Systems Engineer

Apple Apple · Big Tech · Cupertino, CA · Software and Services

Software engineer for Apple's Compositing, Color, and Display Software organization, focusing on the graphics software foundation for Apple products. The role involves contributing to core compositing infrastructure, performance optimization, system feature implementation, and learning about input handling and event processing across Apple platforms. It's ideal for early-career engineers interested in systems programming and hardware coordination.

What you'd actually do

  1. Contribute to core compositing infrastructure across different areas of the team
  2. Work on performance optimization including frame scheduling and display coordination
  3. Help implement system features across Apple platforms
  4. Learn about input handling and event processing systems
  5. Help maintain and improve critical platform code

Skills

Required

  • 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

Nice to have

  • 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