Tracing the Roots of Android’s Finest Engineers with Senior Android Engineer, Kunle Ogunjimi - Episode 13

Once curious about MATLAB, a young Kunle Ogunjimi’s curiosity bloomed into a fascinating software career!

The lessons we stand to learn from his journey so far are plentiful, and in this episode of Great Software People we learn the art of guiding your early career path, adapting to remote working environments, and hear predictions for the AI-enabled future of Android development.

This episode covers:

• Matlab being a gateway into coding

• Why you should learn things outside your comfort zone

• The evolving roles of devs in the next 5-10 years

• Android’s future

Episode highlights

“In third year I was introduced to MATLAB, and that’s what led me into programming.” - 3:30 - Kunle Ogunjimi

“You have to try things outside your comfort zone. You’ll be so surprised how quickly you learn, even if you fail!” - 17:50 - Kunle Ogunjimi

“In today’s world, we can learn a lot online and I would have utilised that more. I don’t know if my parents would have agreed to it, but I would have done that and worked my way up from there.” - 22:20 - Kunle Ogunjimi

“There’ll be a lot of broken dreams in the next 10 years. I don’t think developers will disappear - AI can help in QA, but you’ll definitely still have to write custom code.” - 31:55 - Richard Bundock

“Google plays a huge role, because obviously they own Android, and they need to create an ecosystem similar to what Apple has. Because I feel like as it is now, Android is going to stay stagnant.” - 35:30 - Kunle Ogunjimi

LISTEN HERE:

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[00:00:13]

Rich: Welcome to another episode of Great Software People! Today, I’m thrilled to be joined by Kunle Ogunjimi, a Senior Android Engineer with an incredible career journey. We’ll talk about his path into software development, what drives him, and where he sees the future heading. Welcome, Kunle!

Kunle: Thanks, Rich. I was tempted to do a round of applause for myself, but no—thank you for having me! I’m really looking forward to this conversation.

[00:00:48]

Rich: Let’s start at the beginning. Growing up, what did you want to do? Was it always software?

Kunle: Not at all! I wanted to be a pilot. Flying planes seemed so cool. It’s still on my bucket list—maybe not planes now, but helicopters. But when I looked into the cost of getting a pilot’s license, I realised it wasn’t an easy route. That’s how I ended up exploring other options.

[00:01:42]

Rich: So, where did that exploration take you?

Kunle: I ended up studying mechanical engineering. Honestly, it wasn’t something I felt deeply passionate about—I was good at maths and liked problem-solving, so it seemed like a logical choice. My A-level results weren’t great, so I did a foundation year first, which helped build my confidence. By the time I got to my third year of university, I realised mechanical engineering wasn’t for me. But during my final year, I was introduced to MATLAB, and that’s what sparked my interest in programming.

[00:03:00]

Rich: So you graduated in mechanical engineering. Did you get a job in that field?

Kunle: No, not at all. After graduation, I worked in an O2 shop. It turned out to be a blessing in disguise because it exposed me to mobile software. I started learning Android development on my own while working there, but then I lost that job and struggled for about 10 months to find something else. Eventually, I landed my first software role—thanks to you and the team at KeySys!

[00:05:11]

Rich: Yes! I remember your interview. You demoed a project you’d built.

Kunle: That’s right. I brought in my Samsung tablet and showed you a simple website I’d built with HTML and CSS. I was nervous because I didn’t know any advanced concepts like OOP or frameworks, but the conversation flowed naturally. It was such a positive experience.

[00:05:54]

Rich: So you joined KeySys as a trainee developer. How was that experience?

Kunle: It was incredible. The team was great—I learned so much from the developers and from you. Beyond coding, I learned about the business side of things. You even invited me to client meetings, which helped me understand how to communicate and manage relationships.

[00:06:53]

Rich: You moved on after about two years. Where did you go next?

Kunle: I joined La Casa as an Android developer. It was my first dedicated Android role. I wasn’t there long—just six months—but I made some good connections and picked up a lot of knowledge. After that, I joined The Telegraph.

[00:10:35]

Kunle: The Telegraph was a pivotal part of my career. It was a bigger, more corporate environment compared to KeySys. I worked on talks and started blogging—something I’d first explored at KeySys. The culture there helped me develop my confidence and technical skills.

[00:11:39]

Rich: From The Telegraph, you transitioned into contracting. What was that like?

Kunle: Contracting was amazing. I worked across various industries—health tech, apps like Laundry App, and even at Novoda. Each role was unique, and I learned so much about different engineering practices and tools. One memorable moment was during Christmas at Laundry App. I was the only developer left working, and I had to fix the driver’s app under tight deadlines. That was a trial by fire!

[00:14:45]

Rich: You then joined Tympa Health in a perm role. What was that experience like?

Kunle: Tympa Health was another highlight. It was a health tech company where I worked on a clinician app for diagnosing ear conditions. I got to experiment with TensorFlow for image analysis—it was my first dive into AI, and I loved it.

[00:17:09]

Rich: You’ve always been someone who loves to learn. What advice would you give to others about continuous learning?

Kunle: Step out of your comfort zone. You learn the most when you try something new—even if you fail. Also, don’t hesitate to teach what you’ve learned. Teaching reinforces your understanding and helps others along the way.

[00:18:32]

Rich: Have you mentored anyone?

Kunle: Yes, and I love it. I’ve helped graduates find internships and coached juniors. It’s rewarding to see people grow and succeed. I always remember how you and the team at KeySys helped me, and I try to pass that energy forward.

[00:21:30]

Rich: If you were starting your career today, do you think things would be different?

Kunle: Absolutely. Honestly, I might not even go to university. There are so many resources online now that you can learn coding independently. But I’m grateful for how things turned out—being in the office environment at KeySys was invaluable for my growth.

[00:25:00]

Rich: What about the shift to remote work?

Kunle: I enjoy working from home, but I miss the human connection you get in an office. At KeySys, we had clients and partners coming in regularly, and I loved chatting with them about their careers. Now, I rely more on meetups, LinkedIn, and digital platforms to maintain that sense of connection.

[00:28:28]

Kunle: Rich, let me ask you—what do you think the future holds for developers with the rise of AI?

Rich: AI will create new complexities, not eliminate the need for developers. I think it’ll revolutionise QA and streamline certain tasks, but custom code will always be necessary. Developers aren’t going anywhere—we’ll just adapt to the new tools.

[00:34:03]

Rich: What about Android? Where do you see it heading?

Kunle: I think cross-platform tools like Flutter and React Native will continue to gain traction. Google will need to double down on creating an ecosystem like Apple’s to keep Android competitive. As for me, I might not stay in Android forever—there’s so much more to explore!

[00:36:08]

Rich: So, what’s next for you?

Kunle: I’d love to continue with content creation, speaking at conferences, and mentoring others. Long-term, I want to co-found a business. I’m already laying the groundwork by collaborating with some developer friends. Who knows—maybe I’ll also get that helicopter license someday!

[00:37:46]

Rich: Kunle, thank you so much for joining us. You’ve shared an inspiring journey, and I can’t wait to see what’s next for you. Where can people connect with you?

Kunle: You can find me on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram at @ekotechapps. Feel free to reach out—I love chatting with new people and exchanging ideas.

Rich: Thanks again, Kunle!

Kunle: Thank you, Rich. This has been amazing.