Software Development Engineer – UI

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Software Development Engineer – UI

Company: Apple

Location: Cupertino, California, United States

Job Type: On-site

Category: UI/UX Design

Date Posted: 2025-06-05

Experience Level: 5-10 years

Remote Status: On-site

🎨 Role Summary

• Design, develop, and test software features for Apple's user interfaces, working collaboratively with cross-functional teams.
• Create design specifications and software algorithms, ensuring code performance for mobile devices.
• Debug and fix software bugs, optimizing code performance and resolving customer-reported issues.
• Contribute to the design process, brainstorming new ideas and providing guidance to less experienced engineers.
• Prototype new software features, building mockups to illustrate and convey ideas.

🖼️ Primary Responsibilities

• Research, design, and develop computer and network software or specialized utility programs.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with team members to design, implement, and debug software features.
• Debug and fix bugs in software, including identifying errors, providing correctives, and finding optimizations in code performance.
• Design, develop, and test software and processes to exercise code using Objective-C and Swift and XCTest.
• Participate in the design process with other team members and engineers on other teams, imagining new ideas to solve problems or providing guidance to less experienced engineers.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s degree or foreign equivalent in Information Technology, Software Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field.

Experience: 5 years of experience in software development, with 2 years of experience in each of the following skills:

• Object-Oriented software development
• Using C++, Objective C, Python, Shell, or other equivalent high-level OO language
• Software design
• User Interface Design
• Using Xcode or similar software engineering project development suites
• Software performance analysis
• API design
• Identifying high-quality software animations
• Test Suite and Internal Infrastructure Development
• Debugging and diagnosing

Preferred Qualifications: N/A

🎨 Portfolio & Creative Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrate a strong portfolio showcasing UI design skills, including case studies that highlight problem-solving, design process, and final outcomes.
• Include examples of UI animations and transitions, showcasing an understanding of software performance and user experience.
• Highlight any collaborative projects or teamwork experiences that demonstrate cross-functional communication and problem-solving skills.

Process Documentation:

• Document the design process, including research, ideation, prototyping, testing, and iteration for each project in the portfolio.
• Include user research findings, design rationales, and any stakeholder feedback incorporated into the final design.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: The base pay range for this role is between $226,158 - $264,200/yr, with the opportunity for progress within the role. The base pay will depend on skills, qualifications, experience, and location.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive medical and dental coverage
• Retirement benefits
• Range of discounted products and free services
• Reimbursement for certain educational expenses related to career advancement at Apple
• Discretionary bonuses or commission payments, relocation assistance

Working Hours: 40 hours/week

🎯Team & Company Context

🏢 Company & Design Culture

Industry: Apple operates in the highly competitive consumer electronics and technology industry, with a strong focus on innovation, design, and user experience.

Company Size: Apple is a large corporation with over 137,000 employees worldwide, providing ample opportunities for career growth and collaboration.

Founded: Apple was founded in 1976 by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne, with a mission to bring personal computers to the masses.

Team Structure:

• The design team at Apple is structured to support cross-functional collaboration, with designers working closely with engineers, product managers, and other stakeholders.
• The team is composed of various design disciplines, including UI/UX designers, visual designers, and industrial designers.

Methodology:

• Apple follows a user-centered design approach, focusing on understanding user needs and behaviors to inform design decisions.
• The design process involves research, ideation, prototyping, testing, and iteration, with a strong emphasis on collaboration and feedback.
• Apple uses a variety of design tools, including Sketch, Figma, and the Adobe Creative Suite, as well as in-house design tools and frameworks.

Company Website: Apple

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Design Career Level: This role is at the senior level, requiring a high degree of technical proficiency, design expertise, and leadership skills.

Reporting Structure: The role reports directly to the engineering management team, working collaboratively with other designers, engineers, and product managers.

Design Impact: UI software development engineers at Apple have a significant impact on the user experience of Apple's products, contributing to the company's reputation for design excellence.

Growth Opportunities:

• Apple offers numerous opportunities for career growth and development, including lateral moves to other design disciplines or management roles, as well as promotions to senior or principal design roles.
• The company provides access to training and development resources, including workshops, conferences, and mentorship programs.
• Apple's large and diverse design team provides ample opportunities for collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and skill development.

🌐 Work Environment

Studio Type: Apple's design studios are state-of-the-art facilities, equipped with the latest design tools, hardware, and software.

Office Location(s): The role is based at Apple's headquarters in Cupertino, California, with the opportunity for remote work or hybrid arrangements.

Design Workspace Context:

• Apple's design studios are designed to foster collaboration and creativity, with open workspaces, dedicated meeting areas, and quiet spaces for focused work.
• The company provides access to cutting-edge design tools and hardware, as well as dedicated resources for prototyping and testing.
• Apple's design team is highly collaborative, with regular design critiques, workshops, and team-building activities.

Work Schedule: Apple offers flexible work arrangements, with a focus on results and productivity over hours worked.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Design Interview Process:

• Applicants can expect a multi-stage interview process, including a phone or video screen, a design challenge, and on-site interviews with Apple's design and engineering teams.
• The design challenge will focus on UI design and software development, with an emphasis on problem-solving, collaboration, and communication skills.
• On-site interviews will assess technical proficiency, design skills, and cultural fit.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Highlight UI design projects that demonstrate a strong understanding of user experience, software performance, and design systems.
• Include case studies that showcase the design process, including research, ideation, prototyping, testing, and iteration.
• Demonstrate an ability to translate design concepts into functional software features, with a strong emphasis on collaboration and cross-functional communication.
• Showcase any experience working with Apple's design tools, frameworks, or platforms.

