Available to hire
I am Roy Watson, a Senior Android Developer with 16 years of Android-focused experience and a 30+ year background in low-level C/C++ systems. I approach mobile platforms from the inside out, with deep expertise in NDK performance, DSP, and embedded Linux, paired with modern Kotlin and Jetpack Compose.
I have led and shipped large-scale apps (NY Public Library, Bechtel, Goodyear, Auddia) while mentoring teams and delivering technically challenging code. I’m comfortable driving architecture and code reviews, and I’m open to both full-time and contract engagements to create high-performance Android experiences.
Experience Level
Language
English
Fluent
Javanese
Advanced
Work Experience
Contract Senior Android Developer at Auddia
January 1, 2024 - December 31, 2025Developed a very large audio processing Android library in C/C++ using the Android NDK to optimize performance and memory footprint. The library performed sophisticated DSP functions including Fourier Transforms to fingerprint and analyze incoming audio. Optimized matrix math using hardware acceleration on ARM processors with NEON instruction sets, with software fallback. Cross compiled custom FFmpeg libraries for audio data ingestion.
Contract Senior Android Developer at New York Public Library
January 1, 2022 - December 31, 2025Developed Android book reader app to replace legacy app. Utilized Jetpack Compose and opensource Readium library. Involved in unit tests, instrumented tests and automated cloud testing using Appium/Webio drivers.
Contract Android Subject Matter Expert at Davis Instruments
January 1, 2022 - December 31, 2023Provided Android subject matter expertise to client new to Android. Assisted in untangling code on embedded Android device. Provided architecture guidance and mentored developers on Kotlin, Coroutines, and Android internals.
Contract Senior Android Developer at Help-On
January 1, 2020 - December 31, 2022Ported an Android app to Android TV and Fire TV/FireOS leading a small development team. Added Kotlin code using Jetpack libraries and coroutines, integrated push notifications using FCM and AWS SNS. Managed VPNService network traffic redirection and intercepted DNS and streaming traffic. Ported PHP backend server code to Golang microservices deployed via Docker on Google Cloud.
Contract Senior Android Developer at Myia Healthcare
January 1, 2020 - December 31, 2020Designed and led development of v1.0 healthcare app in Kotlin using Jetpack libraries. The app collects biodata via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi and communicates data to cloud servers for real-time analysis and alerting. Developed Golang microservices running in AWS Docker containers.
Contract Senior Android Developer at Undisclosed Client
January 1, 2020 - December 31, 2020Cleaned up technical debt and debugged healthcare Android app involving multiple Bluetooth and Wi-Fi medical devices. Improved GraphQL/Apollo API interactions and optimized data collection.
Contract Android Exoplayer Subject Matter Expert at Undisclosed Client
January 1, 2020 - December 31, 2020Provided consultation on best practices for use of open-source Exoplayer media player for Android to a podcast startup.
Contract Lead Android Developer at Bechtel Corp
January 1, 2019 - December 31, 2020Led Android development team designing an internal project management app using Kotlin, two-way data binding, LiveData, Apollo/GraphQL, and REST. Managed cloud communications and development using modern Android technologies.
Contract Senior Android Developer at PBS’s "This American Life" Podcast
January 1, 2019 - December 31, 2020Developed and enhanced podcast player app for Android. Managed background and foreground podcast playback and coordination with Golang microservices backend supporting Android and iOS apps.
Contract Lead Android Developer at Vuzix
January 1, 2018 - December 31, 2019Developed two Android apps for an Android powered VR/HUD device interfacing with a golf swing analyzer via Bluetooth and a news aggregator for heads-up display to enable hands-free use.
Contract Lead Android Developer at Live Event Stream, Inc.
January 1, 2018 - December 31, 2019Developed and enhanced Android apps allowing car dealerships to create/edit video clips with effects and voice-overs and post to YouTube. Ported Java and Python legacy backend servers to Golang microservices containerized in Docker.
Contract Lead Web and Android Developer at INTRMODL Inc.
January 1, 2018 - December 31, 2018Developed Node.js/PostgreSQL servers for fleet management with Android devices for data telemetry; developed two Android apps for position reporting and on-yard fleet visualization and management.
