Software Data Engineer

People at Apple don't just build products - they craft the kind of experience that has revolutionized entire industries. The diverse collection of our people and their ideas inspire innovation in everything we do. Imagine what you could do here! Join Apple, and help us leave the world better than we found it.

The Analytics Platforms & Experiences (APX) team is at the forefront of revolutionising Data Engineering. We drive significant increases in efficiency and productivity through a flawless ecosystem of frameworks and products that unlock observability, knowledge and enable data quality-driven orchestration at scale. APX is part of the broader Apple Services Engineering division that powers App Store, Apple TV+, Apple Music, Apple Podcasts, Apple Books, Fitness+, the iTunes Store and more.

The APX Bedrock team is the foundational platform layer within APX, responsible for building the systems and services that underpin data engineering excellence across the organization. We are looking for a Software Data Engineer to join our team and contribute to building modern data platform capabilities. In this role, you will work on systems that enable data engineers across Apple to build applications efficiently while maintaining high standards of data quality, reliability, and operational excellence. You will have the opportunity to work with cutting-edge data technologies and grow your expertise in AI-enhanced engineering practices.

Description

As a Software Data Engineer on the APX Bedrock team, you will be a hands-on contributor building and enhancing the platform services that power data engineering at Apple. You will work closely with senior engineers and architects to deliver reliable, scalable solutions that have a tangible impact on data teams across the organization.

Design, develop, and maintain Java-based backend services and APIs that support core platform capabilities including metadata collection, dataset lifecycle management, and orchestration

Build and optimize data processing pipelines using distributed computing frameworks

Design and implement data models that accurately represent complex domain concepts and support efficient querying and storage patterns

Implement systems for monitoring dataset health, tracking completeness, and enforcing quality standards

Write clean, well-tested, production-quality code in Java as the primary language, with Scala, Go, or Python as complementary skills

Own database design decisions including schema design, indexing strategies, and query optimization for both relational and non-relational data stores

Participate in operational responsibilities including on-call rotations, incident response, and system health monitoring

Collaborate with peer teams across the platform organization to integrate and deliver cohesive capabilities

Leverage AI-powered development tools to accelerate development and improve code quality

Engage with internal users to understand their needs and translate feedback into platform improvements

Preferred Qualifications

Experience with non-relational or NoSQL databases and understanding of when to apply different data storage paradigms

Proficiency in Scala, Go, or Python as complementary programming languages

Familiarity with container orchestration tools such as Kubernetes

Exposure to AI-powered development tools and practices (e.g., Claude Code, Copilot)

Experience with data quality monitoring, metadata management, or dataset lifecycle tracking

Understanding of streaming data architectures and real-time processing patterns

Experience with event-driven architectures and distributed messaging systems

Strong communication skills and comfort collaborating across teams

Curiosity and eagerness to learn new technologies and take on increasing responsibility

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or equivalent related experience

3+ years of hands-on experience building data applications, backend services, or platform services

Strong, production-level programming experience in Java, including building and maintaining RESTful or RPC-based services

Solid experience with relational databases including schema design, data modeling, and query optimization using SQL

Experience with distributed data technologies such as Apache Spark or Apache Flink, Hadoop, HDFS, Kafka

Familiarity with workflow orchestration concepts and tools such as Apache Airflow

Demonstrated ability to build, test, and operationally maintain reliable software systems in production environments

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 $142,300 and $263,300, 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.