Software Development Engineer in Test - CoreOS Quality Engineer

Apple Inc.; Cupertino, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 278,000; Full time

Job summary

Apple Inc. in Cupertino, California is seeking a Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET) to boost quality across the Darwin Ecosystem.

You will design test strategies, develop robust automation, and validate userspace runtimes and system services, spanning libdispatch, XPC, launchd, and related components. Collaborate with multiple teams to triage failures spanning userspace and kernel, extend test frameworks, and deliver clear quality signals.

Qualifications

• Solid understanding of OS fundamentals and UNIX; analytical, problem-solving, debugging skills.
• 3+ years in C and Python; experience building automated tests and test infrastructure.
• Experience with QA planning, validation strategies, and cross-functional coordination.
• Excellent communication; ability to report quality status to stakeholders.
• Bachelor’s or Master’s in CS/CE/EE or equivalent experience.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement integration, system, and end-to-end test coverage in C and Python.
• Build and extend automated test harnesses and validation infrastructure.
• Investigate, triage, and root cause complex test failures across userspace and kernel boundaries.
• Analyze quality data to identify gaps in coverage and risks; drive release readiness.
• Communicate quality status and risks to engineering leadership.

Skills

C programming

Python

Testing automation

Debugging

Operating systems

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s in CS/CE/EE

Equivalent experience

Job description

Cupertino, California, United States Software and Services

Are you a big-picture problem solver who loves setting high-reaching goals? Do you have a passion for understanding how each line of code affects all the others? In the Core Operating Systems group, you'll help make the operating system inseparable from the identity of every device it runs on. This group brings hardware, software, and apps together into one seamless Apple experience and your commitment to cross-disciplinary collaboration will help validate the foundational Darwin runtimes and system services that every Apple operating system, from iOS and macOS to watchOS, tvOS, and visionOS, is built upon. Apple's CoreOS organization is seeking a highly motivated Software Development Engineer in Test to join the Darwin Ecosystem Quality Engineering team. We recognize that the quality of our software is only as good as that of our testing. The right candidate for this position enjoys finding creative and unexpected ways to torture bits.

Description

We are seeking a Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET) to help drive quality across the Darwin Ecosystem of projects. Our QE team owns the quality of features and projects across the userspace runtime and concurrency libraries (libdispatch/GCD, libpthread, libplatform, libmalloc, libSystem), inter-process communication (XPC), process lifecycle and launch (launchd, RunningBoard), diagnostics and unified logging (os_log/libtrace, sysdiagnose), app installation and runtime services (MobileInstallation, MobileContainerManager, InstallCoordination), server operating system foundations and the BSD userland that ships across every Apple platform. In this role, you will partner closely with these development teams to proactively define test strategy, develop robust automation, execute validation plans, and deliver clear, trustworthy quality signals for complex, low-level systems. You will be responsible for investigating and triaging test failures, diagnosing issues that span userspace and kernel boundaries and the test infrastructure itself, extending our shared test frameworks, and building automation that enables fast, reliable feedback throughout the development lifecycle. This role requires strong technical depth, excellent communication skills, and a systems-level mindset. You will work independently on ambiguous problems, influence quality decisions across teams, and help raise the overall bar for Darwin Ecosystem validation. The ideal candidate is technically curious, detail-oriented, and motivated to make a measurable impact on the stability and reliability of Apple's system software.

Responsibilities

• Develop a deep understanding of ongoing development efforts across the Darwin Ecosystem teams
• Partner closely with development teams to understand system architecture, feature design, and subsystem interactions across the userspace runtime, concurrency and IPC libraries, process lifecycle, diagnostics, and app installation
• Design and implement integration, system, and end-to-end test coverage, with targeted unit testing where appropriate, using languages such as C and Python
• Build, maintain, and extend automated test harnesses and validation infrastructure which includes shared frameworks to enable scalable, high-signal testing across the development lifecycle
• Investigate, triage, and root cause complex test failures spanning userspace, kernel, hardware, and infrastructure layers, driving issues to resolution
• Analyze quality data and trends to identify systemic risks, gaps in coverage, and opportunities for increased confidence in release readiness
• Communicate quality status, key risks, and strategic focus areas to engineering leadership and stakeholders through clear, data-driven reporting
• Operate effectively in ambiguous environments, independently prioritizing work and influencing quality outcomes across a large, multi-team organization

Minimum Qualifications

• Solid understanding of the fundamentals of operating systems and UNIX, with excellent analytical, problem-solving, and debugging skills
• 3+ years of experience with programming languages such as C and Python, and experience developing automated tests and test infrastructure
• Skilled in testing methodologies, test planning, and defining validation strategies, with the ability to independently manage QA efforts across cross-functional teams
• Excellent collaborative skills with outstanding verbal and written communication abilities, including communicating quality status to stakeholders
• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent experience

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience using a debugger (e.g., LLDB) to diagnose low-level failures across userspace/kernel boundaries, and familiarity with security testing practices and tools

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 $150,400 and $277,600, 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
• Reimbursement for formal education related to advancing your career at Apple, including tuition
• Discretionary bonuses or commission payments
• Relocation assistance

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

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Apple accepts applications to this posting on an ongoing basis.