Challenge Preparation:

• Familiarize yourself with Apple's design language and user experience guidelines.
• Practice UI design challenges that focus on problem-solving, collaboration, and communication skills.
• Prepare for technical questions related to software development, UI design, and Apple's design tools and frameworks.

ATS Keywords:

• Design Skills: UI/UX design, software development, object-oriented programming, user-centered design, design systems, design thinking, prototyping, testing, iteration
• Tools: Xcode, Objective-C, Swift, C++, Python, Shell, Sketch, Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, in-house design tools and frameworks
• Methodologies: user research, design thinking, agile development, collaborative design, cross-functional teamwork
• Soft Skills: problem-solving, communication, collaboration, leadership, mentoring, stakeholder management
• Industry Terms: UI/UX design, software development, user experience, design systems, design thinking, prototyping, testing, iteration, Apple Design Language, Human Interface Guidelines

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Design Tools:

• Sketch: A digital design platform used for creating and collaborating on UI/UX designs.
• Figma: A collaborative design tool for creating interactive prototypes and design systems.
• Adobe Creative Suite: A collection of graphic design, video editing, and web development tools.
• In-house design tools and frameworks: Apple develops proprietary design tools and frameworks to support its design and development processes.

Collaboration & Handoff:

• Jira: A project management and collaboration tool used to track design and development progress.
• Zeplin: A design handoff tool that allows designers to hand off designs to developers with ease.
• InVision: A digital product design platform that enables designers to create interactive prototypes and gather user feedback.

Research & Testing:

• UserTesting: A user experience testing platform that enables designers to gather user feedback on their designs.
• App Store Analytics: A tool that provides insights into app usage, user demographics, and app store performance.
• Firebase: A mobile and web application development platform that provides analytics, databases, messaging, and crash reporting services.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Design Values:

• Simplicity: Apple's design philosophy emphasizes simplicity, both in design and functionality.
• User-centered design: Apple's design process is centered around understanding user needs, behaviors, and preferences.
• Innovation: Apple's design team is encouraged to push the boundaries of technology and design, challenging conventional wisdom and exploring new possibilities.
• Collaboration: Apple's design culture emphasizes collaboration, with designers working closely with engineers, product managers, and other stakeholders.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional collaboration: Apple's design teams work closely with other teams, including engineering, product management, and marketing.
• Design critiques: Apple's design process includes regular design critiques, with designers providing and receiving feedback on their work.
• Knowledge-sharing: Apple's design team encourages knowledge-sharing and learning, with regular workshops, training sessions, and mentorship opportunities.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Design Challenges:

• Keeping up with rapid technological change: The consumer electronics and technology industry is fast-paced, with new tools, platforms, and trends emerging constantly. Designers must stay up-to-date with the latest developments and adapt their skills and processes accordingly.
• Balancing design and functionality: Designers must balance the need for innovative, intuitive designs with the technical constraints and performance requirements of software development.
• Collaborating effectively with cross-functional teams: Designers must work closely with engineers, product managers, and other stakeholders to ensure that design concepts are translated into functional software features.
• Managing design debt: As software products evolve and change, designers must manage design debt, refactoring and updating designs to maintain their quality and relevance.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Apple University: Apple's online learning platform offers a wide range of courses and resources for professional development and skill-building.
• Design conferences and events: Apple encourages designers to attend industry conferences and events, such as Apple's annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) and other design-focused events.
• Mentorship and coaching: Apple provides mentorship and coaching opportunities, with experienced designers and leaders providing guidance and support to less experienced team members.

💡 Interview Preparation

Design Process Questions:

• Applicants can expect questions that focus on their understanding of UI design principles, software development, and Apple's design language and user experience guidelines.
• Prepare for behavioral questions that assess your problem-solving, collaboration, and communication skills, with a focus on real-world examples and case studies.
• Demonstrate an ability to translate design concepts into functional software features, with a strong emphasis on collaboration and cross-functional communication.

Company Culture Questions:

• Applicants can expect questions that focus on their understanding of Apple's design culture, values, and design philosophy.
• Prepare for behavioral questions that assess your cultural fit, with a focus on your ability to work collaboratively and effectively with Apple's design and engineering teams.
• Demonstrate an understanding of Apple's design process, including research, ideation, prototyping, testing, and iteration.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Highlight UI design projects that demonstrate a strong understanding of user experience, software performance, and design systems.
• Include case studies that showcase the design process, including research, ideation, prototyping, testing, and iteration.
• Demonstrate an ability to translate design concepts into functional software features, with a strong emphasis on collaboration and cross-functional communication.
• Showcase any experience working with Apple's design tools, frameworks, or platforms.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this design position:

• Submit your application through this link
• Customize your portfolio to highlight UI design projects that demonstrate a strong understanding of user experience, software performance, and design systems.
• Optimize your resume for design roles, with a focus on keyword strategy and skill highlighting.
• Prepare for design interview questions that focus on UI design principles, software development, and Apple's design language and user experience guidelines.
• Research Apple's design culture, values, and design philosophy, with a focus on cultural fit and collaboration.