Sr. Video Software Engineer, Camera & Photos

Apple Inc.; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 175,000 - 308,500; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options program

Relocation assistance

Comprehensive benefits

Job summary

Apple Inc. in Seattle is seeking a Sr. Video Software Engineer to architect features across the camera stack—from ISP to public APIs—supporting professional workflows for filmmakers and broadcast teams.

The role requires 8+ years of software experience and deep expertise in professional video tech, color science, codecs, and real-time pipelines. On-site in Seattle with strong collaboration across hardware and software teams.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of software engineering experience, with demonstrated ability to architect systems end-to-end.
• Proven track record of independently driving complex, cross-team technical efforts from ambiguity to delivery.
• Strong programming skills in Objective-C, C, C++, or Swift across both greenfield and legacy codebases.
• Deep expertise in professional video technology: color science, video codecs, frame timing, signal transport, or broadcast workflows.
• Experience working directly with professional video hardware, production environments, or broadcast infrastructure.
• Excellent communication skills with demonstrated ability to present technical strategies to both engineering peers and senior leadership.
• A CS degree or equivalent years of relevant industry experience

Responsibilities

• Architect and deliver professional video features across the full camera stack, from ISP firmware interfaces to public AVFoundation APIs.
• Engage directly with industry partners, standards bodies, and professional customers to gather requirements and validate technical direction.
• Navigate complex cross-team dependencies across display, audio, networking, and silicon teams to drive features to completion.
• Translate industry trends and customer needs into concrete engineering roadmaps and feature proposals.
• Design APIs and frameworks with the developer experience in mind, ensuring third-party camera apps can adopt professional capabilities with minimal friction.
• Mentor team members and contribute to architectural decisions that shape the long-term direction of Apple's pro video platform.
• Represent the team's work to leadership through clear, compelling technical narratives tailored to the audience

Skills

Swift

Objective-C

C++

C

Education

CS degree or equivalent

Tools

AVFoundation

Core Media

Core Video

Job description

Sr. Video Software Engineer, Camera & Photos

Seattle, Washington, United States Software and Services

iPhone is the most popular camera in the world, and increasingly it's the camera professionals reach for on film sets, in broadcast trucks, and at live events around the globe. The Pro Video Experiences team in the Camera & Photos org delivers Hollywood-level features that bridge the gap between iPhone's magic and the rigorous expectations of the world's most demanding users. As an engineer on our team, you'll architect and deliver the features that put iPhone in the hands of professional filmmakers, broadcast engineers, and creatives worldwide, working across the full stack from ISP to API while collaborating with industry partners and standards bodies who are shaping the future of professional media production. This is a unique space where deep systems engineering meets real-world creative workflows, and where the features you build end up on sets, in studios, and at live events consumed by millions of people.

Description

We're looking for a senior software engineer who combines deep technical expertise with genuine fluency in professional video and cinema workflows. In this role, you'll architect and deliver features across the camera stack, from low-level ISP integration to public-facing APIs, while drawing on your understanding of how professional filmmakers, broadcast engineers, and app developers actually work. You'll navigate color science, image processing, and computational photography with the judgment to know what's practically right versus merely academically correct. You'll maintain relationships with industry partners and standards bodies, synthesize signals from conferences and customer conversations into forward-looking roadmap bets, and translate complex technical strategies into compelling narratives for audiences ranging from peer engineers to executive leadership. Experience building camera/video apps on Apple's platforms is a strong plus: we value engineers who understand the developer experience firsthand and can advocate for our customers with the credibility of someone who has lived in their shoes.

Responsibilities

• Architect and deliver professional video features across the full camera stack, from ISP firmware interfaces to public AVFoundation APIs
• Engage directly with industry partners, standards bodies, and professional customers to gather requirements and validate technical direction
• Navigate complex cross-team dependencies across display, audio, networking, and silicon teams to drive features to completion
• Translate industry trends and customer needs into concrete engineering roadmaps and feature proposals
• Design APIs and frameworks with the developer experience in mind, ensuring third-party camera apps can adopt professional capabilities with minimal friction
• Mentor team members and contribute to architectural decisions that shape the long-term direction of Apple's pro video platform
• Represent the team's work to leadership through clear, compelling technical narratives tailored to the audience

Minimum Qualifications

• 8+ years of software engineering experience, with demonstrated ability to architect systems end-to-end
• Proven track record of independently driving complex, cross-team technical efforts from ambiguity to delivery
• Strong programming skills in Objective-C, C, C++, or Swift across both greenfield and legacy codebases
• Deep expertise in professional video technology: color science, video codecs, frame timing, signal transport, or broadcast workflows
• Experience working directly with professional video hardware, production environments, or broadcast infrastructure
• Excellent communication skills with demonstrated ability to present technical strategies to both engineering peers and senior leadership
• A CS degree or equivalent years of relevant industry experience

Preferred Qualifications

• Professional experience in broadcast, cinema, or live production technology
• Familiarity with industry timing and synchronization standards (PTP/IEEE 1588, timecode, genlock)
• Experience building apps or frameworks on Apple platforms (iOS, macOS)
• Demonstrated understanding of AVFoundation, Core Media, or Core Video
• Track record of engaging with external partners, customers, or standards bodies
• Experience with SDI, DisplayPort, or professional video signal transport
• Comfort navigating HDR workflows or real-time image processing pipelines

At Apple, base pay is one part of our total compensation package and is determined within a range. The base pay range for this role is between $175,000 and $308,500, 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

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.