Contract Senior Android Developer at IBM’s Thomas J.Watson Research Lab
January 1, 2016 - December 31, 2018Developed a machine learning system for autonomous vehicle development involving embedded Android and other devices forming wireless sensor networks using computer vision and NFC RFID for driver and vehicle identification.
Contract Senior Mobile Developer at Undisclosed Client
January 1, 2014 - December 31, 2015Prototyped an internal route salesforce system mobile front-end using Xamarin Forms/Mono in C#, supporting automated manufacturing/inventory systems.
Contract Lead Android / Backend / Embedded Developer at Goodyear Tire and Rubber, Inc.
January 1, 2014 - December 31, 2018Designed and developed client/server system managing fleet vehicle telemetry and driver behavior for localized operations using in-cab Android devices and web-based real-time monitoring with NFC/RFID and barcode identification.
Contract Lead Android Developer at ITW Global Tire Repair, Inc
January 1, 2014 - December 31, 2015Developed hardware and firmware to acquire and decode CAN-Bus data from vehicle OBD-II port and display data via HUD and mobile devices.
Contract Lead Mobile Developer at Safetrips, Inc.
January 1, 2013 - December 31, 2014Developed suite of iOS and Android apps for family security services with location tracking and real-time mapping using Xamarin/Mono in C# to share business logic.
Contract Lead Android Developer at Neya Robotics Systems, Inc
January 1, 2012 - December 31, 2014Developed Android app from 2012-2014 streaming zero latency video/audio for military application using H.264 x264 encoder, Live555, and FFmpeg libraries ported to Android NDK with JNI.
Contract Lead Mobile Developer at Books-In-Trade, Inc.
January 1, 2012 - December 31, 2014Developed Windows Mobile/Phone app for Symbol Technologies barcode readers with .NET desktop utilities for SQL Server CE; included enhancement planning for NFC/RFID.
Contract Lead Android Developer at M & S Technologies
January 1, 2012 - December 31, 2013Improved Android Tablet application controlling ophthalmological exam systems via Bluetooth with XML and proprietary protocols.
Contract Lead Mobile Developer at Cornell University
January 1, 2012 - December 31, 2014Developed prototype statistical analysis and presentation iPad app with a custom, graphics-intensive UI.
Contract Lead Mobile Developer at In-The-Loop, Inc.
January 1, 2011 - December 31, 2012Developed iOS app messaging front end for senior citizens displaying photos, videos and recording audio responses including custom controls.
Contract Lead Mobile Developer at Now-defunct Startup
January 1, 2011 - December 31, 2012Developed iOS client for locating nearest emergency healthcare facilities; further details confidential.
Contract Lead Mobile Developer at SyFy TV Network
January 1, 2011 - December 31, 2012Developed Android and iOS modules to retrieve/post viewer comments from/to network API returning XML data.
Contract Lead Android Developer at Hawaii Tourism Board
January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2011Developed Android app that fetched JSON data from RESTful service, parsed and saved to SQLite database and displayed info with filters and periodic updates.
Contract Lead Mobile Developer at Undisclosed Client
January 1, 2009 - December 31, 2014Developed mobile navigation systems for maritime and aeronautical applications on Android, Windows Mobile and iOS with complex file decoding, graphics algorithms, and sensor data integration.
Contract Senior Android Developer at Auddia, Inc
August 1, 2025 - September 11, 2025Developed a large Android audio-processing library in C/C++ using the Android NDK to optimize performance and memory footprint. Implemented DSP functions including Fourier transforms to fingerprint and analyze incoming audio, with matrix math speedups via NEON on ARM with software fallback when unavailable. Ingested audio data using a cross-compiled FFmpeg suite.
Contract Senior Android Developer at New York Public Library
June 1, 2025 - September 11, 2025Built an Android book reader app to replace a legacy app using Jetpack Compose and the Readium library; contributed to testing with unit and instrumented tests and automated cloud testing via Appium/WebDriver.
