Apple

Software Engineering Manager - ASE Media Processing Infrastructure

Apple$160K — $190K *
Media
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 5+ years of experience in software engineering and distributed systems
  • Proven track record in leadership and mentoring engineering teams
  • Expertise in Java and modern backend distributed system architectures
  • Ability to engage in architectural reviews and complex technical discussions
  • Experience in collaborating across engineering, project management and operations
  • Skilled in designing reusable, scalable infrastructure and APIs
  • BS Degree in Computer Science or equivalent experience

Responsibilities

  • Lead a team focused on transcoding infrastructure for Apple's media ecosystem
  • Own the strategy, technical roadmap, and architectural direction for workflow systems
  • Drive adoption of modern engineering practices with AI tooling within the team
  • Foster a culture of operational rigor and team ownership
  • Ensure systems can handle growing asset volumes and increased workflow complexity
  • Participate in technical discussions, maintaining credibility in system architecture
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams to achieve aligned engineering goals

Benefits

  • Encouragement for continuous professional growth and skills development
  • Opportunity to work with cutting-edge AI tooling to enhance engineering practices
  • Access to a dynamic media ecosystem with potential large-scale impacts
  • Collaborative work environment that values strategic thinking and technical contributions
  • Potential for impactful contributions to live streaming and VOD services
Full Job Description
Description

In this role, you will lead a high-caliber team responsible for the core workflow and distributed transcoding infrastructure that power Apple's media ecosystem. You will own the strategy, technical roadmap, and architectural direction for systems managing exponentially growing asset volumes and workflow complexity across both VOD (including sports VOD and clips) and live linear streaming services.

As a hands-on technical manager, you will remain deeply credible in the underlying architecture and distributed Java backend systems while fostering a culture of ownership, operational rigor, and continuous growth. You will also champion modern engineering velocity by cultivating your team's fluency with agentic and generative AI tooling-driving adoption to accelerate delivery and set a new standard for engineering excellence.

Minimum Qualifications

5+ years of software engineering experience designing, building, and operating mission-critical, highly scalable distributed systems at production scale.

Proven track record of building, leading, and mentoring high-performing software engineering teams with direct people management responsibility.

Deep technical expertise in Java and modern backend distributed system architectures (concurrency, distributed caching, asynchronous messaging, and workflow orchestration).

Demonstrated ability to remain technically credible across complex systems-engaging in architectural reviews and deep-dive technical discussions that earn the trust of senior engineers.

Strong track record of partnering cross-functionally and driving alignment across engineering, project management, operations, and SRE organizations.

Proven experience with platform-oriented engineering-designing reusable, scalable infrastructure and APIs that serve as dependable foundations for other teams.

BS Degree in Computer Science or equivalent work experience.

Preferred Qualifications

Prior experience in direct people management leading teams of 5+ engineers in a fast-paced platform or infrastructure domain.

Hands-on experience with agentic AI frameworks, generative AI tooling, or LLM-integrated developer workflows applied to production software development.

Skilled in fostering organizational AI fluency-evaluating developer tooling, establishing modern workflows, and driving sustained adoption across an engineering team.

Experience with large-scale media processing pipelines, video transcoding technologies (e.g., HEVC, HDR, stereoscopic video), or live streaming linear orchestration.

Proven background building and scaling distributed caching tiers or high-throughput asset storage solutions adopted broadly across an enterprise organization.

Demonstrated ability to translate ambiguous, high-scale media requirements into robust technical roadmaps and durable platform architectures.

