Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET), Creative Apps

Apple Inc.; Cupertino (CA); On-site; USD 142,000 - 263,000; Full time

Job summary

Apple Inc. in San Diego, CA, is seeking a Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET) to own test automation frameworks for iOS and macOS features, integrating with live CI/CD pipelines and collaborating with engineers and product managers who view quality as a design input.

You will build production-grade test suites in Python and Swift, shape coverage models, and drive quality gates across the full SDLC, including GenAI-assisted testing and proactive automation improvements.

Qualifications

• 3+ years in SDET, QA automation, or testing-focused software engineering.
• Advanced proficiency in Python and Swift for building automated test frameworks.
• Experience embedding quality gates across the full SDLC from design to release.
• Proven track record designing multi-layered test strategies across functional, integration, regression, and exploratory testing.
• Direct experience building UI automation with XCUITest or XUI frameworks on Apple platforms.
• Experience integrating automated test suites into CI/CD pipelines as living infrastructure.
• Experience applying GenAI tooling to test generation or coverage improvement.
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or equivalent depth demonstrated through work.

Responsibilities

• Build production-grade automated test suites in Python and Swift for iOS/macOS features across unit, integration, and regression layers.
• Own UI automation infrastructure end-to-end—from XCUITest/XUI design to CI/CD integration.
• Drive test strategy for feature areas with coverage models, risk tiers, and quality gates.
• Identify and close coverage gaps via root cause analysis and systemic automation improvements.
• Evaluate and integrate new tooling, including GenAI-assisted test generation and prompt engineering workflows.
• Perform manual functional testing to validate new features and complex workflows when needed.

Skills

SDET experience

Python

Swift

CI/CD

UI automation

GenAI tooling

Prompt engineering

Test strategy

Education

Bachelors in CS/SE

Tools

XCUITest

XUI

Job description

Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET), Creative Apps

San Diego, California, United States Software and Services

What if your automation code was the last line of defense before a feature reached a billion devices? This role sits at the convergence of engineering rigor and product quality across Apple's iOS and macOS platforms — where the frameworks you build determine whether releases ship with confidence or not. The team operates end-to-end across the SDLC, and the bar for what 'good' looks like here resets what you thought quality engineering could be.

Description

You'll architect and own test automation frameworks that run inside live CI/CD pipelines, catching regressions before they ever reach a human reviewer. Every sprint, you'll work shoulder-to-shoulder with software engineers and product managers who expect quality to be a design input, not an afterthought. The tools you write will compress release cycles, the gaps you find will shape roadmap decisions, and the standards you set will outlast any single product cycle.

Responsibilities

• Build production-grade automated test suites in Python and Swift that validate iOS and macOS features at scale across unit, integration, and regression layers
• Own the UI automation infrastructure end-to-end — from XCUITest/XUI framework design to seamless CI/CD pipeline integration
• Drive test strategy for entire feature areas — defining coverage models, risk tiers, and quality gates that directly gate release decisions
• Identify and close coverage gaps through root cause analysis, translating triage findings into systemic automation improvements
• Accelerate team-wide quality practices by evaluating and integrating emerging tooling, including GenAI-assisted test generation and prompt engineering workflows
• Perform manual functional testing as needed to validate new features, regressions, and complex user workflows that are not yet automated or require exploratory validation.

Minimum Qualifications

• 3+ years of hands-on experience in SDET, QA automation, or software engineering with a testing focus
• Advanced proficiency in Python and Swift, specifically for building automated test frameworks and test tooling — not just scripting
• Practical command of the full SDLC with clear experience embedding quality gates at multiple phases, from design review through release
• Proven track record designing and executing multi-layered test strategies spanning functional, integration, regression, and exploratory methodologies
• Direct experience building UI automation with XCUITest or XUI frameworks against real Apple platform targets
• Demonstrated ability to integrate automated test suites into CI/CD pipelines and maintain them as living infrastructure
• Applied LLMs or GenAI tooling to test generation, failure analysis, or coverage gap identification in a real engineering workflow
• Built prompt engineering techniques into QA or developer tooling that measurably improved output quality or throughput
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or we may consider an equivalent depth demonstrated through industry work

Preferred Qualifications

• Shipped quality automation across both iOS and macOS across multiple full release cycles — not just one platform or one cycle
• Drove infrastructure improvements — framework refactors, pipeline optimizations, coverage initiatives — with documented impact on defect escape rates or release velocity
• Extended automation scope beyond functional testing into performance, accessibility, or localization validation
• Familiarity with photo and video editing applications or media-processing workflows, including experience testing or validating complex media-related features

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 $142,300 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.

Learn about accessibility in Apple’s workplace

Learn about reasonable accommodations for job applicants

Apple accepts applications to this posting on an ongoing basis.