Contract Senior Android Developer at Help-On
September 1, 2022 - September 11, 2025Extended Android VPNService to a custom proxy; managed network interception and re-packaging of DNS and streaming traffic. Ported an Android app to Android TV and Fire TV; led Android team expanding a video streaming utility with Kotlin, Jetpack libraries, and coroutines; implemented push notifications on Android and FireOS via AWS SNS. Ported a legacy PHP server to Golang microservices and Dockerized them for Google Cloud.
Contract Lead Android Developer at Bechtel Corp
November 1, 2020 - September 11, 2025Led Android development for an internal project management app used by a global construction leader. Tech stack included Kotlin with two-way data binding, LiveData, and modern Jetpack components; communicates with multiple cloud servers via Apollo/GraphQL and REST; guided a team toward high-quality, scalable mobile solutions.
Contract Lead Android/Backend/Embedded Developer at Goodyear Tire and Rubber, Inc
June 1, 2018 - September 11, 2025Designed and developed a client/server fleet-management system. In-cab Android devices reported position and telemetry in real-time over cellular networks; coordinated traffic to optimize production, fuel use, and equipment wear. Admins could monitor data via a web-based map; system supported remote management and driver performance insights.
Contract Lead Android Developer at Neya Robotics Systems, Inc
April 1, 2014 - September 11, 2025Developed an Android app that streams zero-latency real-time video and audio for military applications. Encoded video using the x264 encoder; streaming via Live555; incoming video decoded with FFmpeg. Provided leadership, mentoring, and CI/DevOps practices to the team.
Contract Lead Mobile Developer at Confidential Client under US Govt contract
August 1, 2012 - September 11, 2025Mobile navigation for maritime and aeronautical applications across Android, Windows Mobile, and iOS. Involved decoding complex file formats and implementing high-performance graphics, utilizing sensor data such as GPS and compass for precise location/orientation.
Senior Android Developer at New York Public Library (Contract)
January 1, 2025 - January 1, 2025Led migration of a legacy Android book reader to a modern architecture using Jetpack Compose and Readium, implementing Compose/View interop, responsive layouts, and accessibility improvements. Built custom Compose controls, optimized memory usage, and integrated APIs with backend systems. Mentored junior developers and conducted code reviews. Implemented automated testing with Appium in cloud environments and performed performance optimizations to ensure smooth operation on diverse devices.
Contract Senior Android Developer at Auddia, Inc
January 1, 2025 - January 1, 2025Developed a large audio processing Android library in C/C++ using the NDK for DSP operations including Fourier transforms and fingerprinting. Optimized analysis with matrix math and hardware acceleration via NEON, with a cross-compiled FFmpeg pipeline for data ingestion. Collaborated with cross-functional teams to deliver performance-focused features within deadlines.
Contract C/C++ and Android Subject Matter Expert at Davis Instruments
January 1, 2023 - January 1, 2023Provided embedded Android expertise with C/C++ NDK/JNI interop for a proprietary device, guiding Kotlin integration and architectural decisions. Mentored developers, reviewed code, and ensured robust integration between Android and hardware components.
Senior Android Developer at Help-On-Contract
January 1, 2022 - January 1, 2022Extended Android VPNService to a custom network service, redirected traffic to in-house proxies, ported a legacy app to Android TV and Fire TV, and led a team to expand video streaming utilities. Implemented push notifications (AWS SNS) and helped migrate backend services to Go microservices with Dockerized deployments. Mentored juniors and contributed to security enhancements.
Lead Android Developer at Bechtel Corp
January 1, 2021 - January 1, 2021Led a team of Android developers building an internal project management app using Kotlin, two-way data binding, LiveData, and modern Android technologies. Integrated GraphQL and REST services, introduced Agile practices, conducted regular code reviews, and optimized performance to reduce crashes and improve user satisfaction.
Contract C++ Developer at IBM's Thomas J. Watson Research Lab
January 1, 2017 - January 1, 2017Enabled OpenCV-based vision prototypes for Android devices to support autonomous vehicle research. Built OpenCV-based capture and machine learning pipelines using embedded Android NDK and Linux-based platforms, enabling wireless data sharing across multiple sensors.
Lead Android/Backend/Embedded Developer at Goodyear Tire and Rubber, Inc
January 1, 2018 - January 1, 2018Designed and developed a client/server fleet management system with in-cab Android devices reporting telemetry to a central server in real time. Coordinated vehicle routing to optimize production and resource usage, built web-based monitoring, and implemented real-time data processing and diagnostics to enhance stability and efficiency.
