Software Development Engineer in Test - Kernel Quality Engineering, Core OS

Apple•Cupertino, CA

19h

About The Position

The Darwin Kernel organization is crucial to Apple's success, responsible for the XNU kernel across all iPhone, iPad, Mac, Watch, Apple TV, and Vision devices. As a member of this team, you will qualify innovative kernel technologies and influence product direction. The Darwin Kernel Quality Engineering team specifically focuses on validating kernel features supporting silicon and product roadmaps, including areas like memory management, concurrency, scheduling, power transitions, kernel/user boundaries, and CPU tracing. You will also develop validation infrastructure. This role seeks a Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET) to ensure quality across core kernel and hardware technologies. You will collaborate with cross-functional teams to define test strategies, develop automation, execute validation plans, and provide quality signals for complex, low-level systems. The SDET is responsible for investigating and triaging test failures, diagnosing kernel and infrastructure issues, improving test frameworks, and building automation for rapid feedback. The position demands strong technical depth, excellent communication, and a systems-level mindset, requiring independent work on ambiguous problems, influencing quality decisions, and elevating kernel validation standards. The ideal candidate is technically curious, detail-oriented, and driven to enhance the stability and reliability of Apple’s system software.

Requirements

Proven ability to independently manage QA efforts across cross-functional teams
Skilled at communicating quality status to stakeholders with strong project and time management skills
Skilled in testing methodologies, test planning, and defining validation strategies
Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and debugging skills
Experience with programming languages like Python and C
Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field

Nice To Haves

Skilled at communicating quality status to stakeholders with strong project and time management skills

Responsibilities

Proactively define test strategy
Develop robust automation
Execute validation plans
Deliver clear, trustworthy quality signals for complex, low-level systems
Investigate and triage test failures
Diagnose kernel and infrastructure-level issues
Improve test frameworks
Build automation that enables fast, reliable feedback throughout the development lifecycle
Work independently on ambiguous problems
Influence quality decisions across teams
Help raise the overall bar for kernel validation