Senior Systems Software Engineer

Senior Systems Software Engineer at Apple

Apple is where individual imaginations gather together, committing to the values that lead to great work. Every new product we build, service we create, or Apple Store experience we deliver is the result of us making each other's ideas stronger. That happens because every one of us shares a belief that we can make something wonderful and share it with the world, changing lives for the better. It's the diversity of our people and their thinking that inspires the innovation that runs through everything we do. For decades, we've empowered creative professionals with industry-defining tools that transform how stories are told and brought to life. When we bring everybody in, we can do the best work of our lives. Here, you'll do more than join something — you'll add something.

The Video Applications team continues this legacy as part of Apple Creator Studio, delivering an integrated creative suite of professional video tools—including Final Cut Pro, Motion, and Compressor. We're looking for a strong senior software engineer to help develop these applications and deliver the next generation of features that empower creative professionals worldwide.

Description

As a Senior Systems Software Engineer on the Video Applications team, you'll build and evolve the core application layers that support high-performance video workflows. This role focuses on low-level, non-UI technologies that are foundational to reliability, security, and performance across our video applications. You’ll collaborate closely with cross-functional partners to design and implement robust systems that integrate deeply in Apple’s creative applications ecosystem.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and maintain low-level application infrastructure supporting video applications.
• Work deeply with application networking and file system architecture, ensuring performance, reliability, and correctness.
• Build and maintain XPC-based architectures, including communication between services and external processes.
• Implement and manage Security Scoped Bookmarks and related sandboxed resource access.
• Debug and diagnose complex issues across frameworks, services, and external processes using Xcode and system-level tools.
• Write and maintain high-quality code in C++, Objective-C, and Swift.
• Participate in code reviews, design discussions and technical investigations while contributing to engineering excellence standards.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to define technical direction and influence architectural decisions.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelors Degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or equivalent
• 7+ years of professional software engineering experience, with a focus on low-level application development.
• Strong experience building low-level, non-UI application layers.
• Must have experience working with macOS internals
• In-depth knowledge of application networking and file system APIs.
• Solid understanding of XPC processes and interprocess communication.
• Experience working with Security Scoped Bookmarks and platform security models.
• Proficiency in C++, Objective-C, and Swift.
• Advanced debugging skills using Xcode, including frameworks and external processes.
• Ability to reason about performance, concurrency, memory management, and system behavior.
• Experience working on complex, long-lived codebases.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in sandboxed or security-sensitive environments.
• Experience with media or graphics applications, video editing tools, or creative software workflows.
• Proven ability to work on complex, ambiguous problems and drive solutions end-to-end.
• Prior ownership of shared infrastructure or platform-level components.

Pay & Benefits

At Apple, base pay is one part of our total compensation package and is determined within a range. This provides the opportunity to progress as you grow and develop within a role. The base pay range for this role is between $171,600 and $302,200, and your base pay will depend on your skills, qualifications, experience, and location.

Apple employees also have the opportunity to become an Apple shareholder through participation in Apple’s discretionary employee stock programs. Apple employees are eligible for discretionary restricted stock unit awards, and can purchase Apple stock at a discount if voluntarily participating in Apple’s Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You’ll also receive benefits including: Comprehensive medical and dental coverage, retirement benefits, a range of discounted products and free services, and for formal education related to advancing your career at Apple, reimbursement for certain educational expenses — including tuition. Additionally, this role might be eligible for discretionary bonuses or commission payments as well as relocation. Learn more about Apple Benefits.

Note: Apple benefit, compensation and employee stock programs are subject to eligibility requirements and other terms of the applicable plan or program.

Apple is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to inclusion and diversity. We seek to promote equal opportunity for all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, Veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics. Learn more about your EEO rights as an applicant.

Apple accepts applications to this posting on an ongoing basis.

Key skills/competency

• C++
• Objective-C
• Swift
• macOS Internals
• XPC
• Application Networking
• File System APIs
• Security Scoped Bookmarks
• Xcode Debugging
• Low-level Systems Development