Sr. Principal Engineer - FoundationDB

Apple Inc.; Cupertino (CA); Hybrid; USD 263,000 - 394,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee Stock Program

Relocation assistance

Discretionary bonuses

Job summary

Apple Inc. is seeking a Principal Engineer for FoundationDB in Cupertino to define architectural direction and tackle plasma-scale distributed database challenges. You will influence technical vision, drive engineering excellence, and mentor a growing team across multiple cross-functional partners.

You will shape how we approach the hardest problems in distributed databases, from transaction layers to scalable storage, while aligning with business priorities and long-term strategy.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of experience designing, implementing, and operating highly scalable distributed systems.
• Hands-on experience with planet-scale databases (Spanner, DynamoDB, CockroachDB or comparable).
• Ability to define and communicate long-term technical strategy across large organizations.
• Strong cross-functional partnership and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Define and drive the long-term technical vision and architectural direction for FoundationDB, setting the bar for engineering excellence.
• Provide deep technical guidance on high-impact challenges and surface risks before they become critical.
• Partner with engineering leadership to align technical direction with business priorities.
• Mentor and develop the next generation of engineers while raising the technical hiring bar.
• Lead the rethink of the transaction layer and scalability architecture from first principles.
• Guide future initiatives on CDC pipelines, log storage, and tiered storage.

Skills

Distributed systems design

Planet-scale databases

Technical strategy

Cross-functional partnership

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or related field

Tools

Spanner

DynamoDB

CockroachDB

Job description

Cupertino, California, United States Software and Services

Apple is home to some of the most complex and consequential infrastructure in the world. At the center of iCloud's platform is FoundationDB, a planet-scale database system powering tens of billions of databases and some of Apple's most critical services. We are looking for a Principal Engineer to join this team and serve as its technical north star: defining architectural direction, shaping the hardest problems in distributed databases, and helping grow the team that brings that vision to life.

Description

FoundationDB is the metadata layer behind iCloud Storage, operating at a scale that puts it in rare company globally. And because this technology is open source, the architectural decisions made here don't stay inside Apple, they ripple across the broader technology ecosystem, powering some of the most technically demanding systems in the world. This is a pivotal moment for the team. We are in an active growth phase and looking for a Principal Engineer who will serve as the technical north star through that expansion. The hardest and most interesting problems in distributed databases are ahead of us, and you will define how we approach them. You won't just be close to these problems. You will shape the technical vision and approach for solving them, influence the engineers tackling them day to day, and help grow the team that turns that vision into reality.

Responsibilities

• Define and drive the long-term technical vision and architectural direction for FoundationDB, setting the bar for engineering excellence across trade-offs, problem-solving approaches, and architectural integrity at scale.


• Provide deep technical guidance on the most complex, highest-impact challenges the team faces, proactively surfacing risks, gaps, and scalability constraints before they become critical.


• Partner closely with engineering leadership and cross-functional teams to align technical direction with business and platform priorities.


• Elevate the broader organization through thought leadership and mentorship, while playing an active role in defining the technical hiring bar and developing the next generation of engineers.


• Lead the rethinking of the transaction layer and scalability architecture from first principles, pressure-testing every assumption the current system makes.


• Guide team in future initiatives pertaining to building the next-generation CDC pipeline, log storage, and build tiered storage.

Minimum Qualifications

• 15+ years of experience designing, implementing, and operating highly scalable distributed systems.


• Deep expertise in planet-scale database systems, with hands-on experience in systems such as Spanner, DynamoDB, CockroachDB, or comparable technology.


• Proven ability to define and communicate long-term technical strategy across large, complex engineering organizations.


• Strong cross-functional partnership skills, with experience working closely with platform, infrastructure, and product engineering teams.


• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills -- able to articulate complex technical concepts clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.


• A strong sense of ownership and a track record of driving outcomes in ambiguous, high-stakes environments.


• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with modern data storage systems.


• Knowledge of security & privacy.

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 $262,500 and $394,000, 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.


• 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

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Apple accepts applications to this posting on an ongoing basis.