1. What is a Mobile Engineer at Arthrex?

As a Mobile Engineer at Arthrex, you are stepping into a pivotal role at the intersection of medical innovation and digital transformation. Arthrex is a global leader in orthopedic medical device design and manufacturing, and its software ecosystem is critical to empowering surgeons, healthcare professionals, and patients. In this role, you will be instrumental in building and refining mobile applications that interface with advanced medical hardware and data systems, such as those driven by the Synergy team.

Your work directly impacts the usability, reliability, and accessibility of surgical imaging and integration tools. A major strategic initiative for Arthrex is bringing previously outsourced iOS and mobile development in-house. This means you will not just be maintaining existing codebases; you will be actively transitioning, architecting, and taking ownership of mission-critical applications that have historically been managed by external agencies.

This position offers a unique blend of technical challenge and strategic influence. You will collaborate closely with cross-functional teams across different Arthrex hubs—including Santa Barbara, California, and Naples, Florida—to ensure that the company's mobile offerings meet the highest standards of performance, security, and medical compliance. You can expect a highly collaborative environment where your technical decisions will shape the future of Arthrex's mobile strategy.

2. Getting Ready for Your Interviews

To succeed in the Arthrex interview process, your preparation must go beyond standard coding exercises. Interviewers are looking for a blend of technical mastery, strategic thinking, and strong cultural alignment.

Focus your preparation on the following key evaluation criteria:

Technical Proficiency in the Apple Ecosystem As the team transitions external work in-house, you must be highly fluent in both modern and legacy iOS technologies. Interviewers will evaluate your deep understanding of Swift, Objective-C, and core iOS frameworks. You can demonstrate strength here by showing how you comfortably navigate mixed codebases and modernize legacy systems.

API Integration and Architecture Mobile apps at Arthrex rely heavily on seamless communication with backend systems and medical hardware. Interviewers will test your ability to work with RESTful APIs, handle asynchronous data, and design robust networking layers. Be prepared to discuss how you structure data flow and handle edge cases like network latency or data parsing errors.

Collaboration and Stakeholder Management Because you will be taking over projects from external agencies and working with distributed teams across different states, your ability to communicate effectively is heavily scrutinized. You will be evaluated on your tact, code-review philosophy, and ability to extract requirements from external partners. Highlight past experiences where you successfully onboarded legacy code or collaborated across organizational boundaries.

Culture Fit and Communication Arthrex places a massive emphasis on cultural alignment right from the first conversation. The company values candidates who are adaptable, respectful, and deeply aligned with their mission of helping surgeons treat their patients better. You can prove this by communicating clearly, showing enthusiasm for the medical device industry, and demonstrating a team-first mentality.

3. Interview Process Overview

The interview process for a Mobile Engineer at Arthrex is thorough and highly structured, typically taking about a month from the initial screen to the final stages. The process is uniquely designed to assess both your technical capabilities and your ability to integrate into a distributed, transitioning team.

Your journey will begin with an initial HR phone screen. Unlike many companies where this is a simple logistical check, the HR screen at Arthrex acts as a strict gatekeeper. The recruiter heavily evaluates your communication skills, motivations, and cultural fit; if you do not impress at this stage, you will not move forward. Following this, you will have a conversation with the hiring manager to discuss your background, team fit, and high-level technical experience.

The technical evaluation is split into multiple phases. You will face a rigorous technical screening with a software development supervisor—often based out of the Naples, Florida mobile hub—which dives deep into iOS fundamentals. Finally, because of the ongoing effort to bring external apps in-house, you will likely have a technical discussion with the external agency developer currently responsible for the app. This step is highly unique and tests your ability to understand existing architectures, ask insightful questions, and handle technical handoffs professionally.

This visual timeline outlines the progression from the critical HR gatekeeper screen through the hiring manager interview, the core technical evaluation, and the final agency sync. Use this to pace your preparation, ensuring you are ready to articulate your cultural alignment early on before shifting your focus to deep technical and architectural discussions in the later rounds. The split technical rounds mean you must be prepared to discuss code with both internal supervisors and external contractors.

4. Deep Dive into Evaluation Areas

To confidently navigate the technical rounds at Arthrex, you must understand exactly what the engineering supervisors and external developers are looking for.

iOS Foundations: Swift and Objective-C

Because Arthrex is migrating externally developed applications in-house, their codebases often contain a mix of older and newer technologies. You must demonstrate that you are not just a modern Swift developer, but someone who understands the historical context of iOS development.

• Interviewers will assess your ability to read, debug, and bridge Objective-C with Swift.
• Strong performance means confidently explaining memory management (ARC), delegates, closures, and the interoperability between the two languages.

Be ready to go over:

• Swift paradigms – Optionals, protocols, value vs. reference types, and memory safety.
• Objective-C fundamentals – Message passing, pointers, and legacy memory management concepts.
• Bridging headers – How to effectively expose Objective-C classes to Swift and vice versa.
• Advanced concepts (less common) – Method swizzling, Objective-C runtime, and advanced Grand Central Dispatch (GCD) patterns.

