Performance Engineer Jobs in California

The Vision Product Group is working on exciting new technologies. We are looking for a driven and dedicated performance engineer. This team is building the core foundational platform for some of Apple's most advanced technologies in spatial computing. As part of our creative organization, you will have a uniquely rewarding opportunity to craft future products that will delight and inspire millions of people every day.

Description

This role focuses on optimizing AR/VR system software to deliver high-performance, low-latency, and visually buttery-smooth immersive experiences on custom hardware. You will analyze and improve performance across the full stack—including rendering, GPU/graphics, runtime, OS, and hardware—to ensure smooth frame rates, minimal motion-to-photon latency, and scalable real-time performance. The work combines deep performance investigation, systems optimization, and AI-assisted tooling to push the boundaries of spatial computing.

Responsibilities

• Optimize system software to improve performance, efficiency, and scalability on custom hardware platforms.
• Develop AI tooling for Perf and apply AI technologies and automation tools to accelerate performance analysis, improve workflows, and solve engineering challenges.
• Analyze performance data to identify bottlenecks, root-cause regressions, and validate optimization improvements.
• Define user-centric, resource-utilization, and efficiency metrics to guide performance analysis and optimization efforts.
• Develop instrumentation, profiling workflows, and custom tools to improve observability, debugging, and engineering productivity.
• Evaluate multiple optimization approaches, make data-driven trade-off decisions, and experiment with new performance improvement strategies.
• Collaborate across teams to investigate complex issues, communicate with leadership about technical findings, and share performance best practices.
• Design performance tests, benchmarking frameworks, and dashboards to continuously monitor performance health.

Minimum Qualifications

A minimum B.S. degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical field, or equivalent practical experience.

2+ years of experience in software development, system software, performance engineering, or a related technical area.

Experience programming in one or more languages such as C, C++, Python, or similar languages.

Understanding of computer architecture, operating systems, memory hierarchy, concurrency, and software performance fundamentals.

Experience analyzing software performance using profiling, tracing, benchmarking, and performance analysis tools.

Ability to quickly learn new software stacks, technologies, and performance methodologies.

Demonstrated ability to communicate technical findings clearly and collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams.

Familiarity with AI-assisted development tools and willingness to adopt emerging AI technologies to improve engineering effectiveness.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience with macOS/iOS kernel, drivers, compilers, runtimes, or embedded systems.

Experience analyzing and optimizing graphics, gaming, or real-time interactive application performance.

Experience using GPU profiling and performance analysis tools to identify rendering bottlenecks, GPU stalls, memory inefficiencies, and synchronization issues.

Experience optimizing frame time, frame rate, input latency, power efficiency, and thermal behavior for interactive applications.

Understanding of AR/VR performance challenges, including motion-to-photon latency, frame stability, asynchronous processing, and maintaining a smooth immersive user experience.

Familiarity with Computer Vision, Transformers, and LLM architectures. Knowledge of AI/ML fundamentals including model evaluation and deployment/inference.

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 $147,400 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 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.