Senior Software Engineer - Distributed Storage- Services Engineering

The Apple Services Engineering (ASE) team is building a highly reliable, self-managing, and scalable distributed storage layer for exabyte-scale data, supporting iCloud, iTunes, Siri, and Maps. This foundational layer will unify object, block, and future file storage systems with a consistent API, common metadata model, scalable data distribution, and high-performance IO path. Engineers will work on core components, including data objects, placement, redundancy, and IO operations across thousands of nodes, defining fundamental building blocks for Apple's cloud storage strategy.

Must Have

• Design and build a storage substrate over heterogeneous backends
• Build scalable data distribution and placement algorithms
• Implement robust redundancy mechanisms and automated recovery
• Collaborate with multiple storage teams for unified semantics
• Collaborate with hardware engineering for evolving drive capabilities
• Contribute to system observability, correctness testing, chaos/fault-injection frameworks
• Drive cross-functional design reviews and define long-term technical strategy
• Strong problem-solving skills in data structures, distributed systems, concurrency
• 7+ years experience building and operating distributed systems
• Demonstrated ownership and history of delivering production systems
• Proficiency in Java, Rust, asynchronous and thread-safe programming
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• BS in Computer Science, or equivalent experience

Good to Have

• Background in object, block or file system internals
• Experience with modern storage devices (zoned block devices, sequential-write media, high-density magnetic recording)
• MS or PhD in Computer Science

Perks & Benefits

• Comprehensive medical and dental coverage
• Retirement benefits
• Discounted products and free services
• Reimbursement for certain educational expenses (tuition)
• Opportunity to become an Apple shareholder (discretionary employee stock programs)
• Opportunity to purchase Apple stock at a discount (Employee Stock Purchase Plan)
• Eligible for discretionary bonuses or commission payments
• Eligible for relocation

The Apple Services Engineering (ASE) team builds and provides systems that power many of Apple’s customer-facing services - including iCloud, iTunes, Siri and Maps. We deliver the core infrastructure primitives that enable teams across Apple to build services our customers rely on every day. This is a ground-up effort to build a highly reliable, self-managing and scalable storage layer that can support exabyte-scale data and diverse access patterns. This new layer will also serve as the foundation for adopting and optimizing next-generation storage devices, enabling Apple to leverage emerging drive technologies with new performance and density characteristics. If you enjoy designing distributed systems that operate as a cohesive storage fabric, we want to hear from you.

We are creating a unified storage abstraction layer that will serve as the foundational layer for Apple’s distributed object, block, and future file storage systems. This new layer will provide a consistent API, common metadata model, scalable data distribution and high-performance IO path for workloads running in Apple Cloud. Engineers on this team will work on the core of a unified storage layer designed to manage data objects, placement, redundancy and IO operations across thousands of nodes. You will help define the fundamental building blocks that unify different storage backends—object, block and future file interfaces—behind a single, extensible abstraction. You will design consistent metadata services, build scalable data distribution algorithms, implement robust replication and fault-recovery mechanisms, and develop client-side libraries and protocols that expose a uniform interface to workloads across Apple. Each component is being designed to support self-healing behaviors, automatic rebalancing and high-throughput, low-latency access paths. We are looking for engineers who enjoy building foundational storage systems, solving complex distributed coordination challenges, and shaping a platform that will underpin Apple’s cloud storage strategy for many years.

• Design and build a storage substrate that provides a consistent abstraction over heterogeneous storage backends.
• Build scalable data distribution and placement algorithms to balance load and ensure durability.
• Implement robust redundancy mechanisms (replication, erasure coding, etc.) and automated recovery.
• Collaborate with multiple storage teams to ensure unified semantics and operational consistency.
• Collaborate with hardware engineering to integrate evolving drive capabilities into the unified storage layer.
• Contribute to system observability, correctness testing, chaos/fault-injection frameworks, and production hardening.
• Drive cross-functional design reviews and help define long-term technical strategy for Apple’s storage platform.

• Strong problem-solving skills rooted in data structures, distributed systems, and concurrency.
• 7+ years of professional experience building and operating distributed systems.
• Demonstrated ownership and history of delivering production systems.
• Proficiency in one or more systems languages: Java, Rust, asynchronous and thread-safe programming.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• BS in Computer Science, or equivalent experience.

• Background in object, block or file system internals.
• Experience with modern storage devices such as zoned block devices, sequential-write media or emerging high-density magnetic recording technologies.
• MS or PhD in Computer Science

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 $181,100 and $272,100, 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 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.

Apple accepts applications to this posting on an ongoing basis.