Senior Software Engineering Manager, Creative Apps

Apple; Cupertino (CA); On-site; USD 238,000 - 402,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive medical coverage

Employee stock plans

Relocation assistance

Education reimbursement

Job summary

Apple, Inc. in Cupertino, CA is seeking a Senior Software Engineering Manager for Creative Apps to lead multiple engineering teams focused on photography and creative tools for iOS and macOS.

The role blends hands-on technical work with people leadership, mentoring engineers and managers to drive high-quality product delivery. You will partner with product, design, and XFN groups to translate creative vision into shipped software, defining roadmaps and engineering excellence practices while

Qualifications

• 5+ years of engineering management experience leading engineers and managers.
• Deep expertise in iOS and/or macOS app development using UIKit and/or AppKit.
• Proven track record delivering consumer-facing apps from concept to App Store release.
• Strong background in software architecture, frameworks, and UI systems at scale.
• Experience building high-performing teams in fast-paced environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead multiple engineering teams, guiding technical strategy and execution.
• Partner with product, design, and cross-functional teams for polished features.
• Balance hands-on technical work with people leadership, mentoring engineers and managers.
• Define engineering excellence practices and quality software standards.
• Recruit, develop, and retain top engineering talent and career growth paths.

Skills

Leadership

iOS/macOS dev

UIKit/AppKit

Roadmap & strategy

Cross-functional auth

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or related field

Job description

Senior Software Engineering Manager, Creative Apps

Cupertino, California, United States Software and Services

Apple's Creator Studio team builds the creative applications that empower millions of users to express their creativity and vision on Apple platforms. We are looking for a seasoned engineering leader to manage a high-performing team of domain expert engineering creatives looking to do the best work of their careers on a highly visible, highly impactful product.

Description

In this role, you will lead multiple engineering teams, driving technical strategy, execution, and team development. You will partner closely with product, design, and XFN teams to deliver polished, innovative features built on UIKit, AppKit, and modern agentic frameworks. Day-to-day, you will balance hands-on technical engagement with people leadership - hiring, mentoring, and growing both engineers and managers on your team.

Responsibilities

• Lead a multi-level team of software engineers and engineering managers building photography and creative apps on iOS and macOS
• Define and drive the technical roadmap for creative feature development
• Partner with product management and design to translate creative vision into shipped software with exceptional craft and performance
• Establish engineering excellence practices and define what it means to develop quality software in an evolving landscape of human/machine teaming.
• Recruit, develop, and retain top engineering talent; provide clear career growth paths for both ICs and managers
• Collaborate cross-functionally with platform, infrastructure, and other app teams to resolve dependencies and share best practices
• Represent the team in leadership forums, communicating progress, risks, and strategic direction with clarity and confidence

Minimum Qualifications

• 5+ years of engineering management experience, including direct management of both engineers and managers
• Deep expertise in iOS and/or macOS application development using UIKit and/or AppKit
• Proven experience delivering complex, consumer-facing apps from concept through App Store release
• Strong background in software architecture, app frameworks, and UI systems at production scale
• Track record of building and developing high-performing engineering teams in a fast-paced product environment
• Demonstrated ability to drive technical decisions across multiple concurrent workstreams with minimal direction

Preferred Qualifications

• Hands-on experience with photography, imaging, or creative application development on Apple platforms
• Familiarity with on-device machine learning integration, or intelligent creative tooling
• Skilled in navigating large, cross-functional organizations and aligning diverse stakeholders around a shared technical vision
• Experience contributing to or consuming first-party Apple frameworks, or deep knowledge of Apple platform internals
• Proficiency in Swift and modern Objective-C, with a strong sense of what high-quality Apple platform code looks like
• Prior experience managing geographically distributed or hybrid engineering teams
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related technical field, or equivalent practical experience

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 $237,600 and $401,700, 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.

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