From Backend Engineer to Head of Mobile (Lessons from Uber)

What does it take to build a career as a mobile engineer when AI is changing everything? Pasha Mazurin shares how he went from Java backend engineer to Head of Mobile, why he only joins mobile-first companies, and how AI-assisted development brought the joy back to his work. This isn't theory, it's real lessons from 15+ years in the field and now learning Android at a senior level. In this episode, we cover: AI-assisted mobile development workflow (the four-window tmux setup) Why mobile-first companies operate completely differently Hiring for strengths, not lack of weaknesses (lessons from Uber) Leading as a hands-on engineer who stays in the trenches Why React Native doesn't feel native and when to go fully native Whether you're building your mobile engineering career or figuring out how AI changes your workflow, this conversation offers practical perspectives on staying effective and making intentional career choices. Connect with Pasha: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kovpas TIMESTAMPS: 00:00:00 - Intro 00:01:13 - Using AI as Your Junior Engineer Teammate 00:02:33 - The Four-Window Tmux Setup for AI-Assisted Development 00:04:29 - Managing Multiple Features with Git Worktrees 00:05:52 - Why AI Makes You a Better Code Reviewer 00:08:07 - Setting Up Markdown Files for AI Context 00:11:54 - Small Teams vs Big Companies: Where Mobile Engineers Thrive 00:16:26 - The Mobile-First Company Filter That Shapes Every Career Move 00:18:31 - Being Nice: The Underrated Career Skill 00:20:29 - Pick Your Battles: When to Disagree and Commit 00:22:52 - Hire for Strengths, Not Lack of Weaknesses 00:25:16 - Is Software Engineering Still a Good Career Choice? 00:28:19 - How I Accidentally Became a Mobile Engineer 00:31:41 - Why I Only Work on Apps That Matter to People 00:35:08 - Joining Uber During the Big Mobile App Rewrite 00:39:12 - Leading Without Rank: Managing as a Hands-On Engineer 00:43:01 - How AI Changed Mobile Development in 12 Months 00:46:09 - The Communication Skills That Make or Break Engineers 00:49:59 - It's Okay to Say You Don't Understand 00:51:30 - Working on Payments: Building Critical App Infrastructure 00:53:25 - Why React Native Doesn't Feel Native (And What Works Better) 00:55:36 - Can You Switch Specializations Without Taking a Pay Cut? 00:57:02 - How Learning Android Brought the Joy Back