Lead C/C++ Developer at Kassay Field Services, Inc
January 1, 2013 - January 1, 2013Maintained software for a field absorption spectroscopic device, focusing on data collection, analysis, and visualization. Enhanced performance-critical data processing and ensured reliability in field conditions.
Lead Android Developer at Neya Robotics Systems, Inc
January 1, 2014 - January 1, 2014Developed an Android app streaming real-time video and audio for military applications, encoding with H.264 (x264) and streaming via Live555. Used FFmpeg for decoding, ported legacy apps to modern Android architectures, and improved reliability and scalability of streaming solutions.
Lead Mobile Developer at Confidential Client under US Govt contract
January 1, 2012 - January 1, 2012Led mobile development for maritime/aeronautical navigation apps across Android, Windows Mobile, and iOS. Implemented sensor-based location/orientation workflows and delivered intuitive, robust mobile experiences while mentoring junior developers.
Contract C++ Developer at Century 21 and Era Real Estate Networks
January 1, 2009 - January 1, 2009Built high-performance back-end services and enhanced internal reporting for large real estate networks, leveraging C/C++, PHP on the front end, and database-backed data processing.
Lead C/C++ Developer at DocBox and Lamprey Networks
January 1, 2008 - January 1, 2008Architected protocol driver stacks for IEEE 11073 medical device communications on embedded Linux and as a portable library; implemented robust driver and middleware solutions for medical device interoperability.
Special Projects Senior Developer at Jackson National Life Insurance Company
January 1, 2007 - January 1, 2007Developed middleware between internet services and mainframe applications for document capture/storage, policy administration, and web/mainframe integration; contributed to cross-team software modernization efforts.
Contract Senior C/C++ Developer at Confidential/Undisclosed Client
January 1, 2005 - January 1, 2005Led GIS data import, organization, and export, building a reusable data processing library with a central Windows/MFC application and modular plug-ins for codecs and data formats; supported MySQL/SQL Server back-ends.
Contract Senior C/C++ Developer at Los Alamos National Lab / Sandia National Lab (ThermoFisher subcontract)
January 1, 2004 - January 1, 2004Developed radiation detection software and embedded Linux-based systems for health physics and defense applications. Implemented wireless data sharing across sensors and contributed to DSP analytics and data management workflows.
Contract C/C++ Embedded Linux Developer at Imerge UK (acquired by Prism Sound UK)
January 1, 2000 - January 1, 2000Developed remote control system for embedded Linux-based audio appliance; created drivers and control interfaces for Palm OS and Windows CE remote controls to command the device.
Contract C/C++ Palm Pilot Developer at Dartmouth College School of Medicine
January 1, 1999 - January 1, 1999NIH grant project: Palm OS patient outcome collection system for medical rounds; enabled data upload to mainframe for evaluation of outcomes and educational use.
Contract C/C++ Palm Pilot / Windows CE Developer at ScoreCard Pro, Inc
January 1, 1999 - January 1, 1999Developed electronic golf scorecard apps for Palm Pilot and Windows CE with shared business logic and backend synchronization; contributed to early cross-platform mobile apps used in professional golf contexts.
Contract C/C++ Developer at Boeing et al. under NASA/ESA
January 1, 1997 - January 1, 1997Propellant management software for launch vehicles; contributed to control system simulations and software validation for aerospace applications.
Senior Android Developer (Contract) at New York Public Library
January 1, 2022 - January 1, 2025Developed an Android book reader app to replace the legacy application, using Jetpack Compose and the Readium open-source library. Implemented Compose/View interop, custom Compose controls (Canvas, Modifiers), and responsive layouts for multiple screen sizes. Ensured accessibility compliance, and integrated APIs to enable seamless backend communication. Conducted unit, instrumented, and UI testing (Appium) in cloud environments, and optimized memory usage and performance. Collaborated with designers and backend teams to deliver scalable features and mentored junior developers.
