Systems Engineer

Cupertino, California, United States$129,300 - $225,300

Apple's Compositing, Color, and Display Software organization provides the graphics software foundation for all of Apple's innovative products, including iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Mac, Apple Watch and Vision Pro. Our goal is to enable developers and UI designers to create exceptional visual experiences by efficiently utilizing hardware acceleration and color technologies through compositing and display. We're a highly technical team working on critical compositing and windowing system components across Apple's platforms. Our mission is to maintain and evolve the compositing infrastructure that powers billions of devices. We tackle challenging problems in scheduler architecture, event processing, security rendering, hardware integration, and legacy system support while maintaining the high-quality standards our users expect. If you are passionate about building efficient compositing systems, optimizing for new hardware capabilities, and great battery life for millions of users worldwide, we want to hear from you. If you're excited about working across the full spectrum of compositing challenges—from scheduler design to event handling to security features—this role is for you.

We're seeking a talented software engineer to join our UI Compositing team and grow into a key contributor to the core compositing infrastructure that powers all Apple devices. You'll have the opportunity to learn and work across different technical domains—from low-level system optimization to cross-platform feature development—while being mentored by experienced engineers. This role is ideal for someone early in their career who is eager to tackle diverse technical challenges and develop both depth and breadth in their engineering skills.

Contribute to core compositing infrastructure across different areas of the team
Work on performance optimization including frame scheduling and display coordination
Help implement system features across Apple platforms
Learn about input handling and event processing systems
Help maintain and improve critical platform code
Debug compositing issues with support from senior engineers
Learn to work with codebases across different Apple platforms
Gain exposure to advanced display technologies and hardware capabilities
Collaborate with and learn from GPU driver teams, Display teams, and Metal framework engineers
Develop skills navigating large, complex codebases across different technical domains
Write clear, well-documented code and participate in team code reviews
Build your expertise in compositing, systems programming, and hardware coordination

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science or related field, or equivalent practical experience
Solid understanding of computer science fundamentals: data structures, algorithms, and operating systems concepts
Ability to write code in at least one lower-level language like C, C++, or similar (from coursework or projects)
Comfortable working in Unix/Linux environments and using command-line tools
Some experience with debugging (even from school projects or internships)
Enthusiasm for learning complex systems and new technologies
Good problem-solving skills and attention to detail
Willingness to learn and improve through mentorship and code reviews
Collaborative mindset and ability to work well with others
Adaptability and interest in working across different technical areas

Hands-on experience with C, C++, or Objective-C (from internships, projects, or coursework)
Exposure to concepts like memory management, threading, or concurrency
Basic understanding of graphics systems, display technologies, or hardware-software interaction
Experience using profiling or debugging tools
Coursework or projects involving operating systems, compilers, or low-level programming
Familiarity with debuggers like lldb or gdb, or profiling tools like Instruments
Experience developing on macOS, iOS, or other Apple platforms
Personal or academic projects that involved systems programming
Curiosity about how hardware and software work together
Interest in performance optimization or system-level programming
Track record of learning new technical concepts quickly
Willingness to work across different technical areas and problem domains

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 $129,300 and $225,300, 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.

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