Senior Software Engineer - Distributed Build Systems

Apple Inc.; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 184,700 - 324,800; Full time

Job summary

Apple is seeking a Senior Software Engineer to contribute to the distributed build platform that powers operating systems and apps across billions of users. You will work within the Software Engineering Developer Productivity team on distributed scheduling, build correctness, caching strategies, and performance at scale.

You will mentor engineers, drive design discussions, set technical direction, and communicate trade-offs across teams, delivering high-impact solutions in a fast-paced

Qualifications

• 5+ years of software engineering experience in developer tooling, backend, infrastructure, or systems contexts.
• Experience developing testing strategies and operating software in production environments using metrics, telemetry, and performance data to evaluate system behavior, identify bottlenecks, and drive iteration on systems.
• Experience owning the delivery of projects with significant scope, including defining approach and driving completion.
• Experience mentoring engineers or raising team capabilities through code review, design guidance, or knowledge sharing.

Responsibilities

• Own technically complex and high-impact projects to optimize distributed scheduling, ensure build correctness, develop caching strategies, and improve build performance at scale.
• Set technical direction, make design trade-offs, and ensure high-quality outcomes.
• Mentor engineers, establish engineering best practices, and contribute to a culture of technical rigor and continuous improvement.
• Communicate effectively across organizational boundaries, articulating technical trade-offs to stakeholders and aligning efforts across teams.

Skills

5+ years software engineering

Testing strategies

Project ownership

Mentoring engineers

Job description

Senior Software Engineer - Distributed Build Systems

Cupertino, California, United States Software and Services

Apple's distributed build platform is central to the development and delivery of every operating system and app we ship. Tens of thousands of engineers rely on it daily to develop software that ships to billions of customers — a scale that has few peers in the industry. This role is part of the Software Engineering Developer Productivity team that builds and operates that platform, working at the intersection of developer productivity and systems engineering to solve complex distributed systems and build automation challenges. Every performance improvement and correctness fix translates directly into faster, more reliable software development for thousands of engineers across Apple, and ultimately into better products for billions of people. The challenges here go well beyond routine development. They demand creative thinking, strong fundamentals, and a drive to build solutions where none exist yet.

Description

We're looking for senior software engineers who combine deep technical ability with strong engineering judgment and the ability to lead through influence. In this role, you'll shape the platform by identifying and solving the most important problems, while raising the engineering bar for the team. You'll own technically complex and high‑impact projects to optimize distributed scheduling, ensure build correctness, develop caching strategies, and continuously improve build performance at scale. You'll set technical direction, make design trade‑offs, and ensure high‑quality outcomes. Post‑delivery, you'll use data and telemetry to measure impact, drive reliability improvements, and support production systems on call. Beyond individual contributions, you'll play a key role in elevating the team by mentoring engineers, establishing engineering best practices, improving development processes, and contributing to a culture of technical rigor and continuous improvement. You'll help less‑experienced engineers grow by providing thoughtful code review, facilitating design discussions, and creating opportunities for others to take on challenging work. You'll also need to communicate effectively across organizational boundaries, articulating technical trade‑offs to stakeholders, aligning efforts across teams, and representing the team's technical perspective in cross‑functional planning.

Minimum Qualifications

• 5+ years of software engineering experience in developer tooling, backend, infrastructure, or systems contexts
• Experience developing testing strategies and operating software in production environments using metrics, telemetry, and performance data to evaluate system behavior, identify bottlenecks, and drive iteration on systems
• Experience owning the delivery of projects with significant scope, including defining approach and driving completion
• Experience mentoring engineers or raising team capabilities through code review, design guidance, or knowledge sharing

Preferred Qualifications

• Distributed systems, scheduling, or caching at scale
• Concurrency, systems programming, or performance optimization
• Observability, monitoring, or SRE practices
• Leveraging AI‑assisted development tools to improve personal and team productivity
• Making risk‑informed decisions about changes to systems with broad user impact
• Driving architectural decisions that balance near‑term delivery with long‑term system health
• Communicating technical trade‑offs to diverse audiences, including those outside your immediate domain

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 $184,700 and $324,800, 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.

At Apple, we believe accessibility is a fundamental human right. You’ll find that idea reflected in everything here — in our culture, our benefits and our digital tools. By welcoming as many perspectives as possible, we help you build a career where you feel like you belong.

Apple accepts applications to this posting on an ongoing basis.