Senior Software Engineer, Middleware - Special Projects

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

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Medical insurance

Retirement plan

Employee discounts

Tuition assistance

Job summary

Apple Inc. in Cupertino, California seeks a Senior Software Engineer for Middleware - Special Projects to design and implement daemon and framework services that power AI‑driven experiences across Apple platforms.

You will collaborate with hardware, ML, and UI teams to deliver high‑performance, developer‑friendly middleware. The role requires strong Swift/C++/Objective‑C, deep Apple platform knowledge, and a track record of cross‑layer system design with 5+ years of experience.

Qualifications

• Proficiency in Swift, C++, or Objective‑C with ability to read/write low‑level code.
• Strong experience developing for Apple platforms and understanding runtime systems.
• Ability to design cross‑layer solutions bridging hardware, system software, and frameworks.
• Experience influencing architecture and driving design across cross‑functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement daemons, frameworks, and system services for AI‑driven components.
• Prototype and evolve deterministic, reproducible, analyzable execution.
• Collaborate with hardware, embedded systems, and AI infrastructure teams.
• Partner with UI and backend teams to deliver high‑performance, developer‑friendly frameworks.
• Lead architecture reviews and drive clarity, reliability, and maintainability.
• Mentor peers and drive system‑wide performance improvements.

Skills

Swift

C++

Objective-C

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science or Electrical Engineering

Job description

Senior Software Engineer, Middleware - Special Projects

Cupertino, California, United States Machine Learning and AI

Generative intelligence is redefining what’s possible in Apple products. We’re looking for engineers who understand the entire system — from hardware to UI — and are inspired by building the connective layers that make it all work seamlessly. You’ll help shape how Apple’s intelligent systems perform, communicate, and evolve, influencing how new hardware and AI capabilities are integrated across our platforms to create experiences that feel effortless and natural. You’ll join a team designing and delivering middleware that powers intelligent, adaptive experiences across Apple products and platforms.

Description

Our team works at the intersection of hardware, software, and intelligence. We design the systems, infrastructure, and tools that enable Apple’s next generation of AI-driven experiences — from on-device middleware and distributed inference platforms to large‑scale data pipelines, interactive analytics, and advanced developer tooling. We collaborate closely with hardware, robotics, ML, design, and platform teams to build end‑to‑end solutions that are performant, intuitive, and deeply integrated into Apple’s ecosystem. The work is hands‑on, highly cross‑disciplinary, and central to shaping how Apple’s intelligent systems evolve.

Responsibilities

• In this role, you will:
• Design and implement daemons, frameworks, and system services that orchestrate AI‑driven components and manage data, communication, and performance across distributed systems
• Prototype and evolve systems that ensure deterministic, reproducible, and analyzable execution
• Collaborate with hardware, embedded systems, and AI infrastructure teams to bring new technologies into Apple’s platforms
• Partner with UI and backend teams to deliver frameworks that are both high‑performance and developer‑friendly
• Participate in and lead architecture and design reviews, setting high standards for clarity, reliability, and maintainability
• Mentor peers, drive system‑wide performance improvements, and advocate for robust tooling and diagnostics

Minimum Qualifications

• Proficiency in Swift, C++, or Objective‑C; comfortable reading and writing low‑level code when needed
• Deep experience developing for Apple platforms, with a strong understanding of their runtime systems, performance models, and interprocess communication
• Proven ability to design and deliver cross‑layer solutions that bridge hardware, system software, and higher‑level frameworks
• Demonstrated ability to influence system‑wide architectural decisions and drive design alignment across cross‑functional teams — from embedded and hardware engineers to UI and cloud teams
• Commitment to measuring and optimizing performance; skilled at using profiling and instrumentation tools
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related field, and 5+ years of relevant experience

Preferred Qualifications

• Attention to detail, creativity and passion
• Ability to deconstruct large features and implement practical solutions with good intuition in making time vs. complexity tradeoffs
• Strong understanding of API and framework design for maintainability and usability
• Strong grasp of Apple development tools
• Experience with real‑time or near‑real‑time systems, robotics, or automation frameworks.
• Familiarity with hardware bring‑up, device communication protocols, or sensor integration.
• Background in distributed systems or data orchestration, especially in AI or edge compute contexts.
• Passion for building tools that make complex systems understandable and debuggable.

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 $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. 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

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.

Learn about accessibility in Apple’s workplace

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Apple accepts applications to this posting on an ongoing basis.