TIME FRAME: January 2020 - Present

Learn how we helped Life360 build a full-cycle nearshore R&D development center

Business impact:

Built and scaled a 50+ person nearshore R&D center in under 12 months

We built a full-cycle nearshore division in Eastern Europe from scratch, staffing multiple roles with high-quality professionals, including mobile, web, backend, DevOps, QA, ITOps, SRE, and more.

Most of the engineers evolved into architectural contributors and tech leads and became key decision-makers

Thanks to their technical proficiency, proactiveness, and problem-solving mindset, our team became Life360’s Core Development Squad.

Maintained a fully operational nearshore center with end-to-end support

Beyond staffing, we maintained retention programs, personal support for each team member, a comfortable workspace, and workshops, coding sessions, and regular on-site visits from product leads.

Delivered real-time safety features and performance optimizations used by 50M+ users

Our engineers have contributed to a wealth of critical tasks,, from optimizing battery usage and increasing app speed to supporting real-time safety features like Crash Detection, enhancing the experience for families across 195 countries.

Business context

Life360 is a GPS-based family safety app with over 50 million users across 195 countries. It offers real-time location tracking, helping families stay connected and safe wherever they are.

In 2020, the company set out to build a development center in the EMEA region to support full-cycle product development. They were looking for a trusted local partner to handle everything from staffing and infrastructure to integration with their US-based headquarters.

nCube successfully provided an end-to-end nearshore center solution, including recruitment and technical leadership to HR, office space, and retention services for a team of 50+ experts.

Challenges Life360 faced

Solutions we provided

No internal capacity to rapidly hire a large team to accelerate product development

As a fast-growing startup without an internal HR team, Life360 needed a nearshore partner capable of setting up and running a full-scale development operation within a short time frame.

nCube launched a 50-person full-cycle development center within 12 months

Thanks to our proven HR processes and local presence in CEE, we built a strong pipeline of high-quality candidates to meet the company’s urgent scaling needs. From recruitment and office setup to team integration and ongoing support, we handled every aspect of launching a full-cycle development center.

Struggled to attract and retain top engineers long-term

The client needed strong expertise across Android, iOS, backend, DevOps, SRE, QA, and frontend to build a reliable product.

We created a retention-focused environment with skilled engineers evolving into decision-makers

We staffed a cross-functional engineering team across all key areas. The engineers we provided became core contributors, taking ownership, influencing architecture, and driving full-cycle product delivery.

Lacked internal resources to manage hiring, onboarding, and HR

As a fast-growing startup, Life360 needed a partner that could not only attract top-tier engineers but also ensure long-term retention by prioritizing team stability, professional development, and mentorship.

We handled recruitment, HR, office setup, and full operational support under one roof

We implemented proven HR practices, offered competitive perks, and fostered a strong team culture, resulting in high retention and engineers who grew into long-term contributors and decision-makers.

Solution overview

nCube partnered with Life360 to build a full-cycle nearshore development center in Eastern Europe. The team began with mobile development and quickly expanded to include Java backend, frontend, QA, SRE, ITOps, and DevOps.

We handled all aspects of the operation (recruitment, office space, team engagement, HR operations, and daily support), creating an environment promoting professional growth and long-term retention. Our engineers contributed not just code, but product decisions, performance improvements, and long-term technical leadership, becoming the Core Development Squad.

The collaboration continues, with Life360 relying on nCube as a trusted nearshore partner to support innovation and delivery at scale.

SERVICES

DevOps

SRE

ITOps

Web and Mobile

TECH STACK

Android

iOS

React.js

Java Cloud

PHP

Kubernetes

Docker

Why choose nCube

200,000+ talent network across Europe, LATAM, and Asia

We provide access to a vast talent pool across top nearshoring regions, building teams with the right time zone alignment, English proficiency, and cultural fit, and skills, from mainstream tech stacks to in-demand expertise in AI/ML, Data, Cloud, IoT, and beyond.

Full team control – zero overhead

Your team integrates into your workflows and reports to you directly. We handle HR, legal, payroll, retention, and equipment while you stay focused on delivery.

3 engagement models tailored to your needs

Choose from staff augmentation, Dedicated Team, or R&D center. Each model is designed to support different stages of growth, from MVPs to enterprise systems and innovation.

50% faster than internal staffing

Thanks to our established processes, we deliver pre-screened candidate profiles within 24-48 hours and launch full teams in 2-6 weeks.

98% developer retention rate

We don’t just build teams – we keep talent around for as long as you need it. Our retention programs ensure long-term team stability, continuity, and deep immersion into your project.