Software Engineer, Algorithms (SDE)

Cupertino, California, United States Hardware

Our software algorithms team is seeking a highly motivated and detail‑oriented software engineer to join the team. The role involves developing and optimizing signal and image processing algorithms across domains such as Display, Touch, Audio, and Sensors, converting reference implementations from one programming language to another (for example, Matlab to C++), with final deliverables in production‑grade Python or C++, while leveraging AI tools to accelerate development and building tooling that streamlines algorithm conversion. The goal is to deliver production‑grade, highly efficient, and accurate algorithms ready for final deployment.

Description

As part of the software algorithms team, you will take existing algorithm implementations, most often written in Matlab though the source may be any programming language, and convert them into high‑performance equivalents using the team's internal frameworks. Final implementations are delivered in either Python or C++, depending on the target. These algorithms span multiple domains, including display, touch, audio, and sensor processing, and your work will center on conversion and optimization tasks, with a constant focus on accuracy and performance. The goal is always to produce production‑grade, highly efficient, and accurate algorithms ready for final deployment.

In many cases a direct, one‑to‑one port between languages will not be available, requiring you to build custom code grounded in a solid understanding of signal and image processing techniques. While porting, you will look for opportunities to break algorithms into modular blocks, graphs and sub‑graphs, that can run in parallel to reduce execution time.

You will collaborate closely with technology partners & other algorithm developers to understand each implementation and produce a design document that captures the algorithm's functionality and proposes how it will be decomposed into graphs and sub‑graphs for parallel execution. You will present this design proposal to the team before starting implementation, and produce correlation reports that demonstrate the accuracy of the converted implementation, root‑causing discrepancies with the algorithm developer when results do not correlate.

Throughout the development lifecycle, you will actively leverage AI tools and LLMs to increase your productivity, accelerating code comprehension, cross‑language translation, refactoring, and correlation analysis. Beyond using these tools, you will design and build AI‑assisted tooling that automates and speeds up algorithm conversion and development for the broader team.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with technology algorithm developers to understand reference implementations and produce design documents.
• Convert and optimize signal and image processing algorithms across programming languages, most often from Matlab, with final implementations delivered in production‑grade Python or C++, ensuring accuracy and performance.
• Decompose algorithms into modular graphs and sub‑graphs that execute in parallel to reduce runtime.
• Deliver production‑grade, highly efficient, and accurate algorithms ready for final deployment.
• Present design proposals to the team before beginning any code implementation.
• Produce correlation reports to validate the converted implementation's accuracy against the reference and root‑cause discrepancies.
• Leverage AI tools and LLMs to increase development productivity across conversion, refactoring, and analysis.
• Build AI‑assisted tooling that automates and accelerates algorithm conversion and development for the team.

Minimum Qualifications

• 5+ years of professional software development experience.
• BS in Computer Science.
• Strong command of C/C++ and an object‑oriented language.
• Experience with C++14/C++17, including working knowledge of templates and parallel programming.
• Proficiency in Python for algorithm implementation, tooling, prototyping, and correlation analysis.
• Working knowledge of Matlab.
• Knowledge of signal and/or image processing and algorithm design.
• Understanding of DSP (digital signal processing).
• Proficiency using AI tools and LLMs (e.g., AI coding assistants) to increase development productivity.

Preferred Qualifications

• MS in Computer Science.
• Experience building developer tooling, code‑translation utilities, or automation pipelines, especially AI/LLM‑powered tools.
• Experience writing and shipping production‑grade code, with attention to efficiency, accuracy, and deployment readiness.
• Experience with performance analysis, profiling, and optimization of compute‑intensive code.
• Experience with parallel/concurrent programming and decomposing workloads into parallel execution graphs.
• Experience across one or more signal/image processing domains such as display, touch, audio, or sensors.
• Experience with Xcode and macOS.
• Experience with telemetry, key metrics, and data‑driven decision‑making.

At Apple, base pay is one part of our total compensation package and is determined within a range. This provides the opportunity to progress as you grow and develop within a role. The base pay range for this role is between $150,400 and $277,600, and your base pay will depend on your skills, qualifications, experience, and location.

Apple employees also have the opportunity to become an Apple shareholder through participation in Apple’s discretionary employee stock programs. Apple employees are eligible for discretionary restricted stock unit awards, and can purchase Apple stock at a discount if voluntarily participating in Apple’s Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You’ll also receive benefits including: Comprehensive medical and dental coverage, retirement benefits, a range of discounted products and free services, and for formal education related to advancing your career at Apple, reimbursement for certain educational expenses — including tuition. Additionally, this role might be eligible for discretionary bonuses or commission payments as well as relocation. Learn more about Apple Benefits.

Note: Apple benefit, compensation and employee stock programs are subject to eligibility requirements and other terms of the applicable plan or program.

Apple is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to inclusion and diversity. We seek to promote equal opportunity for all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, Veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics. Learn more about your EEO rights as an applicant.

At Apple, we believe accessibility is a fundamental human right. You’ll find that idea reflected in everything here — in our culture, our benefits and our digital tools. By welcoming as many perspectives as possible, we help you build a career where you feel like you belong.

Learn about accessibility in Apple’s workplace.

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Apple accepts applications to this posting on an ongoing basis.