Senior Software Engineer, Middleware - Special Projects

Generative intelligence is redefining what's possible in Apple products. We're looking for engineers who understand the entire system - from hardware to UI - and are inspired by building the connective layers that make it all work seamlessly. You'll help shape how Apple's intelligent systems perform, communicate, and evolve, influencing how new hardware and AI capabilities are integrated across our platforms to create experiences that feel effortless and natural.

You'll join a team designing and delivering middleware that powers intelligent, adaptive experiences across Apple products and platforms.

Description

Our team works at the intersection of hardware, software, and intelligence. We design the systems, infrastructure, and tools that enable Apple's next generation of AI-driven experiences - from on-device middleware and distributed inference platforms to large-scale data pipelines, interactive analytics, and advanced developer tooling. We collaborate closely with hardware, robotics, ML, design, and platform teams to build end-to-end solutions that are performant, intuitive, and deeply integrated into Apple's ecosystem. The work is hands-on, highly cross-disciplinary, and central to shaping how Apple's intelligent systems evolve.","responsibilities":"In this role, you will:

Design and implement daemons, frameworks, and system services that orchestrate AI-driven components and manage data, communication, and performance across distributed systems

Prototype and evolve systems that ensure deterministic, reproducible, and analyzable execution

Collaborate with hardware, embedded systems, and AI infrastructure teams to bring new technologies into Apple's platforms

Partner with UI and backend teams to deliver frameworks that are both high-performance and developer-friendly

Participate in and lead architecture and design reviews, setting high standards for clarity, reliability, and maintainability

Mentor peers, drive system-wide performance improvements, and advocate for robust tooling and diagnostics

Preferred Qualifications

Attention to detail, creativity and passion

Ability to deconstruct large features and implement practical solutions with good intuition in making time vs. complexity tradeoffs

Strong understanding of API and framework design for maintainability and usability

Strong grasp of Apple development tools

Experience with real-time or near-real-time systems, robotics, or automation frameworks.

Familiarity with hardware bring-up, device communication protocols, or sensor integration.

Background in distributed systems or data orchestration, especially in AI or edge compute contexts.