Example questions or scenarios:

• "Explain how you would approach migrating an Objective-C module to Swift in a production app."
• "How does ARC differ between Objective-C and Swift, and what are common retain cycle pitfalls?"
• "Walk me through how you implement protocol-oriented programming in a legacy codebase."

Networking and RESTful APIs

Mobile applications at Arthrex, particularly within the Synergy team, rely heavily on accurate, real-time data fetching from complex backend systems. Your networking knowledge must be rock solid.

• Interviewers will evaluate how you architect your network layers, handle authentication, and parse JSON.
• Strong performance involves designing a scalable, testable networking stack rather than just relying on third-party libraries without understanding the underlying mechanics.

Be ready to go over:

• RESTful principles – HTTP methods, status codes, and designing API requests.
• URLSession and Concurrency – Handling asynchronous network calls using modern Swift concurrency (async/await) or completion handlers.
• Data Parsing – Utilizing Codable for JSON serialization and deserialization.
• Advanced concepts (less common) – WebSockets for real-time surgical data, certificate pinning for medical-grade security, and offline-first data caching strategies.

Example questions or scenarios:

• "Design a network layer in Swift to fetch and display a list of surgical videos from a RESTful API."
• "How do you handle token expiration and silent authentication refreshes in an iOS app?"
• "Explain your approach to handling poor network connectivity and caching data locally."

Legacy Code Integration and Agency Handoff

This is a uniquely critical evaluation area for the Arthrex process. Because you will be interacting with external agency developers who currently own the codebase, your soft skills and code-reading abilities are heavily tested.

• Interviewers (and the external developers) want to see how you approach code you didn't write.
• Strong performance looks like asking constructive, architecture-focused questions without being overly critical of legacy decisions.

Be ready to go over:

• Code comprehension – Strategies for mapping out undocumented or complex legacy code.
• Refactoring strategies – How to safely refactor code using unit tests as a safety net.
• Cross-team communication – Extracting business logic and requirements from external vendors.
• Advanced concepts (less common) – Setting up CI/CD pipelines from scratch for a newly internalized repository.

Example questions or scenarios:

• "Tell me about a time you had to take over a project from another team. What was your first step?"
• "If you find a critical architectural flaw in the agency's code during the handoff, how do you address it?"
• "How do you prioritize feature development versus technical debt when bringing an app in-house?"

5. Key Responsibilities

As a Mobile Engineer at Arthrex, your day-to-day work revolves around taking ownership of complex iOS applications and ensuring they meet the high standards required for medical technology. A primary responsibility is collaborating with external agencies to transition existing codebases in-house. This requires deep dives into existing repositories, conducting thorough code reviews, and mapping out architectural dependencies to ensure a smooth handover without disrupting the user experience.

Once the code is internal, you will drive the development of new features, fix critical bugs, and optimize app performance. You will work closely with the Synergy product teams to understand the needs of surgeons and healthcare professionals, translating these requirements into intuitive, reliable mobile interfaces. This involves heavy interaction with RESTful APIs to sync imaging data, patient information, or device statuses in real-time.

You will also act as a bridge between different Arthrex engineering hubs. While you may be based in Santa Barbara, you will frequently sync with the mobile development supervisors and backend teams in Naples, Florida. This requires excellent asynchronous communication, meticulous documentation, and a proactive approach to aligning technical standards across different geographical locations.

6. Role Requirements & Qualifications

To be a highly competitive candidate for the Mobile Engineer position at Arthrex, you need a strong blend of Apple ecosystem expertise and excellent stakeholder management skills. The company looks for developers who are comfortable navigating ambiguity and bridging the gap between legacy and modern code.

• Must-have skills – Deep proficiency in Swift and Objective-C. You must have hands-on experience building, deploying, and maintaining native iOS applications. A strong grasp of RESTful APIs, networking concepts, and core iOS frameworks (UIKit, Foundation) is non-negotiable. You also need proven experience using Git and standard version control workflows.
• Experience level – Typically, this role requires 3 to 5+ years of dedicated iOS development experience. Candidates who have previously worked on transitioning apps from external vendors to internal teams, or who have experience in enterprise-level environments, will stand out.
• Soft skills – Exceptional communication is critical. You must be able to pass the rigorous HR gatekeeper screen and hold productive, diplomatic technical discussions with external agency developers. Strong problem-solving skills and a collaborative mindset are essential.
• Nice-to-have skills – Experience in the medical device or healthcare software industry is a massive plus due to the strict regulatory and compliance environments (e.g., HIPAA, FDA regulations). Familiarity with modern architectural patterns (MVVM, VIPER), SwiftUI, and CI/CD pipelines (Fastlane, Jenkins) will also elevate your profile.

7. Common Interview Questions

The questions below represent the technical and behavioral themes you will encounter during your Arthrex interviews. Use these to identify patterns in how they evaluate iOS fundamentals, API knowledge, and collaboration skills.