About Apple

Apple is a corporation that designs, manufactures, and markets mobile communication and media devices, personal computers, portable digital music players, and sells a variety of related software, services, peripherals, networking solutions, and third-party digital content and applications. Apple provides many products and services, including iPhone; iPad; iPod; Mac; Apple TV; a portfolio of consumer and professional software applications; the iOS and OS X operating systems; iCloud; and accessories, service, and support offerings. It sells its products worldwide through its retail stores, online stores, direct sales force and third-party cellular network carriers, wholesalers, retailers, and value-added resellers to the consumer and also sells third-party iPhone, iPad, Mac and iPod compatible products, including application software and accessories through its online and retail stores. Introduced in 1984, the Macintosh was the first widely sold personal computer with a graphical user interface (GUI). That feature and others such as an improved floppy drive design and a low-cost hard drive that made data retrieval faster helped Apple cultivate a reputation for innovation. Apple was named as the most admired company in the United States in 2008 and in the world from 2008 to 2012 by the Fortune magazine. The company was founded by Steven Paul Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Gerald Wayne on April 1, 1976, and is headquartered in Cupertino, California.

Apple Careers

Join Apple, a place where extraordinary people gather to do their best work. Our ever-expanding global team is at the forefront of innovation and leadership in the tech industry. At Apple, we're not just building products—we're crafting the kind of wonder that revolutionizes entire industries. It's the diversity of our people and their ideas that inspires the innovation that runs through everything we do, from amazing technology to industry-leading environmental efforts. Work You’ll Do Embark on a journey with Apple’s market-leading team to help some of the world’s most influential companies navigate their path to digital mastery with cutting-edge technology and services. Transform industries and touch lives with your unique ideas at Apple. Here, you’ll lead through a unique position at the intersection of technology, creativity, and robust industry expertise. Collaborate with a global team of professionals who are at the top of their game in technology and design. Apple isn’t just a company, it’s a community of innovators and passionate thinkers. Introducing the Apple Innovation and Leadership Initiative We are building a market-leading team to drive our efforts in delivering groundbreaking solutions and services. At Apple, job opportunities are abundant, offering you the chance to explore diverse roles from engineering to marketing, all designed to empower your career growth. Do Innovative Work Join the largest group of creative and technical experts in the world—professionals dedicated to redefining what’s possible through technology and innovation. Deliver targeted solutions through a depth and breadth of expertise that’s unmatched, driving forward our commitment to excellence and leadership in every project we undertake. Be Part of a Great Team Engage in a wide range of projects utilizing Apple’s technology and resources. Harness the unparalleled capabilities, global scale, and joint solution development that only Apple can offer. Future-Proof Your Career Advance your career with limitless opportunities at Apple. Go as far as your ambition takes you with unmatched training, development, and certification support. Explore Discover how Apple is leading the way in tech innovation: [With iOS] Businesses can streamline operations and enhance customer interactions... READ MORE Smart home technology integration that sets the standard for convenience and security... READ MORE The Apple Experience Our combined service capabilities, global scale, and joint solution development help clients overcome challenges and lead transformation in their industries. Clients worldwide look to Apple for new strategies and solutions that drive growth and innovation in the digital era. Stay Connected Join Our Team Search open positions that match your skills and interests. We look for passionate, curious, creative, and solution-driven team players. Whether you’re seeking a professional role, an internship, or a leadership position, Apple offers a variety of employment opportunities. SEARCH APPLE JOBS Keep Up to Date Stay ahead with career tips, insider perspectives, and industry-leading insights you can put to use today—all from the people who work here. READ CAREERS BLOG Job Alert Emails Personalize your subscription to receive job alerts, latest news, and insider tips tailored to your preferences. See what exciting and rewarding opportunities await at Apple, a company committed to diversity, innovation, and leadership. Explore job opportunities, employment benefits, and the culture of growth and innovation at Apple. Prepare your resume, hone your interview skills, and ready yourself for a career at one of the most prestigious companies in the world. Join us in pushing the boundaries of what is possible.
Learn more about Apple
Size
154,000 employees
Market Cap
$2,074.3 billion
Industry
Net Income
$63.9 billion
Founded
1976
5 Year Trend
+11.5%
Revenue
$294.1 billion
NASDAQ

Similar Jobs

More Jobs at Apple

More Media Jobs

Find similar Software Engineering Manager - ASE Media Processing Infrastructure jobs: