Senior Software Engineer, AI Tools – Special Projects

Cupertino Until 9/22/2026 5+ years exp First posted July 24, 2026 Last posted July 24, 2026
Job description

Apple’s next generation of intelligent experiences requires new ways for engineers, designers, animators, roboticists, and researchers to explore, visualize, and shape how AI systems behave. We’re looking for a senior tools engineer who can build the applications, pipelines, and creative workflows that make this possible — from interactive data visualization tools to content creation utilities, user-study data collection systems, and annotation platforms. You will develop the software that empowers Apple teams to understand complex, multi-modal data, prototype intelligent behaviors, and craft delightful user experiences. Your work will directly influence how Apple builds, evaluates, and iterates on AI-driven features across devices 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.

Minimum Qualifications

Proven experience developing high-quality tools with intuitive workflows for technical or creative professionals
Proficiency in Swift, SwiftUI, Objective-C, or C++, with strong experience developing for macOS and iOS (visionOS experience strongly preferred)
Experience developing software in Python, including scripting, pipelines, or backend integrations
Experience working with 3D content creation tools or environments (e.g. Maya, Unity, or Unreal)
Understanding of system architecture, including multi-device workflows, real-time data handling, and cloud-connected applications
Strong grasp of Apple development tools and frameworks
Ability to design modular, maintainable architectures and decompose complex requirements into practical, high-impact features
Demonstrated success collaborating with cross-functional teams
Excellent problem-solving, debugging, and communication skills
Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science or related technical field, and 5+ years of industry experience

Preferred Qualifications

Experience with 3D animation workflows, including rigged characters, blendshape systems, or runtime animation frameworks (e.g. RealityKit or game-engine animation systems)
Experience with 3D content creation pipelines and familiarity with common formats such as USD
Knowledge of modern rendering techniques, including Metal
Experience developing connected applications backed by large-scale data storage and cloud services
Experience with data visualization, data mining, or analytics tooling
Familiarity with creative pipelines in animation, simulation, robotics, or game development
Experience building annotation tools, labeling systems, or user-study data pipelines
Experience with game engines or spatial computing environments (e.g. Unity, Unreal, or RealityKit)
Understanding of interaction paradigms for spatial interfaces or AR/VR workflows

About this role

Summary

Develop tools and pipelines for AI-driven experiences, data visualization, and content creation at Apple.

Job title

Senior Software Engineer, AI Tools – Special Projects

Experience level

5+ years

Minimum experience

5+ years exp

Industry

technology

Location requirements

must be located in Cupertino, no mention of remote work allowed

Salary

Not specified

Management role

No

Skills & keywords

Required skills

SwiftSwiftUIObjective-CC++Python3D content creation toolssystem architectureApple frameworks

Preferred skills

3D animation workflowsUSDMetalcloud servicesdata mininggame enginesspatial computing

Specializations

SwiftPython3D content creationmulti-device workflowsdata visualization
Locations

Structured locations inferred from the posting.

Cupertino, CA, USA

On-site City