Software Development Engineering Manager, Test Automation

Summary

At Apple Maps, we're not just building world-class location experiences — we're shaping the future of how people explore and navigate the world. As a Software Development Engineering Manager, Test Automation, you'll lead a high-impact team that's passionate about quality, automation, and innovation. You'll drive the development and evolution of sophisticated test automation solutions that ensure the reliability and performance of Maps across all Apple platforms and devices.

Our team culture is built on deep collaboration, shared ownership, and the principle that quality is everyone's responsibility. We support each other, challenge each other, and grow together—all while solving some of the most complex test automation problems at Apple. If you're energized by mentoring talented engineers, pushing boundaries in automation and AI-driven testing, and working with an exceptional group of collaborators, we'd love to have you join us.

Description

As the Software Development Engineering Manager for the Apple Maps Client Automation team, you'll lead a team of 9 Software Engineers in Test and play a pivotal role in advancing the automation infrastructure that ensures the accuracy, reliability, and performance of Apple Maps across all Apple platforms—from iOS and macOS to watchOS and visionOS.

In this role, you'll combine technical leadership with strategic vision. You'll mentor a talented engineering team, define technical direction, and champion the integration of generative AI tools into our automation systems. Your work will directly impact how millions of users experience Apple Maps every day, enabling faster releases with higher confidence and better quality.

Responsibilities

Leadership & Team Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of 9 Software Engineers in Test, fostering a culture of technical excellence, collaboration, and continuous learning.
• Conduct regular 1-on-1s, provide constructive feedback, and support career growth and skill development for team members.
• Set clear technical direction and goals for the team, aligned with broader organizational objectives.
• Build a psychologically safe environment where engineers feel empowered to take ownership, experiment, and innovate.
• Identify and nurture talent, creating pathways for growth and advancement within the team.

Strategic Planning & Execution

• Define and execute a comprehensive roadmap for test automation systems that scales with product complexity and organizational growth.
• Assess current automation infrastructure, identify gaps, and prioritize improvements that deliver maximum impact on product quality and team velocity.
• Work cross-functionally with product management, design, and engineering leadership to translate business needs into technical requirements.
• Balance competing priorities across stakeholders while making data-driven decisions about resource allocation.

Technical Direction & Innovation

• Drive technical strategy around test automation architecture, frameworks, and best practices.
• Evaluate and champion the adoption of emerging technologies, particularly generative AI and machine learning tools, to enhance automation capabilities (intelligent test selection, anomaly detection, automated test generation, etc.).
• Partner with platform teams, rendering engine specialists, and quality engineers to understand technical constraints and opportunities.
• Establish and maintain high standards for code quality, test coverage, and automation infrastructure.

Stakeholder Collaboration

• Serve as the primary liaison between test automation users (QA engineers, product engineers, platform teams) and core technology infrastructure teams.
• Maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders across the organization, conducting regular research to understand pain points, bottlenecks, and emerging needs.
• Communicate technical progress, challenges, and recommendations clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Advocate for testing best practices and automation culture across Apple Maps organization.

Continuous Improvement

• Establish metrics and KPIs to measure automation effectiveness, team productivity, and quality impact.
• Drive regular retrospectives and process improvements based on team feedback and data analysis.
• Champion best practices in testing, automation infrastructure, CI/CD pipelines, and engineering processes.
• Foster a culture of experimentation and learning, encouraging the team to explore new approaches and tools.

Minimum Qualifications

• 5+ years of software development experience.
• 3+ years managing technical teams of 5+ software engineers, with a demonstrated track record of shipping high-quality products and growing team members.
• Familiarity with asynchronous programming and testing patterns (async/await, callbacks, concurrency, dispatch queues, thread safety).
• Strong understanding of CI/CD pipelines, automation infrastructure, and tools (e.g., ATP, Jenkins, Xcode Cloud, or equivalent).
• Direct experience defining test automation strategies and partnering with diverse stakeholders to architect scalable solutions.
• Proven ability to communicate complex technical concepts clearly to diverse audiences (engineers, managers, product teams).
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or equivalent professional experience in test automation or platform development.
• Demonstrated commitment to building inclusive, collaborative teams and fostering psychological safety.

Preferred Qualifications

• Programming expertise in Swift, Python, or Objective-C.
• Experience with Apple platforms and frameworks (UIKit, SwiftUI, MapKit, or similar large-scale system APIs).
• Exposure to or direct experience with generative AI tools and their applications in software quality and automation.
• Familiarity with large-scale distributed systems, performance testing, or backend infrastructure.
• Track record of building or scaling test automation infrastructure from the ground up.
• Experience mentoring engineers through career transitions or significant skill-building initiatives.
• Strong understanding of Mapping, Navigation, or other geospatial technologies.
• Experience with accessibility testing and ensuring inclusive user experiences.
• Master's degree in Computer Science or related field.

Key skills/competency

• Test Automation
• Leadership
• Software Development
• CI/CD
• Generative AI
• Machine Learning
• Scalable Architecture
• Team Mentoring
• Cross-functional Collaboration
• Apple Platforms