iOS App Development Engineer

Adobe; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 177,900 - 257,550; Full time

Job summary

Adobe is seeking a Software Development Engineer in San Jose, California, to join the Nextcam team focused on creating innovative smartphone apps. Candidates should have a strong background in iOS development, particularly with camera, photography, and image processing applications. The role emphasizes API design, debugging, and performance optimization. With a competitive salary range between $177,900 and $257,550, applicants will work on exciting projects like Project Indigo, which combines computational photography with AI.

Qualifications

• Proficiency in Swift, Objective-C, and modern C++.
• Experience with iOS app architectures and common design patterns.
• Ability to write thread-safe code and design systems with concurrency.

Responsibilities

• API design and evolving existing components.
• Feature development and performance optimization.
• Debugging on-device and through unit testing.

Skills

Proficiency in Swift

Experience with iOS app architectures

Ability to write thread-safe code

Ability to write concise and well-documented code

Experience building Swift UIs

Ability to debug and profile applications

Experience working with source control

Experience shipping production iOS applications

Enthusiasm for working with AI coding agents

Job description

Opportunity

Adobe's Nextcam team is seeking a Software Development Engineer with training and/or experience in building smartphone apps for iOS, to join our team in San Jose, California. We are particularly interested in candidates who have experience developing, optimizing, and shipping camera, photography, graphics, or image processing apps.

About Our Team And Project Indigo

Nextcam is a relatively new team, led by VP and Fellow Marc Levoy. We’re part of the larger org responsible for Photoshop and Lightroom, but we operate like a startup inside that org – with significant agility and autonomy. As part of our portfolio, we recently launched Project Indigo, an experimental camera app for iPhone that combines computational photography and AI, and that deliberately explores the boundaries of what is possible in a mobile camera. The app offers full manual controls, a more natural ("SLR-like") look, and the highest image quality that computational photography can provide. It also introduces new photographic experiences that are not available in other camera apps. The app, which is available for free on the App Store, went viral after launch, garnering millions of downloads and earning broad positive coverage in the tech press. Here is a blog about the app.

At present, Project Indigo is an experiment – although a very successful one. Our goal is to turn it into an Adobe product, with regular releases of new features, a broader OS footprint (Android comes later), and the best possible performance. To achieve these goals, we are scaling up the team. Come help us build the future of mobile photography!

What will you work on?

While you will have significant ownership in shaping your role within the team, your responsibilities will broadly include API design (evolving existing components and architecting new ones), feature development, performance optimization (at the OS, algorithmic, and GPU levels), debugging (both on-device and through unit testing), staying current with iOS platform developments, reducing technical debt, and contributing to overall UX improvements.

Required skills (you don’t need to have every one of these skills)

• Proficiency in Swift, Objective-C, and modern C++
• Experience with iOS app architectures and common design patterns (MVC/MVVM, modularization)
• Ability to write thread‑safe code, and design systems with concurrency in mind
• Ability to write concise and well‑documented code and unit tests
• Experience building Swift UIs
• Ability to debug and profile applications using Xcode and Instruments
• Experience working with source control, CI/DC pipelines, and automated test harnesses
• Experience shipping and maintaining production iOS applications
• Enthusiasm for working with AI coding agents while maintaining high‑quality

Nice to have

• Experience with camera apps, computational photography, and/or modern AI
• Computational photography or image processing experience
• Camera Raw and Lightroom experience
• GPU programming experience, especially Metal
• Experience integrating machine learning on iOS (CoreML, ONNX)
• Ability to manage memory effectively, including low-level C++ memory management
• Familiarity with camera systems and capture pipelines
• Ability to optimize CPU and memory usage
• Familiarity with CI and similar build systems
• Experience managing iOS signing, provisioning and build configuration
• Proficiency with Python for tooling, prototyping, or pipeline support
• A passion for photography

Equal Employment Opportunity

Adobe is a proud Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based on gender, race or color, ethnicity or national origin, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic. Learn more.

Expected Pay Range

U.S. pay range for this position: $139,000 – $257,550 annually. In California: $177,900 – $257,550. Compensation may vary by location and other factors. Additional incentives, such as long‑term equity awards, may apply.

State‑Specific Notices

California: Adobe will consider qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records for employment in accordance with state and local laws and "fair chance" ordinances.

Colorado: If this role is open to hiring in Colorado, the application window will remain open until at least the date and time stated above in Pacific Time.

Massachusetts: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment.