Secure Systems Engineer - Platform Architecture

Apple Inc.; Cupertino (CA); On-site; USD 150,400 - 225,300; Full time

Job summary

Apple Inc. in Cupertino, California, is seeking a Senior Architect to define architecture and oversee the operation of distributed web services enforcing security policy across development, manufacture, deployment, and operation of Apple products.

You will work with cross-functional teams to drive continuous security improvements, articulate system security requirements, and champion industry-leading security technologies across multiple product categories.

Qualifications

• BS in EE/CE/CS or related relevant field, or equivalent practical experience.
• Experience with security (e.g., secure boot, hardware roots of trust, designing and developing secure web services or scalable infrastructure for highly available applications, etc.).
• Experience with common programming languages such as Python, Go or C/C++.
• Experience collaborating across multiple disciplines, such as software engineering, hardware, and infrastructure.

Responsibilities

• Lead cross-functional teams throughout the product development cycle to resolve system-level issues without sacrificing product security or impacting product design.
• Identify emerging threats, develop threat models, and define security architectures for new Apple products and technologies.
• Derive system security requirements, and design balanced and novel mitigations in creative collaboration with product and engineering teams.
• Develop detailed system-level specifications to guide product development and QA teams in the creation of tests and libraries for security integration.
• Drive security requirements and architecture into web application services that integrate with hardware roots of trust across Apple products.

Skills

Security architecture

Threat modeling

Cross-functional collaboration

Python

Go

C/C++

Education

BS in EE/CE/CS

Masters in EE/CE/CS

Job description

Cupertino, California, United States Hardware

Are you a big-picture visionary who understands how each element affects all the others? At Apple, our Platform Architecture group is responsible for connecting our hardware, software, and servers into one unified system. You’ll join a team of engineers and architects who are dedicated to securing the world’s most advanced consumer devices. Our products are trusted for storing personal data, and our goal is to better safeguard our users. We’re looking for dedicated and inspired individuals to help improve on the security of Apple’s products.

Description

In this role, you will define the architecture and oversee the operation of distributed web services that set and enforce security policy for the development, manufacture, deployment, and operation of Apple products, ultimately driving continuous security improvements for these products. Together, our work will be instrumental in maintaining the trust millions of customers place in their devices every day.

Responsibilities

• Lead cross-functional teams throughout the product development cycle to resolve system-level issues without sacrificing product security or impacting product design.
• Identify emerging threats, develop threat models, and define security architectures for new Apple products and technologies. Derive system security requirements, and design balanced and novel mitigations in creative collaboration with iconic product and engineering teams.
• Develop detailed system-level specifications to guide product development, integration, and quality assurance teams in the creation of golden unit tests, reference data, and sample libraries to aid integration of our security technologies across team boundaries (e.g. client/server).
• Drive security requirements and architecture into web application services that integrate with hardware roots of trust, playing a pivotal role in the development, manufacture, deployment, and operation of Apple products.
• Use a wide range of interpersonal and technical skills to champion adoption of our industry-leading security technologies across multiple product categories.

Minimum Qualifications

• BS in EE/CE/CS or related relevant field, or equivalent practical experience.
• Experience with security (e.g., secure boot, hardware roots of trust, designing and developing secure web services or scalable infrastructure for highly available applications, etc.).
• Experience with common programming languages such as Python, Go or C/C++.
• Experience collaborating across multiple disciplines, such as software engineering, hardware, and infrastructure.

Preferred Qualifications

• 3+ years of relevant industry experience.
• Masters in EE/CE/CS or related relevant field.
• Knowledge of cryptographic principles (e.g., symmetric vs asymmetric crypto, encryption vs authentication, and PKI frameworks).
• Ability to perform critical analysis of security properties across hardware, software systems, and web service architectures in order to build a comprehensive threat model (e.g. familiarity with common threat modeling methodologies such as STRIDE or Trike).
• Ability to help drive cross-functional initiatives and to provide architectural guidance to teams lacking resident security expertise.
• Breadth to work cross-functionally with Infrastructure, Privacy, Safety, Service, Manufacturing, Software, and Product Development teams.
• Strong written and oral communications skills.
• Comfort building and using AI-assisted workflows that enhance efficiency, improve quality of output, and extend the reach of what a small team can accomplish.

Compensation & Benefits

At Apple, base pay is one part of our total compensation package and is determined within a range. The base pay range for this role is between $150,400 and $225,300, 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.

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.