Software Development Engineer – Systems

Apple•Cupertino, CA

About The Position

Apple Video Engineering is seeking an experienced, self-motivated Software Development Engineer in Test to help ensure a high-quality video experience across Apple products. The role focuses on test design and development for video processing frameworks and low-level video codec software, including functionality verification and quality measurement across iOS, macOS, tvOS, and visionOS. Work spans image and video encoding and decoding, editing and post-processing, and machine-learning-based technologies. The engineer develops software and tools to validate algorithms and project code changes, designs test cases, and architects test harnesses. Tests are implemented in C/C++, Objective-C, Swift, and Python or Shell scripting using test frameworks. The role also automates testing and quality-evaluation workflows, triages and root-causes failures, and helps drive early test strategy and planning. It includes building LLM-based tools and agentic workflows to extend pipeline automation at scale. The engineer partners with R&D engineering teams and internal and external cross-functional partners to ensure image and video frameworks, firmware, and drivers deliver a high-quality video experience.

Requirements

Bachelor of Science degree.
At least 10 years of relevant industry experience.
At least 6 years of programming experience in C/C++, Objective-C or Swift, and Python.
At least 6 years of development experience on macOS or Unix/Linux.
Hands-on experience using LLMs in software development, including building workflows with AI/LLM-based tools.
Experience building LLM-powered tooling, including prompt engineering, agent design, tool/API integration, and MCP-based integrations.
Experience in test case development and software testing methodologies.
Understanding of software engineering concepts and hands-on experience practicing CI/CD in software development.

Nice To Haves

Strong knowledge of software engineering and development lifecycles.
Experience developing tests with frameworks such as XCTest or PyTest.
Experience with white-box or grey-box testing, API testing, mutation testing, static testing, or code coverage analysis.
Experience in image or video quality evaluation, or model benchmarking and quality metrics.
Understanding of image or video codecs such as AVC, HEVC, VP9, or AV1 and video processing pipelines.
Excellent problem-solving and debugging skills.
Strong communication and negotiation skills and ability to collaborate as a team.
Self-sufficient and self-motivated, able to work independently and drive projects to closure in a timely manner.

Responsibilities

Design and develop tests for video processing frameworks and low-level video codec software.
Verify functionality and measure quality across iOS, macOS, tvOS, and visionOS.
Develop software and tools to validate algorithms and project code changes.
Design test cases and architect test harnesses.
Implement tests in C/C++, Objective-C, Swift, and Python or Shell scripting using test frameworks.
Automate workflows in testing and quality-evaluation pipelines.
Triage and root-cause failures.
Drive early test strategy and planning.
Build LLM-based tools and agentic workflows to extend pipeline automation at scale.
Partner with R&D engineering teams and internal and external cross-functional partners to help ensure image and video frameworks, firmware, and drivers deliver a high-quality video experience.