Mid Level System Software Developer Jobs
Mid level system software developer jobs go to developers ready to own features end to end, mentor junior engineers, and make architectural decisions with limited oversight. 33% of openings are remote or hybrid, concentrated in Technology & Software, Electronics & Hardware, and Telecommunications, with employers like NVIDIA, Qualcomm, and Apple hiring at this level now.
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SUMMARY
At Apple, we're on the cutting edge of delivering transformative experiences through Artificial Intelligence. If you're passionate about pushing the boundaries of AI and hardware optimization, we want you to join our team! As a Machine Learning System Software Engineer on the Apple Neural Engine (ANE) team, you'll work to bring high-performance, low-power AI solutions to life on iconic Apple products like the Vision Pro, iPhone, iPad, Mac, and more.
DESCRIPTION
This is a dynamic opportunity to work in a creative, collaborative environment while developing groundbreaking technologies that will shape the future of computing! We are looking for an engineer with deep expertise in system software technology who is eager to tackle new challenges and responsibilities as the role evolves. As the position progresses, there will be opportunities to demonstrate technical leadership, influence key design decisions, collaborate with and support other engineers, and help guide the direction of Apple's AI-driven capabilities across the ecosystem. Are you ready to help us deliver the next groundbreaking Apple products?
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- BS and a minimum of 3 years relevant industry experience
- Experience defining interfaces that are used by other teams or external developers, with attention to lifecycle, error handling, and forward compatibility
- Deep proficiency in C and C++ in large, production system software
- Understanding of runtime systems: process/thread models, memory management, IPC/RPC, and resource lifecycle
- Understanding of software-hardware interfaces: registers, DMA, command queues, or similar accelerator interaction patterns
- Experience shipping production system software
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience building or extending ML runtimes, inference engines, or accelerator driver stacks (e.g., TensorRT, ONNX Runtime, XLA, Metal, Vulkan compute, or similar)
- Familiarity with Swift/Rust or another memory-safe systems language
- Familiarity with ML model compilation pipelines and how runtime APIs interact with compiler outputs (graph IR, compiled binaries)
- Experience with multi-client runtime scenarios: arbitrating hardware access, managing priority/QoS, and handling client lifecycle (ex: connect, disconnect, crash recovery)
- Knowledge of neural network inference: operator execution, tensor memory layout, pipelining, and batching strategies
- Strong communication skills and experience working across team boundaries (framework teams, compiler teams, hardware teams)
COMPENSATION
- Base pay range for this role is between $150,400 and $277,600, 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.
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.
Apple believes accessibility is a fundamental human right. You’ll find that idea reflected in everything here — in our culture, our benefits and our digital tools. By welcoming as many perspectives as possible, we help you build a career where you feel like you belong.
Apple accepts applications to this posting on an ongoing basis.
SUMMARY
At Apple, we're on the cutting edge of delivering transformative experiences through Artificial Intelligence. If you're passionate about pushing the boundaries of AI and hardware optimization, we want you to join our team! As a Machine Learning System Software Engineer on the Apple Neural Engine (ANE) team, you'll work to bring high-performance, low-power AI solutions to life on iconic Apple products like the Vision Pro, iPhone, iPad, Mac, and more.
DESCRIPTION
This is a dynamic opportunity to work in a creative, collaborative environment while developing groundbreaking technologies that will shape the future of computing! We are looking for an engineer with deep expertise in system software technology who is eager to tackle new challenges and responsibilities as the role evolves. As the position progresses, there will be opportunities to demonstrate technical leadership, influence key design decisions, collaborate with and support other engineers, and help guide the direction of Apple's AI-driven capabilities across the ecosystem. Are you ready to help us deliver the next groundbreaking Apple products?
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- BS and a minimum of 3 years relevant industry experience
- Experience defining interfaces that are used by other teams or external developers, with attention to lifecycle, error handling, and forward compatibility
- Deep proficiency in C and C++ in large, production system software
- Understanding of runtime systems: process/thread models, memory management, IPC/RPC, and resource lifecycle
- Understanding of software-hardware interfaces: registers, DMA, command queues, or similar accelerator interaction patterns
- Experience shipping production system software
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience building or extending ML runtimes, inference engines, or accelerator driver stacks (e.g., TensorRT, ONNX Runtime, XLA, Metal, Vulkan compute, or similar)
- Familiarity with Swift/Rust or another memory-safe systems language
- Familiarity with ML model compilation pipelines and how runtime APIs interact with compiler outputs (graph IR, compiled binaries)
- Experience with multi-client runtime scenarios: arbitrating hardware access, managing priority/QoS, and handling client lifecycle (ex: connect, disconnect, crash recovery)
- Knowledge of neural network inference: operator execution, tensor memory layout, pipelining, and batching strategies
- Strong communication skills and experience working across team boundaries (framework teams, compiler teams, hardware teams)
COMPENSATION
- Base pay range for this role is between $150,400 and $277,600, 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.
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.
Apple believes accessibility is a fundamental human right. You’ll find that idea reflected in everything here — in our culture, our benefits and our digital tools. By welcoming as many perspectives as possible, we help you build a career where you feel like you belong.
Apple accepts applications to this posting on an ongoing basis.
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Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software
- Electronics & Hardware
- Telecommunications
- Medical Devices
- Science & Research
Mid Level System Software Developer Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a mid level system software developer job?
Position yourself around ownership, not just contribution. Highlight projects where you drove decisions, debugged complex systems independently, or improved performance without being directed to do so. Tailor your resume to show progression in scope, name the specific languages and tools you use daily, and demonstrate that you can operate with minimal hand-holding from senior engineers.
Which companies hire mid level system software developers?
Companies hiring mid level system software developers right now include NVIDIA, Qualcomm, and Apple, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Hiring at this level comes from a wide range of employers, including large technology firms, defense and aerospace contractors, embedded systems companies, and enterprise software organizations building or scaling core infrastructure.
Are there remote mid level system software developer jobs?
Yes, though availability varies by specialization. About 33% of mid level system software developer openings are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, with remote roles more common in application-layer and cloud-adjacent work and on-site roles more prevalent in embedded systems, real-time software, and positions requiring access to proprietary hardware or secure environments.
How do I move up to a mid level system software developer role?
Moving into a mid level role requires building depth beyond syntax and completing assigned tasks. Focus on owning a feature or subsystem from design through deployment, understanding how your code interacts with the broader system, and developing habits around code review, testing, and documentation. Demonstrating that you can identify problems and propose solutions independently is what separates mid level candidates from junior ones.
Which industries hire the most mid level system software developers?
Mid Level system software developer roles concentrate in Technology & Software, Electronics & Hardware, and Telecommunications, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. These sectors drive hiring because they depend on performant, low-level, or safety-critical software where experienced developers who understand system constraints and hardware interaction are in consistent demand.