Software Engineer, Freeform

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 Apple Store 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. On the Productivity Apps team, we’re building the future of Freeform as part of Apple Creator Studio.

Users love Freeform, and we need passionate iOS and Mac software engineers to join our team building features to empower people to unleash their creativity. This is a fantastic opportunity to join a highly visible and impactful engineering team.

In this role, you’ll work on every part of our world‑class Freeform app experience — building intuitive UI, unleashing the power of our infinite canvas, integrating with system technologies, optimizing performance, and adapting for localization and accessibility. You’ll collaborate with human interface designers, quality assurance teams, and cross‑functional teams across the company to push beyond code, influencing everything from user interface design to project planning.

The ideal candidate should have experience in iOS and macOS development, a willingness to learn new technologies, a commitment to long‑term sustainable software development, and the ability to drive features from concept through delivery. This position requires a self‑motivated individual with strong interpersonal skills to effectively collaborate across all levels of the organization.

• Design, implement, and maintain features in Freeform.
• Write and maintain high-quality code in Swift and Objective‑C.
• Work with teams across the company to integrate new system technologies as they’re being built.
• Debug and diagnose complex issues across frameworks, services, and external processes using Xcode and system‑level tools.
• Participate in code reviews, design discussions and technical investigations while contributing to engineering excellence standards.
• Collaborate with cross‑functional teams to define technical direction and influence architectural decisions.
• Apply best practices and good judgment for building modern apps that adhere to Apple’s Human Interface Guidelines.

• At least 5+ years of experience with Swift or Objective‑C.
• Past experience building software for iOS or macOS, and familiarity with Apple platforms.
• Skilled with object‑oriented design.
• Demonstrated experience planning and delivering software projects with and for cross‑functional teams.
• Ability to communicate clearly, both verbally and in writing.
• Empathy for and understanding of user experience, and attention to visual detail.
• Demonstrated skill at understanding non‑technical users’ needs and developing appropriate solutions.
• BS Degree in CS or related field, or equivalent work experience.

• Experience working in large code bases with large teams.
• Experience with concurrent programming.
• Effective use of AI for coding.
• Experience with Metal, Core Graphics, or other 2D graphics environments.

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 $116,800 and $226,000, 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…