Backend Engineer - Qos, Apple Services Engineering

Summary

The Apple Services Engineering (ASE) team is one of the most exciting examples of Apple’s long-held passion for combining art and technology. We are the people who power the App Store, Apple TV, Apple Music, Apple Podcasts, and Apple Books. And we do it on a massive scale, meeting Apple’s high expectations with high performance to deliver a huge variety of entertainment in over 35 languages to more than 150 countries. Our engineers build secure, end-to-end solutions. We develop the custom software used to process all the creative work, the tools that providers use to deliver that media, all the server-side systems, and the APIs for many Apple services. Thanks to Apple’s unique integration of hardware, software, and services, engineers here partner to get behind a single unified vision. That vision always includes a deep commitment to strengthening Apple’s privacy policy, one of Apple’s core values. Although services are a bigger part of Apple’s business than ever before, our teams remain small, nimble, and cross-functional, offering greater exposure to the array of opportunities here.

Minimum Qualifications

We believe that the most innovative teams are diverse and inclusive. We encourage you to apply even if you don't meet every qualification. Your skills and passion will stand out—and set you apart—especially if your career has taken a non-traditional path. Core Backend & Systems Engineering Experience building and scaling high-performance backend services and APIs (e.g., GraphQL, REST, gRPC). We primarily use JVM languages (Java, Scala, Kotlin) but value polyglot engineers with experience in Go, Python, or Swift. Experience designing and building large-scale data pipelines for batch or stream processing using frameworks like Apache Spark or Apache Flink. Proficiency in designing and building cloud-native, distributed systems, with experience in microservices, container orchestration (e.g., Kubernetes), and event-driven patterns (e.g., Kafka). Strong fundamentals in data systems, with experience using both relational and NoSQL databases. Software Craftsmanship & Operations A commitment to building high-quality software and owning it from start to finish, demonstrated through practices like thorough testing, effective CI/CD, and performance tuning. Experience with modern observability practices and tooling (e.g., Splunk, Grafana, Prometheus), with a talent for diagnosing and troubleshooting complex issues in large-scale systems. A strong understanding of security fundamentals and a commitment to building secure, resilient software. Collaboration & Product Mindset A passion for mentoring other engineers and fostering a team culture of collaboration, knowledge sharing, and continuous improvement. A passion for product excellence and for deeply understanding customer needs to build better solutions. Curiosity for applying emerging technologies, like generative AI, to solve engineering challenges. A track record of building and delivering exceptional software. This can come from a variety of places: a related technical degree, a non-traditional educational path, or equivalent practical experience. We believe your work and passion speak for themselves. An understanding of security fundamentals and a commitment to building secure, resilient software. Strong fundamentals in data systems, with experience using both relational and NoSQL databases.

Preferred Qualifications

These qualifications are not required, but they would help you make an even bigger impact. Proficiency in designing and building cloud-native, distributed systems, with experience in microservices, container orchestration (e.g., Kubernetes), and event-driven patterns (e.g., Kafka). Experience with modern frontend development, including web frameworks (e.g., React, Vue, Svelte) or native application development for macOS/iOS using Swift. Curiosity for applying emerging technologies, like generative AI, to solve engineering challenges. Experience designing and building large-scale data pipelines for batch or stream processing using frameworks like Apache Spark or Apache Flink. Experience with modern observability practices and tooling (e.g., Splunk, Grafana, Prometheus), with a talent for diagnosing and troubleshooting complex issues in large-scale systems.

Description

Join the team that serves as the central nervous system for Apple's services. We build and operate the large-scale observability platforms that monitor the health of Apple TV, the App Store, Apple Music, iCloud, Podcasts, Fitness+, and more, ensuring the experience is as reliable and delightful as our customers expect. This is a software engineering role where you will build the tools that proactively identify and diagnose service disruptions across Apple's global cloud infrastructure. This is a unique opportunity to see how all of Apple's services work, with the freedom to make a significant impact. Our real-time data pipelines and services are the first to detect potential issues, and the analytics we generate provide the trusted record of service health, delivering critical insights that inform executive-level decisions. We created this capability from the ground up, and as Apple's services continue to grow, our team is expanding to provide this same level of insight for new and massive lines of business.

Responsibilities

What you will do: Contribute to the design, development, and scaling of critical backend services and real-time data pipelines that process petabytes of data from across Apple's cloud infrastructure. Help build the definitive tools and interfaces that Apple engineers will use to ensure their services are reliable. Your work will be the lens through which they see service health. Collaborate closely with teams across Apple services (Music, Video, Games, etc.) to understand their needs and provide observability for new and expanding lines of business. Tackle complex challenges, learn to navigate ambiguity, and work with the team to deliver real impact. Learn from and mentor other engineers, fostering a team culture of psychological safety, collaboration, and continuous growth. As you grow in your career, you will have opportunities to guide technology choices, influence complex architectures, and take on broader challenges. This role is not just about maintaining systems; it's upholding the integrity of the Apple experience. The code you write and the systems you build will ensure that when someone discovers a new song, watches a live game, or downloads an app, the experience is seamless and reliable. At Apple, where phenomenal ideas quickly become extraordinary customer experiences, you will be a guardian of the trust our customers place in us every day. What We Offer: A chance to make a real impact on services that define the future of entertainment and technology for millions of people. A community built on the belief that diverse backgrounds and perspectives are essential to innovation. An environment that encourages deep focus and creative partnership, giving you the space to solve hard problems individually and the opportunity to build with a team of brilliant and dedicated engineers. Opportunities for professional growth, including dedicated mentorship, technical guidance from industry-leading experts, and the ability to expand your skills across different parts of the services stack. A commitment to your well-being, with genuine support for a healthy and sustainable work-life balance.