Senior Android Developer (Contract) at Auddia, Inc
January 1, 2024 - January 1, 2025Built a large audio processing Android library in C/C++ using the NDK to optimize DSP performance and memory footprint. Implemented Fourier transforms for fingerprinting and analysis with matrix math, accelerated by NEON on ARM where available and gracefully falling back to software. Ingested audio with a custom FFmpeg suite and collaborated with cross-functional teams to ship reliable, high-performance components.
Contract C/C++ and Android Subject Matter Expert at Davis Instruments
January 1, 2022 - January 1, 2023Integrated embedded Android with proprietary hardware using AOSP. Provided C/C++ NDK/JNI expertise to align Kotlin/Java layers with low-level components, and mentored developers on interop patterns. Assisted with architectural decisions for stable, high-performance Android deployments on embedded devices.
Lead Android Developer (Contract) at Bechtel Corp
January 1, 2018 - January 1, 2021Led Android development for an internal project management app for a global construction company. Wrote Kotlin with two-way data binding and LiveData, using Apollo/GraphQL and REST for backend communication. Introduced Agile practices, mentored developers, and streamlined the codebase to significantly improve performance and reduce crashes.
Contract C++ Developer at IBM's Thomas J. Watson Research Lab
January 1, 2016 - January 1, 2017Enabled OpenCV vision on Android devices and developed a vision capture and machine learning system using embedded Android NDK. Built a wireless sensor data sharing pipeline and integrated computer vision across multiple sensors for autonomous-like prototypes.
Contract Lead Android/Backend/Embedded Developer at Goodyear Tire and Rubber, Inc
January 1, 2014 - January 1, 2018Designed a client/server fleet management system using in-cab Android devices for real-time telemetry and map-based dashboards. Implemented real-time data processing algorithms, optimized performance, and improved system stability while coordinating deployments and training.
Contract Lead C/C++ Developer at Kassay Field Services, Inc
January 1, 2010 - January 1, 2013Developed data collection, analysis, and visualization software for a field absorption spectroscopic device. Built robust data pipelines for environmental, homeland security, and defense-oriented applications using C/C++.
Contract Lead Mobile Developer at Confidential Client under US Govt contract
January 1, 2009 - January 1, 2012Mobile navigation for maritime and aeronautical applications across Android, Windows Mobile and iOS. Used GPS and compass data for location/orientation, mentored junior developers, and delivered intuitive mobile solutions.
Contract C++ Developer at Century 21 and Era Real Estate Networks
January 1, 2008 - January 1, 2009C/C++ back-end and middleware development for large real estate networks, with enhancements to internal reporting and data flows.
Contract Lead C/C++ Developer at DocBox and Lamprey Networks
January 1, 2007 - January 1, 2008Developed protocol driver stacks for medical device communications (IEEE 11073) in embedded Linux, and as a universal library.
Contract Special Projects Senior Developer at Jackson National Life Insurance Company
January 1, 2005 - January 1, 2007Middleware development between internet and mainframe applications, including document capture/storage and policy administration interfaces.
Contract Senior C/C++ Developer at Confidential/Undisclosed Client
January 1, 2004 - January 1, 2005Developed a library to import, organize, correlate, and export massive GIS data from diverse sources with high-performance back-end processing.
Contract Senior C/C++ Developer at Los Alamos National Lab / Sandia National Lab (ThermoFisher subcontract)
January 1, 2000 - January 1, 2004Developed radiation detection software and embedded analytics for health physics research, including wireless data transfer and neural/FFT-based analytics on embedded platforms.
Contract C/C++ Embedded/Linux and Mobile Developer at Imerge UK
January 1, 1999 - January 1, 2000Developed remote-control framework Linux drivers for an embedded audio appliance; created Palm OS and Windows CE remote controls.
Contract C/C++ Palm Pilot (Palm OS) Developer at Dartmouth College School of Medicine
January 1, 1999 - January 1, 1999NIH-funded Palm Pilot data collection system for patient outcomes; uploaded data to central systems for evaluation.
Systems Developer at NASA / Boeing
January 1, 1994 - January 1, 1997Member of the Delta III/IV launch vehicle propellant management team; developed sensor-fusion control systems and simulation software.
