Director of Engineering, AiDP Data Services

Apple Inc.; Sunnyvale (CA); On-site; USD 311,000 - 497,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Restricted stock units

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

Medical coverage

Dental coverage

Retirement plan

Discounted products

Tuition reimbursement

Discretionary bonuses

Relocation assistance

Job summary

Apple Inc. is looking for an Engineering Director to lead the Data Services organization within AiDP.

You will define and manage data strategies and platforms spanning Search, Vector, Graph, Relational, NoSQL, Cache, Queues, and Enterprise Analytics to support Apple’s products and manufacturing ecosystem. You will lead a high-performing team, drive data governance and security, and champion AI integration across data platforms while collaborating with product, engineering, and business teams to

Qualifications

• MS or PhD in Computer Science or a related technical field
• 20+ years of progressive experience in large-scale enterprise environments
• 10+ years in data engineering, database management, and transactional/analytics platforms
• Proven leadership in managing and scaling data services for complex, high-volume data ecosystems

Responsibilities

• Define and execute the strategic roadmap for data services.
• Lead and mentor data architects, engineers, and database professionals.
• Oversee the design, development, and maintenance of databases for scalable data platforms.
• Ensure the reliability, performance, and security of data systems.
• Drive adoption of best practices in data engineering, data quality, and data governance.
• Bring next-gen AI capabilities into the data platforms to enhance functionality and insights.
• Collaborate with product, engineering, and business teams to understand data requirements.
• Evaluate and integrate new data technologies and tools to enhance capabilities and efficiency.

Skills

Data engineering leadership

Database management

Data governance

Security best practices

Cloud-native platforms

Education

MS or PhD in Computer Science or related field

Tools

MLOps

Job description

About AI & Data Platforms (AiDP)

AiDP is the IS&T engine for AI‑powered innovation, combining data, application development, machine learning and customer success functions to help develop solutions more efficiently and embed generative AI across Apple.

Role Overview

We are seeking an experienced and visionary Engineering Director to lead our Data Services organization. This role will define, develop, and manage the data strategy and platforms that underpin Apple’s consumer electronics, services, and manufacturing portfolio. The position spans diverse data structures including Search, Vector, Graph, Relational, NoSQL, Cache, Queues and Enterprise Analytics solutions.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute the strategic roadmap for data services, aligning with overall business objectives and technological advancements.
• Lead and mentor a high‑performing team of data architects, engineers, and database professionals.
• Oversee the design, development, and maintenance of open‑source and commercial databases for highly scalable and robust data platforms.
• Ensure the reliability, performance, and security of all data systems.
• Drive the adoption of best practices in data engineering, data quality, and data governance.
• Bring next‑gen AI capabilities into the data platforms to enhance functionality and insights.
• Collaborate with product, engineering, and business teams to understand data requirements and deliver innovative data solutions.
• Evaluate and integrate new data technologies and tools to enhance capabilities and efficiency.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with cloud‑native data platforms and services (e.g., AWS, Azure, GCP).
• Familiarity with MLOps and integrating AI/ML models into data pipelines.
• Demonstrated ability to drive cultural change and adoption of new data technologies.
• Experience in a highly regulated industry or with stringent data compliance requirements.

Minimum Qualifications

• MS or PhD in Computer Science or a related technical field.
• 20+ years of progressive experience in large‑scale enterprise environments.
• At least 10 years of focused experience in data engineering, database management, and the development/operation of transactional and analytics data platforms.
• Proven leadership in managing and scaling data services for complex, high‑volume data ecosystems.
• Deep expertise in modern data architectures, data governance, and data security best practices.
• Strong understanding of the data challenges and opportunities within consumer electronics, services, and manufacturing sectors.
• Exceptional communication, strategic thinking, and leadership skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate across diverse teams.

Pay & Benefits

Base pay ranges from $311,100 to $496,900, depending on qualifications and location. Apple employees may also participate in discretionary restricted stock unit awards, Employee Stock Purchase Plan, and benefit from comprehensive medical, dental, and retirement coverage. Additional perks include discounted products and services, tuition reimbursement for education related to career advancement, discretionary bonuses or commission payments, and relocation assistance.