Embedded Software Engineer, Firmware Introspection, Core OS

Summary
Apple is where individual imaginations gather together, committing to the values that lead to great work. Every new product we build, service we create, or experience we deliver is the result of us making each other's ideas stronger. That happens because every one of us shares a belief that we can make something wonderful and share it with the world, changing lives for the better. It's the diversity of our people and their thinking that inspires the innovation that runs through everything we do. When we bring everybody in, we can do the best work of our lives. Here, you'll do more than join something — you'll add something.

Description
As part of the Core Operating System team, your challenge is to make the invisible visible — bringing observability to the dozens of embedded processors inside every Apple device, where memory is scarce, cycles are precious, and failure is silent. Following a minimal-footprint, always-on mindset, you'll design and implement the logging, metrics, and tracing systems that give engineers across Apple the ability to understand, measure, and diagnose firmware behavior from silicon to the diagnostic tools on a developer's desk.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement firmware observability systems — structured logging, metrics collection, and trace capture — across multiple coprocessor architectures.
• Collaborate with firmware, silicon, diagnostics, power/performance and developer tools teams to surface actionable telemetry from deeply embedded environments into host-side tooling and dashboards.
• Partner with product and engineering teams to identify the highest-value telemetry signals.
• Selecting and shaping the introspection data (logging, telemetry, trace, etc) that directly inform product decisions, performance targets, and shipping quality across Apple's firmware ecosystem.
• Maintain rigorous coding, documentation, and testing practices across different firmware environments where resource constraints demand minimal footprint and zero-overhead instrumentation.
  
  

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or equivalent professional experience
• Strong experience developing software for embedded systems with resource constraints (CPU and memory)
• Excellent problem-solving abilities and attention to detail
• Ability to collaborate across teams
• Proficient with C/C++
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with instrumentation frameworks such as logging, metrics collection, tracing, or telemetry pipelines
• Low-level systems experience with coprocessor architectures, memory interfaces, and firmware–host transport mechanisms
• Experience with hardware debugging and debugger scripting, CLI utilities, or diagnostic frameworks
• Experience in embedded firmware development and real-time operating systems
  
  

Pay & Benefits
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 $94,500 and $174,200, 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 Inc.’s discretionary employee stock programs. Employees are eligible for discretionary restricted stock unit award recommendations, and can purchase Apple Inc. stock at a discount if voluntarily participating in Apple Inc.’s Employee Stock Purchase Plan. Participation in Apple Inc.’s discretionary stock programs is governed by Apple Inc.’s stock plans and agreements and are not part of local employment contracts or compensation.

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 and compensation 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. Apple provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. Apple is a drug-free workplace.

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

This posting is for an existing opportunity at Apple.

Qualified candidates can expect a hiring rate up to the midpoint of the pay range. On an exceptional basis, candidates with significant experience and skills for the role may be paid up to the range maximum.

Role Number: 200651295-2494