Cross-Platform Mobile Developer at ScoreCard Pro
January 1, 1997 - January 1, 1999Early cross-platform mobile development on Palm OS and Windows CE in C/C++; backend services for automated sports scoring.
Linux Driver / Embedded Software Engineer at Imerge UK / Prism Sound
January 1, 1999 - January 1, 2000Linux drivers and Palm OS / Windows CE remote controls for audio hardware.
Embedded Systems / Nuclear Lab Software at ThermoFisher / Los Alamos & Sandia National Labs
January 1, 2000 - January 1, 2004Built radiation-detection embedded systems; FFT-based spectroscopic isotope discrimination; ported software to embedded Linux.
C++ / Embedded Software Engineer at Kassay Field Services
January 1, 2010 - January 1, 2013C/C++ data acquisition, analysis, and visualization for field spectrograph; robust field deployment.
IEEE 11073 Protocol Driver Architect at DocBox / Lamprey Networks
January 1, 2007 - January 1, 2008Architected IEEE 11073 medical device protocol driver stacks on embedded Linux.
Backend & Real-Time Systems Engineer at Century 21 / ERA Real Estate Networks
January 1, 2008 - January 1, 2009High-performance, high-availability C/C++ backend and network services for global real estate networks.
Lead Android Engineer at Bechtel Corp
January 1, 2018 - January 1, 2021Led Android development for an internal project management app; Kotlin, LiveData, Apollo/GraphQL; introduced Agile practices to reduce time-to-market and debt.
Lead Android / Backend / Embedded Developer at Goodyear Tire & Rubber
January 1, 2014 - January 1, 2018Designed a full client/server fleet management system: Android in-cab devices with real-time telemetry to a backend; web dashboard for admins.
Lead Android Developer at Neya Robotics Systems
January 1, 2012 - January 1, 2014Zero-latency real-time streaming Android app; H.264 encoding via x264; Live555 streaming; ported to Android NDK.
Mobile Navigation Developer at Confidential (US Government)
January 1, 2009 - January 1, 2012Mobile nautical/aeronautical navigation systems for Android; decoded proprietary chart formats; GPS and orientation for multi-platform delivery.
OpenCV Prototyper / Android Vision at IBM Thomas J. Watson Research Lab
January 1, 2016 - January 1, 2017Enabled OpenCV computer vision on Android for autonomous vehicle navigation; wireless sensor network for multi-device data sharing on embedded Android NDK.
Senior Android Developer at Auddia, Inc.
January 1, 2024 - January 1, 2025Designed and built large-scale C/C++ audio processing library via Android NDK; DSP, Fourier fingerprinting; NEON-accelerated matrix math; cross-compiled FFmpeg.
Senior Android Developer at New York Public Library
January 1, 2022 - January 1, 2025Built a full Compose-based Android book reader; Readium integration; custom Canvas controls; accessibility; automated UI testing with Appium/BrowserStack.
Contract Senior Android Subject Matter Expert at Davis Instruments
January 1, 2022 - January 1, 2023NDK/JNI subject matter expert; untangled existing codebase; mentored developers; integrated embedded Android with proprietary hardware.
Education
Physics Major at Purdue University
January 1, 0000 - January 1, 0000Bachelor's degree in Physics and Mathematics at Purdue University
January 11, 2030 - September 11, 2025Bachelor's degree in Physics and Mathematics at Purdue University
January 11, 2030 - November 17, 2025B.S. in Physics and Mathematics at Purdue University
January 11, 2030 - December 9, 2025 at Purdue University
January 11, 2030 - May 15, 2026Qualifications
Member of Mensa
January 11, 2030 - July 1, 2025FCC Licensed Amateur Radio Operator
January 11, 2030 - July 1, 2025Member of Mensa
January 11, 2030 - July 1, 2025FCC Licensed Amateur Radio Operator
January 11, 2030 - July 1, 2025Mensa International member
January 11, 2030 - May 15, 2026IQ Top 2% Recognition
January 11, 2030 - May 15, 2026Industry Experience
Software & Internet, Computers & Electronics, Media & Entertainment, Healthcare, Transportation & Logistics, Government, Manufacturing, Consumer Goods, Professional Services, Education
Experience Level
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