Experience Prototyper - Software

Next Gen Computing (NGC) develops new concepts and capabilities for Apple products. The team brings expertise in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, software design, and interaction design, enabling it to build fully functional prototypes that inform decisions across Apple. From rapid proofs of concept to live-on platforms distributed to dozens of internal users for longer durations, we can take an exploration as far as needed to enable our colleagues and stakeholders to get a hands-on feel for an experience instead of just an idea. We work across a variety of product lines and work regularly with engineering, design, and human factors functions to realize our work as clearly as possible. Our team offers a unique opportunity to inform the future of Apple products.

Description

Experience prototypers combine skills in user experience design and software development to explore new product design spaces across the Apple ecosystem. Through deep collaboration with hardware/software engineers and designers, they architect and build interactive prototypes, connecting product concepts to technical feasibility to bring abstract ideas to life. They operate comfortably in ambiguity to build everything from rapid mock-ups to polished interactions. They are able to frame their explorations with human-centered design language and visual artifacts, share their work with collaborators and stakeholders, and synthesize their findings to turn building into shared learning.

Responsibilities:

Architect, develop, and iterate on prototypes to explore and validate opportunities within new product design spaces

Design and build interactive prototypes of new interaction models and user interfaces, with strong aesthetic and design sensibility

Modify Apple's UI frameworks and core OS components to add support for prototype hardware sensors and actuators

Partner closely with hardware and systems engineers to inform hardware architecture, and to ensure necessary integration with custom hardware platforms

Communicate design intent and architecture decisions clearly through sketches, storyboards, scenarios, and technical block diagrams

Document prototypes thoughtfully with video and other means

Synthesize findings and reflections into a coherent story, contextualizing and framing the work as appropriate for different audiences at Apple

Preferred Qualifications

Dynamic range necessary to work effectively at different levels of refinement, from scrappy to polished

Comfort with ambiguity, open-ended exploration, and far-out ideas

Attention to the functional and aesthetic details of user interface design, and consideration of human factors

Familiarity with common hardware sensors, digital signal processing, gesture detection, or firmware development

Experience with graphical animations, motion design, or GPU shader programming

Familiarity with generative AI workflows

Minimum Qualifications

5+ years of experience with native UI development for iOS, macOS, or similar platforms using Swift, C, Objective-C, or C++

Bachelor's or master's degree in computer science/computer engineering, or equivalent career experience

Fluency with interaction design methods: concept sketching/diagramming, problem framing, visual storytelling

Natural curiosity and intuitive desire to quickly build something tangible to explore an idea

Demonstrated ability to quickly learn new technologies, tools, and domains, and to adapt your skillset as project needs evolve

Pay & Benefits

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 $184,700 and $324,800, and your base pay will depend on your skills, qualifications, experience, and location.