Graphics Compositing UI Rendering Engineer, Graphics, Games, & ML

Apple Inc.; Cupertino (CA); On-site; USD 181,100 - 318,400; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive medical and dental coverage

Retirement benefits

Discounted products and free services

Education reimbursement

Job summary

A leading technology company is seeking a talented Senior Software Engineer to join the UI Rendering team. This role involves designing and implementing Core Animation rendering features across Apple platforms, collaborating with designers, and optimizing performance. Candidates should have a strong background in C/C++, real-time rendering, and experience with Metal or other graphics APIs. The base pay range for this position is between $181,100 and $318,400, along with benefits like stock options and education reimbursement.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in software development with release management.
• Strong background in C/C++ programming and shader development.
• Experience with graphics performance analysis and optimization techniques.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement Core Animation UI rendering features.
• Collaborate with HI designers for new visual experiences.
• Optimize performance and power efficiency across Apple hardware.

Skills

C/C++ programming

Real-time rendering

Metal or modern graphics APIs

Collaboration skills

Debugging and triaging

Education

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science or related field

Tools

Metal Shading Language

Vulkan

DirectX

Job description

Graphics Compositing UI Rendering Engineer, Graphics, Games, & ML

Cupertino, California, United States Software and Services

Apple's Compositing, Color, and Display Software organization provides the graphics software foundation for all of Apple's innovative products, including iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Mac and Apple Watch. Our goal is to enable developers and HI designers to create exceptional visual experiences by efficiently utilizing hardware acceleration and color technologies through compositing and display. The technologies we develop are central to enabling enhanced experiences across our platforms, including acceleration for Liquid Glass UI material and presenting HDR content with the highest quality. Are you passionate about building the rendering technologies that make interfaces feel alive? Do you get excited about solving complex graphics challenges to deliver beautiful, responsive experiences at scale? If creating world-class visual experiences through innovative rendering architecture energizes you, this is your opportunity.

Description

We're looking for a talented Senior Software Engineer with deep rendering expertise to join our UI Rendering team. In this role, you'll drive key aspects of the Core Animation graphics compositing and rendering engine that powers visual experiences across iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, and Apple Watch. You'll architect and build the graphics technologies that bring our user interfaces to life, from foundational compositing systems to cutting-edge visual effects. Working at the heart of our graphics stack, you'll bridge the gap between creative vision and technical reality. You'll partner directly with HI designers to prototype and productize new visual concepts, collaborate with framework engineers to expose powerful rendering capabilities, and work alongside our Metal and GPU teams to unlock the full potential of Apple Silicon. From next-generation material systems to sophisticated animation techniques, you'll shape the visual foundation that defines how millions experience Apple products every day.

Responsibilities

• Design, architect, and implement Core Animation UI rendering features and compositing technologies across all Apple platforms
• Partner with HI designers and framework teams to enable new visual experiences and design language evolution
• Collaborate with Metal graphics framework and GPU and Display teams to leverage and influence platform capabilities for rendering innovation
• Make critical technical decisions balancing visual quality, implementation complexity, and platform constraints
• Develop tools and workflows that enable rapid iteration from design concept to production-ready rendering features
• Ensure rendering quality, correctness, and visual fidelity across diverse content and platform configurations
• Contribute to long-term technical strategy and influence hardware/software roadmaps to enable future rendering capabilities and visual experiences
• Optimize rendering performance and power efficiency across Apple's diverse hardware ecosystem

Minimum Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in software development, including software release management and integration processes
• 3+ years of experience with real-time rendering and computer graphics
• Strong background in C/C++ programming and shader development
• Hands-on experience with Metal or modern graphics APIs (Vulkan, DirectX)
• Experience with layer-based rendering systems or scene graph architectures
• Foundational understanding of Operating Systems, Computer Architecture, and CPU/GPU programming including memory subsystems
• Strong debugging and triaging skills for complex, multi-layered systems issues
• Experience with graphics performance analysis and optimization techniques
• Excellent collaboration skills with cross-functional teams on complex large-scale projects
• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science or related field, or equivalent experience

Preferred Qualifications

• Deep expertise with Metal Shading Language and advanced graphics programming
• Knowledge of compositing algorithms, color management, HDR, and wide color gamut workflows
• Experience with CPU/GPU synchronization and multi-threaded rendering architectures
• Experience with client/server or multi-process graphics architectures
• Experience with Mac or iOS application development using Swift or Objective-C
• Familiarity with GPU profiling tools and performance optimization for mobile platforms
• Experience shipping consumer graphics products at scale
• Experience with automated testing frameworks for graphics rendering

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 $181,100 and $318,400, 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.