Aesthetics Science Manager, Look Development

Apple • Cupertino, CA

2d

About The Position

The Aesthetics Science Manager oversees the look development process within Software Engineering, leads a team of look developers, and owns the end-to-end process for creating software features that require an aesthetic look and feel. The role calls for a collaborative leader who can work across technical and creative processes while maintaining high standards.

The manager hires and directs a rotating roster of creative contractors, including colorists, retouchers, and photographic artists. These contractors use proprietary internal software tools and work through fast-paced, iterative feedback loops involving multiple stakeholder teams and engineering timelines. The manager brings hands-on knowledge of creative look development and artists’ needs, along with the organizational skill to coordinate multidisciplinary work, support effective decision-making, and ensure decisions are reflected in the results.

Requirements

• Deep working knowledge of how high-end images are created and what leading artists need to do their best work.
• Proven experience hiring, scoping, and directing elite creative contractors on both short- and long-term assignments.
• A track record of managing multidisciplinary creative processes from start to finish, including schedules, dependencies, iteration cycles, and deliverables.
• Ability to understand creative and software development needs and translate between them.
• Experience designing and running reviews with senior creative and technical stakeholders, bringing divergent views together, and driving clear decisions.
• Ability to describe images precisely and communicate what artists and reviewers are seeing and requesting.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent practical experience in Photography, Film, Visual Arts, Color Science, Computer Science, Imaging Technology, or a related field.
• 8+ years of experience leading creative processes or look development work in technical or engineering environments.
• Experience in computational photography, camera or imaging software, VFX/finishing, or creative software development.
• A strong portfolio supporting visual or art direction in editorial or commercial contexts.
• Experience leading and building creative teams.
• Experience directing artists on proprietary or in-development creative tools.
• Familiarity with color science fundamentals, including tone curves, color spaces, gamut mapping, and LUTs.
• Familiarity with machine-learning-based imaging pipelines.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the look development process within Software Engineering.
• Lead a team of look developers and own the start-to-finish process for creating software features requiring aesthetic look and feel.
• Hire, scope, and direct creative contractors, including colorists, retouchers, and photographic artists, on short- and long-term assignments.
• Manage multidisciplinary creative efforts, including schedules, dependencies, iteration cycles, and deliverables.
• Translate between creative development needs and software development needs.
• Design and facilitate reviews with senior creative and technical stakeholders, bringing divergent views together and driving clear decisions.
• Ensure decisions made by stakeholders carry through into the work's results.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Education Level: No Education Listed