, particularly concerning seniors' care, privacy regulations (PIPEDA/HIPAA awareness), and IoT device integration.

• Product Strategy Involvement: Contributing to product roadmap decisions, feature prioritization, and the overall user experience strategy, offering a path towards product ownership.

• Exposure to Leadership: Direct interaction with the COO and Senior Product Manager provides invaluable insights into business strategy and startup growth.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are directly tied to the innovative nature of Pontosense's product and its mission. Growth opportunities are significant, offering a chance to become a well-rounded engineer with expertise in AI, UX, and a specialized industry domain.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How has AI changed the way you build software? What worked, and what didn't?" - Be ready to discuss specific tools (ChatGPT, Claude Code, Cursor), your workflow, how you vet AI output, and any limitations or unexpected outcomes. Prepare concrete examples.

• "Describe a complex mobile feature you built. What was your specific contribution, and how did you ensure quality and user experience?" - Focus on your role, the technical challenges, how you collaborated, and the final outcome.

• "How would you approach turning this Figma design [provide a hypothetical or actual design] into a polished, accessible React Native component?" - Prepare to discuss implementation details, state management, animation, and accessibility considerations.

• "Imagine we want to add a feature that alerts families if a senior hasn't moved for an extended period. How would you approach designing and implementing this, considering privacy and reliability?" - This tests product sense, technical feasibility, and user empathy. Company & Culture Questions:

• "Why Pontosense? What about our mission resonates with you?" - Research the company's mission around seniors' safety and independence. Connect it to your personal values or career aspirations.

• "How do you stay current with new AI development tools and techniques?" - Demonstrate a proactive learning mindset.

• "Describe a time you constructively challenged an idea or assumption within your team." - Highlight your ability to contribute positively to team dynamics and product direction.

• "How do you balance building features quickly with ensuring high quality and accessibility?" - Show your understanding of trade-offs and your commitment to robust development practices. Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Storytelling: For each project, frame it as a story: the problem, your role/contribution, the solution (highlighting AI usage and technical details), and the impact/outcome.

• Quantify Everything Possible: Use numbers to demonstrate success (e.g., "Reduced build times by X% using AI," "Improved load speed by Y ms," "Implemented Z accessibility features").

• Focus on Your Specific Contributions: Clearly articulate what you did, especially if it was a team project. Use "I" statements for your direct actions.

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Have live demos or app store links readily accessible. Be prepared to navigate through your projects and point out specific features or code snippets.

• AI Integration Narrative: Dedicate specific time to explaining your AI workflow. Show examples of prompts, generated code, and your refinement process. This is a key differentiator for Pontosense.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is designed to assess not just technical skills but also a candidate's ability to integrate AI effectively, their product sense, and their alignment with Pontosense's mission and values. A strong, well-presented portfolio is non-negotiable.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Product Engineer position:

• Submit your resume through the Pontosense careers portal.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 1-2 of your strongest projects that best showcase your React Native, TypeScript, UI/UX, and especially your AI-assisted development skills. Ensure you have live app store links, GitHub repositories, or functional demos readily available.

• Craft Your "Show Notes": For each portfolio piece, prepare a concise description detailing your specific contributions, the technologies used, and a brief explanation of how you leveraged AI tools in that project.

• Address the AI Prompt: Write a thoughtful, concise note (a few lines) answering: "How has AI changed the way you build software? What worked, and what didn't?" Be specific and honest.

• Tailor Your Resume: Ensure your resume highlights keywords from the job description, such as React Native, TypeScript, AI tools, UX/UI, accessibility, and CI/CD, and quantifies your achievements where possible.

• Research Pontosense: Understand the company's mission, product (Silvie), and the impact they aim to make in seniors' care. Be prepared to articulate why you're excited about this specific role and company.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.