Director, Application Development, IOS

JOB SUMMARY:

Lead and oversee day-to-day iOS application development projects and engineering while driving continuous improvement in process definition and compliance. Directly manages software engineers, vendor partners, and external contributors. Delivers on commitments to discipline partners and collaborates with architects and global teams on major digital initiatives across mobile channels. Functions as the technical decision-maker and primary problem solver to deliver projects on time and on budget. Promotes project quality and manages the iOS development team to ensure high satisfaction across technology teams and business partners by enforcing standard application development tools and processes. Manages continuous improvement programs to enhance quality, consistency, and stakeholder satisfaction. Collaborate with Global Teams including Digital, Engineering, Architecture, Infrastructure, and Security for Technology Modernization and Platform Sustainability. Work with Distributed Teams to drive Operational Readiness, Release Management, and Cutover Planning for Product Releases. Partner with Global and Local teams to establish necessary building blocks and support Digital & Technology

CANDIDATE PROFILE

Education and Experience

Required:

10+ years of iOS APP development and leadership experience that includes:

Demonstrated success leading medium- to large-scale mobile APP initiatives and Digital transformations

Proven track record of successfully launching and maintaining consumer or enterprise applications and prior experience in building Enterprise-grade mobile Products & Solutions

Proven management experience in iOS APP development with Agile methodologies

Solid management and experience of multiple iOS development efforts integrating with various back-end systems and APIs

Deep expertise in the iOS SDK, UIKit, SwiftUI, and modern concurrency patterns

Strong architectural sensibilities (MVVM, VIPER, Clean Architecture) with a focus on testable, modular code

Strong Experience with GraphQL and modern API integrations

Proven track record of successfully launching and maintaining consumer or enterprise applications on the Apple App Store

Strong verbal and written communication skills with the ability to articulate complex technical ideas in easy-to-understand business terms

Ability to accomplish results through others, particularly by establishing relationships, effective controls, and leading in a managed service environment

Experience working in a Product-based model, building strong partnerships with Product owners by providing innovative technology solutions to complex business problems

Ability to communicate complex technology solutions to both Product owners in a business-friendly manner and to Enterprise Architects in technical detail

Influence mobile technology strategy by providing strategic advice and acting as a trusted advisor to discipline partners

Proven experience collaborating with global teams, including managing handoffs, aligning priorities across time zones, and fostering inclusive communication across diverse cultural backgrounds

Strong process management, negotiating, influencing, and problem resolution skills

Proven ability to effectively prioritize and execute tasks in a high-pressure environment with rapid release cycles

Direct management of complex budgets and resource allocation

Direct management of cross-functional, sourced, or matrixed teams including members across different geographic regions

Undergraduate degree or equivalent education and experience

Preferred:

Experience with mobile-focused Automation, CI/CD, Release Management processes and APP Store Deployments.

Familiarity with integrating AI/ML services and APIs into mobile applications

Understanding of on-device AI capabilities and trade-offs between on-device processing versus cloud-based inference for performance, privacy, and user experience

Knowledge of emerging trends in generative AI and their potential applications within mobile user experiences

Rich experience in managing and working with diverse geographical Global teams.

Knowledge of business environment, service requirements and hospitality culture

Understanding of IT financial structures and ability to manage to corporate financial processes and standards - including drivers of process costs.

CORE WORK ACTIVITIES

APP Development & Delivery

Oversee day-to-day iOS APP development activities, ensuring development activities are delivered on time, within budget, and according to specifications

Establish and enforce standard tools and processes for Agile development, including estimating frameworks that accommodate features of varying complexity

Drive adoption of code quality standards, testing frameworks, and peer review processes to maintain high engineering excellence

Manage deployment processes for TestFlight and APP Store releases, ensuring compliance with Apple’s policies and smooth production rollouts

Monitor project progress, identify risks and bottlenecks, and implement mitigation strategies to keep delivery on track

Track and report on key delivery metrics including velocity, sprint completion rates, and release cadence

Solution Design & Architecture

Partner with Enterprise Architects to define and evolve the technical roadmap for iOS platforms, ensuring alignment with broader technology strategy

Lead architectural reviews and guide the team in making sound technical decisions that balance speed of delivery with long-term maintainability

Drive adoption of modern iOS architectural patterns (MVVM, VIPER, Clean Architecture) and best practices for modular, testable code

Evaluate and recommend new technologies, frameworks, and tools that can improve development efficiency or user experience

Ensure solutions are designed with performance, security, and scalability in mind, optimizing for memory usage and battery life of iOS devices

Conduct proof-of-concept initiatives to validate technical approaches for complex business requirements

Coordination & Communication

Collaborate with Product owners to translate business requirements into technical specifications and realistic delivery timelines

Partner with Global Teams including Digital, Engineering, Architecture, Infrastructure, and Security to ensure alignment on Technology Modernization and Platform Sustainability initiatives

Work with Distributed Teams to drive Operational Readiness, Release Management, and Cutover Planning for Product Releases across different geographic regions

Communicate project status, technical health, and resource needs to senior leadership and business partners in clear, business-friendly language

Participate in global Communities of Practice to share knowledge, drive consistency, and promote engineering excellence across worldwide development centers

Foster a culture of transparency and collaboration between local and remote team members, ensuring inclusive communication across diverse cultural backgrounds

Team Building & Coaching

Recruit, hire, and retain top iOS engineering talent to build a high-performing, diverse, and inclusive team

Conduct regular 1:1 meetings with team members to provide coaching, feedback, and career development guidance

Create individualized growth plans that align engineer aspirations with business needs, identifying stretch opportunities and training resources

Foster an inclusive team environment and a culture of continuous learning, and knowledge sharing within the Android team

Mentor engineers at all levels, helping them navigate technical challenges and career progression

Facilitate team-building activities and initiatives that strengthen collaboration, trust, and morale across the organization

Identify skill gaps within the team and develop targeted upskilling programs or external training opportunities, particularly around emerging Android technologies

Serve as a career advocate for team members, preparing them for expanded responsibilities

At Marriott International, we are dedicated to being an equal opportunity employer, welcoming all and providing access to opportunity. We actively foster an environment where the unique backgrounds of our associates are valued and celebrated. Our greatest strength lies in the rich blend of culture, talent, and experiences of our associates.  We are committed to non-discrimination on any protected basis, including disability, veteran status, or other basis protected by applicable law.