Core iOS: Swift & Objective-C

These questions test your foundational knowledge of the Apple ecosystem and your ability to work across both modern and legacy codebases.

• What are the primary differences between Swift and Objective-C, and when would you choose one over the other?
• Explain how Automatic Reference Counting (ARC) works. How do you prevent retain cycles in Swift?
• Walk me through the lifecycle of a UIViewController.
• How do you expose an Objective-C class to a Swift file, and vice versa?
• What is the difference between a struct and a class in Swift?

Networking and Architecture

These questions focus on your ability to connect the mobile app to Arthrex's backend systems and handle data efficiently.

• How do you implement a network request using URLSession to consume a RESTful API?
• Explain the difference between GET, POST, PUT, and DELETE HTTP methods.
• How do you parse complex JSON responses into Swift models?
• Describe your preferred iOS architectural pattern (e.g., MVC, MVVM) and why you use it.
• How do you handle asynchronous tasks and concurrency in iOS?

Collaboration and Agency Transition

Because bringing work in-house is a key goal, interviewers will heavily test your soft skills and approach to legacy code.

• Tell me about a time you had to take over a codebase written by someone else. What was your approach?
• How do you handle disagreements with external developers regarding code quality or architecture?
• Describe a situation where you had to explain a complex technical issue to a non-technical stakeholder.
• How do you balance the need to refactor legacy code with the need to deliver new features?
• Why are you interested in working in the medical device industry, specifically at Arthrex?

8. Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How difficult is the technical interview process at Arthrex? Candidates generally report the technical difficulty as easy to moderate. The technical screens focus heavily on practical, day-to-day iOS knowledge (Swift, Objective-C, REST APIs) rather than abstract, highly complex algorithmic puzzles. Preparation should focus on core frameworks and clear communication.

Q: Why is the HR screen considered so important here? At Arthrex, the HR recruiter acts as a strict gatekeeper. Unlike companies where HR simply checks your availability, the Arthrex HR team heavily evaluates your cultural fit, professionalism, and motivations. If you do not make a strong impression here, you will not advance to the hiring manager.

Q: How long does the entire interview process take? The end-to-end process typically takes about a month. This includes the HR screen, hiring manager interview, technical screen with the Naples team, the external agency discussion, and potential onsite scheduling.

Q: What is the dynamic between the Santa Barbara and Naples offices? The Santa Barbara office (often housing the Synergy team) focuses heavily on product and integration, while Naples, Florida serves as a major hub for mobile development supervisors and broader engineering leadership. You will likely collaborate with teams across both locations.

Q: Will I be writing new apps from scratch or maintaining existing ones? Initially, your primary focus will be transitioning and maintaining existing iOS applications currently managed by external agencies. Once the codebase is fully in-house, your role will shift toward architecting new features, refactoring legacy code, and potentially building new applications.

9. Other General Tips

• Prepare specifically for the HR Gatekeeper: Treat your first phone call with HR as a formal interview. Have a polished narrative about why you want to work at Arthrex, your passion for the medical field, and your collaborative working style.
• Utilize your Headhunter: If you are working with an external recruiter or headhunter, leverage them heavily. They often have insider knowledge about the specific preferences of the hiring managers and can provide hints on what the Naples supervisors focus on.

• Show tact during the agency interview: When you speak with the external agency developer, remember that you are evaluating their code, but they are also evaluating you. Ask collaborative, curious questions rather than criticizing their architectural choices.
• Brush up on RESTful fundamentals: The technical screen frequently includes a dedicated section on REST APIs. Ensure you can confidently discuss HTTP verbs, status codes, and JSON parsing without relying on third-party libraries like Alamofire.

• Highlight Medical/Enterprise compliance: If you have any experience working in regulated environments (HIPAA, FDA, or strict enterprise security), make sure to weave that into your behavioral answers. It demonstrates maturity in handling sensitive data.

10. Summary & Next Steps

Securing a Mobile Engineer role at Arthrex is a fantastic opportunity to blend high-level iOS development with meaningful, life-changing medical technology. By joining the team, you will play a critical role in internalizing essential software, directly impacting how surgeons and healthcare professionals interact with Arthrex devices. The role offers a unique mix of technical modernization, cross-country collaboration, and high-impact product ownership.

To excel in your interviews, ensure your Apple ecosystem fundamentals—spanning both Swift and Objective-C—are sharp. Be prepared to speak confidently about RESTful API integration and demonstrate exceptional tact when discussing legacy code handoffs. Remember that your cultural alignment and communication skills are evaluated just as rigorously as your technical prowess, starting from the very first HR phone screen.

This compensation data provides a baseline expectation for the Mobile Engineer role, though specific offers will vary based on your seniority, location (e.g., Santa Barbara vs. Naples), and technical performance. Use this information to anchor your salary expectations and negotiate confidently once you reach the offer stage.

Approach this process with confidence. Your ability to bridge the gap between external agencies and internal engineering standards is exactly what Arthrex is looking for. For more insights, practice scenarios, and interview resources, continue exploring Dataford. You have the skills to navigate this transition—good luck with your preparation!