Software Development Engineer in Test - Platform System Validation

Apple Inc.; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 175,000 - 263,000; Full time

Job summary

Apple Inc. in San Diego is seeking a Software Development Engineer in Test to strengthen Platform System Validation. You will work on low-level firmware, silicon features, and bootloader technologies, influencing testability in software design and advancing system validation across multiple chip platforms.

Join a team driving automation, AI-driven tooling, and cross-functional collaboration to ensure high-quality Apple silicon products from bring-up to release.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
• 5+ years of software test automation or SDET experience.
• Experience designing and building test automation frameworks from scratch.
• Experience with hardware bring-up or silicon/system validation.
• Proficiency in Python and familiarity with CI/CD integration.

Responsibilities

• Scale test automation infrastructure for hardware and workload validation across the org.
• Develop validation workloads for new hardware bring-up across multiple chip platforms.
• Lead architecture efforts for core test infrastructure and tooling, from design through release.
• Build tooling that integrates with CI/test frameworks to support continuous validation.
• Contribute to AI-driven tooling for issue triage and workload generation.
• Collaborate with hardware, software, and program leads to unblock validation dependencies.

Skills

Test automation

Python

CI/CD pipelines

SDET

Hardware bring-up

C/C++

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/EE or related

Tools

CI/CD tooling

Job description

Software Development Engineer in Test - Platform System Validation

San Diego, California, United States Software and Services

Do you have a strong interest in low-level firmware and operating systems? A desire to work on complex software features, driving a high standard of quality into Apple's products? The CoreOS Platform Enablement & Quality Engineering organization is looking for a talented and passionate software engineer to join the Platform System Validation team. As a critical member of the team, you will focus on software technologies in low-level firmware and Apple silicon domains. Your responsibilities will span all phases of software delivery of Apple's products, from early design to product launch and beyond. You'll become intimately familiar with one or more major technologies, taking on responsibilities of test, framework, and tool development, along with influencing design decisions.

Description

Devise a testing strategy for one or more major SoCs and products, focusing on low-level firmware, silicon features, and bootloader technologies. Gain a deep understanding of the design, requirements, and architecture. Influence the inclusion of testability into software design. Develop and automate system-level tests focused on software stress and stability. Define and drive quality metrics to track progress and improvements. Collaborate cross-functionally with systems, quality engineering, and development teams. Assess and represent the end-user impact of issues, shaping key product decisions. Explore novel approaches to create new test frameworks, automation, and infrastructure to streamline testing. Scale the team’s test automation infrastructure to support growing hardware and workload validation needs across the organization. Develop and validate system workloads and test cycles for new hardware bring-up across multiple chip platforms. Lead architecture efforts for core test infrastructure and tooling, driving both development and operational execution from design through release. Build and maintain tooling that integrates with CI/test frameworks to support continuous validation across hardware programs. Contribute to the team’s AI-driven initiatives, extending tooling for issue triage and workload generation for new product programs. Partner with cross-functional teams (hardware, software, program leads) to unblock validation dependencies and keep programs on schedule.

Responsibilities

• Scale the team’s test automation infrastructure to support growing hardware and workload validation needs across the org.
• Develop and validate system validation workloads and test cycles for new hardware bring-up across multiple chip platforms.
• Lead architecture efforts for core test infrastructure and tooling, driving both development and operational execution from design through release.
• Build and maintain tooling that integrates with CI/test frameworks to support continuous validation across hardware programs.
• Contribute to the team’s AI-driven initiatives, extending tooling for issue triage and workload generation for new product programs.
• Partner with cross-functional teams (hardware, software, program leads) to unblock validation dependencies and keep programs on schedule.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• 5+ years of experience in software test automation, test infrastructure, or software development engineering in test (SDET).
• Demonstrated experience designing and building test automation frameworks or tooling from the ground up.
• Experience with hardware bring-up or system-level validation for silicon/chip platforms.
• Proficiency in Python (or a comparable scripting/programming language) and experience integrating tooling with CI/CD or test-execution pipelines.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in software development and testing.
• Skilled in testing embedded systems and firmware.
• Familiarity with computer architecture and operating system concepts.
• Demonstrated strong critical thinking, debugging, and troubleshooting skills.
• Excellent collaborative and communication skills.
• Knowledge of C/C++ and Python programming.

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 $175,000 and $263,300, 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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Apple accepts applications to this posting on an ongoing basis.