Software Architect - iOS Devices

Apple Inc.; Sunnyvale (CA); Hybrid; USD 185,000 - 325,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock programs

Medical and dental coverage

Retirement benefits

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

Tuition reimbursement

Relocation assistance

Job summary

Apple Inc. seeks a Software Architect to shape architectures across iOS, watchOS and emerging platforms, collaborating with hardware, algorithms, data engineering and product design teams.

You will lead end-to-end architecture, set coding standards, build modular components, and guide reviews to deliver robust sensing and research software. This highly technical role requires strong leadership and the ability to influence across teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or equivalent with 10+ years of relevant experience.
• Experience leading, designing and driving architecture for complex, multi-module applications or system software.
• Experience influencing technical decisions across cross-functional partners (Algorithms, HW, QE, Data Engineering).
• Experience developing high-quality iOS/watchOS/macOS applications (App Store or internal enterprise distribution).

Responsibilities

• Drive end-to-end architecture for iOS frameworks, applications and internal research platforms.
• Establish coding standards, architectural patterns, and platform roadmaps.
• Build modular, scalable, and testable components enabling research studies, sensor pipelines, and future product features.
• Support product teams and prototyping teams through rapid iteration cycles.
• Guide engineers through design reviews, code reviews, and architectural decisions.
• Profile and optimize for performance, power, reliability, and data integrity.
• Collaborate closely with cross-functional partners to bring new hardware and sensing capabilities to life.
• Contribute to the vision of next-generation software platforms at Apple.

Skills

Architecture leadership

Cross-functional influence

iOS/watchOS/macOS app development

Performance optimization

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/CE/EE or equivalent

Tools

Xcode

Instruments

LLDB

Time Profiler

Memory Graph Debugger

Job description

Apple builds products that enrich lives, and at the heart of those experiences is world-class software. The Sensing Software team is seeking an outstanding Software Architect to help drive the software development and architecture underlying next generation Apple products. In this role, you will shape foundational application and system architectures across iOS, watchOS, and emerging platforms, collaborating deeply with cross-functional hardware, algorithms, data engineering, and product design teams. You will leverage your expertise in large-scale system design, performance optimization, and Apple’s software frameworks to build robust platforms that power novel sensing and research experiences. This is a highly visible, highly technical role requiring strong technical leadership, clarity of thought, and the ability to influence technical direction across teams!

Description

In this role, you will lead architectural efforts across current and future Apple sensing and research software platforms. You will partner with hardware, algorithms, and multi-functional engineering teams to define the application and system software layers that support groundbreaking features and data-driven experiences.

Responsibilities

• Drive end-to-end architecture for iOS frameworks, applications and internal research platforms
• Establish coding standards, architectural patterns, and platform roadmaps.
• Build modular, scalable, and testable components enabling research studies, sensor pipelines, and future product features.
• Support product teams and prototyping teams through rapid iteration cycles.
• Guide engineers through design reviews, code reviews, and architectural decisions.
• Profile and optimize for performance, power, reliability, and data integrity.
• Collaborate closely with cross-functional partners to bring new hardware and sensing capabilities to life.
• Contribute to the vision of next-generation software platforms at Apple.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelors Degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or equivalent and 10+ years relevant experience
• Experience leading, designing and driving architecture for complex, multi module applications or system software.
• Experience influencing technical decisions across cross-functional partners (Algorithms, HW, QE, Data Engineering).
• Experience developing high-quality iOS/watchOS/macOS applications (App Store or internal enterprise distribution).
• Experience with essential tools: Xcode, Instruments, LLDB, Time Profiler, Memory Graph Debugger.

Preferred Qualifications

• Ability to leverage AI tools to effectively deliver results
• Experience in driving architectural decisions, presenting clear technical strategies, mentor in engineers, and influencing without authority.
• Ability to break down ambiguous technical spaces, define clear architectural patterns, and guide teams on implementation.
• Deep knowledge of Apple’s development frameworks & toolchains.
• Deep understanding of concurrency, asynchronous programming (GCD, Swift Concurrency, Actors), and high-performance architectures.
• Strong grasp of scalability, reliability, power efficiency, and performance tuning for resource constrained devices.
• Strong command of object-oriented and protocol-oriented design, data structures, algorithms, and system design principles.
• Experience with RESTful APIs, local persistence, distributed systems, and full-stack interactions.
• Exceptional problem-solving, debugging, and triage skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Prior experience in technical leadership, architecture, or platform-level roles preferred.

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

Learn about reasonable accommodations for job applicants

Apple accepts applications to this posting on an ongoing basis.