Senior Rendering Engine Software Engineer

Apple; Cupertino (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Apple is looking for a Senior Rendering Engine Software Engineer to enhance mapping experiences across all platforms. The role involves designing innovative algorithms to make 3D rendering visually stunning and efficient.

You will collaborate with designers, architects, and cartographers, impacting how users navigate and explore diverse geographical landmarks through Apple Maps. This position demands strong C++ development skills and experience in modern graphics APIs.

Qualifications

• 5 years hands-on experience building real-time 3D rendering applications.
• Mastery in writing safe and performant C++ code.
• Experience with modern graphics APIs and shading languages.
• Ability to use 3D geometry and linear algebra for graphics problems.
• Methodical debugging skills and problem-solving instincts.

Responsibilities

• Architect and implement rendering features across all Apple platforms.
• Partner with teams to design new visual experiences.
• Drive long-term technical strategies for rendering.
• Optimize rendering performance and power efficiency.

Skills

C++ proficiency

3D rendering techniques

Graphics APIs (e.g., Metal, Vulkan)

Real-time application development

Multi-threaded programming

Communication skills

Education

BA/BS in a relevant field

Tools

GPU profiling tools

Job description

Summary

Apple Maps offers a constantly evolving and increasingly detailed 3D world, and our team renders every frame of it. We develop the graphics engine that powers the mapping and navigation experiences across Apple's entire device ecosystem, from Watch to Vision Pro, as well as the Web. We're looking for a Senior Rendering Engine Software Engineer who is excited by the challenge of rendering our planet beautifully and performantly in real time.

Description

We are the Map Display team, and every day our work is used by hundreds of millions of people to explore and navigate the world. We own the 3D visual experience inside Apple Maps and the graphics engine that fuels a thriving ecosystem of first- and third-party applications. You'll work at the intersection of art and engineering, developing novel algorithms, pushing rendering techniques forward, and collaborating with world-class designers and cartographers to make every pixel perfect. Whether it's the 3D imagery and splats of Yosemite National Park, the historical landmarks of Rome, the streets of Paris, or the transit systems of Tokyo, you'll have a hand in how people interact with our world.

Responsibilities

• Architect and implement Maps rendering features and technologies across all Apple platforms
• Partner with HI and Cartography teams to design new visual experiences
• Help drive on long-term technical strategy and roadmaps for future rendering and Maps experiences
• Contribute to critical decisions balancing visual quality, implementation complexity, and platform constraints
• Optimize rendering performance and power efficiency across our diverse hardware ecosystem
• Uphold and evolve team culture through architecture and code reviews, mentorship, and leadership by example

Minimum Qualifications

• BA/BS plus 5 years of hands‑on experience building real‑time 3D rendering applications
• Mastery of writing C++ that is safe, performant, readable, and built to last
• Experience with one or more modern graphics APIs (e.g., Metal, Vulkan, Direct3D 12, WebGPU) and shading languages (e.g., MSL, HLSL, GLSL, WGSL)
• Ability to use 3D geometry and linear algebra to solve graphics problems
• Experience with multi‑threaded engine architectures and synchronization
• Methodical debugging mindset and tenacious problem‑solving instincts
• Communication skills to make complex ideas clear to leadership and the collaboration skills to focus teams’ efforts
• Deep ownership of the features you ship

Preferred Qualifications

• Track record of shipping interactive rendering or game engines at scale for mobile platforms such as iOS, Android, or Linux
• Experience navigating the entire lifecycle of software development, from whiteboarding designs to shipping quality, optimized code
• Proficiency with GPU profiling tools and performance optimization for mobile platforms
• Familiarity with AR/VR rendering technologies and the unique challenges of immersive environments