Jobs Private USA → Technology → Software engineering → Software Performance Engineer, Audio & Media Technologies

Software Performance Engineer, Audio & Media Technologies

Apple · San Diego, CA · posted 19 days ago

In short: Software Performance Engineer, Audio & Media Technologies at Apple in San Diego, CA, posted 19 days ago.

By AtiveSite · Published 07/11/2026 · Updated 08/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.

Appleemployer
San Diego, CAlocation
Software engineeringsub-niche
19 days agoposted
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The job

LIVE Live feed (private-sector employer) Source: The Muse public API · Data: listed 2026-10-20

EmployerApple
LocationSan Diego, California
FieldTechnology › Software engineering
LevelMid Level
Source categorySoftware Engineering
Posted2026-10-20 (19 days ago)
Work arrangementOn-site at the location listed
PayNot published in the source listing

Job description

Apple's Audio and Media Technologies group is seeking a highly skilled Software Engineer to join our Streaming Media team. You will shape the future of media on a global scale. Our team pioneered and standardized the HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) protocol, and we are now seeking a dedicated Software Engineer to define what comes next in the world of Streaming.

In this role, you won't just build an app-you will contribute to the core media frameworks that are an integral part of iOS, macOS, tvOS, watchOS, and the revolutionary visionOS. As we extend our technology to power groundbreaking experiences, your code will become the backbone of media for billions of users worldwide.

If you are excited to solve unique challenges across a diverse hardware ecosystem, from iPhone and Apple Watch to the new frontier of spatial computing, we want to hear from you.

Description

As a Streaming Media Software Engineer, your mission is to both architect the future of Streaming technology and perfect its performance. You'll design and build the next generation of streaming experiences that will define how people interact with media. You will dive deep into our Core Media engine to not only minimize memory usage and improve battery life, but also to achieve scalability. Your challenge is to ignite the full power of Apple Silicon for demanding experiences like Multi-View, all while operating elegantly within a tight thermal budget. Your code will make the impossible feel effortless on every device-from the most compact Apple Watch to the immersive canvas of Apple Vision Pro.

Preferred Qualifications

Advanced studies (MS/PhD) in a related field, demonstrating a deeper exploration of computer science principles.

Experience designing and architecting complex, scalable software systems.

A history of resolving intricate threading or memory bugs, especially in resource-constrained embedded environments.

Familiarity with Objective-C, which is foundational to many of Apple's frameworks.

A proven track record of driving complex projects to completion in a large, multi-functional engineering environment.

Exceptional time management and the ability to navigate competing priorities while maintaining an unwavering commitment to quality.

The integrity and judgment to make sound, timely decisions that move projects forward.

A genuine passion for building an inclusive and complementary team culture where everyone can provide their best work.

A highly adaptable, performance-driven demeanor and a positive approach to tackling new challenges.

Minimum Qualifications

A strong command of C, with deep expertise in building robust, thread-safe systems and taming concurrency with advanced synchronization.

A profound understanding of the operating system from the metal up-from virtual memory and CPU scheduling to I/O and memory management.

Proven ability to hunt down and solve the most complex bugs using your expert knowledge of system profiling and analysis tools (GDB/LLDB, Instruments, Wireshark, etc.).

BS in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or equivalent industry experience.

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 $122,700 and $214,300, 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.

Explore around this job

Field: Technology Sub-niche: Software engineering All jobs at Apple Jobs in California Jobs in San Diego, CA San Diego city guide California state guide San Diego County economy

View this job and apply on The Muse →

You apply on The Muse or on the employer's page; AtiveSite does not receive or process applications and is not affiliated with The Muse. The description above is shown as the source published it.

About the role

This is a Mid Level role in the Technology field (Software engineering) at Apple. Mid-level roles usually expect some years of relevant experience and the ability to work with limited supervision.

We could not match this job title to one occupation in the official wage statistics, so no pay estimate is shown. Pay is not in the source listing; ask the employer for the range and compare in the 240 job niches.

Does the pay work here? (estimate)

Estimate for a wage earner: 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction (IRS), Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% (+0.9% above $200,000 single / $250,000 married), and a state rate you set; set your own state tax rate. It ignores credits, pre-tax deductions, local taxes and benefits. Sources: IRS: tax year 2026 inflation adjustments · SSA wage base per Federal Register notice 2025-19763.

How to prepare and behave

This is editorial guidance, not information from the employer.

Know your rights as a candidate and an employee:

The city

The job is in San Diego, CA. Below is what the official statistics say about living and working there.

How San Diego compares. Among the 145 largest places in California, San Diego is #2 by population, #17 for long commutes (#1 = fewest), #116 for homeownership (#1 = highest), #39 for college degrees (#1 = most). Its county, San Diego County, is #8 of 58 counties for average pay ($82,854).

The place in numbers

San Diego has 1,389,526 residents (ACS 2020–2024), about 3.5% of the population of California. It covers 326 square miles of land, which works out to roughly 4,261 people per square mile. The median age is 36.2, 4% younger than the state median (36.2 against 37.9).

Housing

The median gross rent is $2,313 a month (rent plus utilities), 14% above the state median ($2,313 against $2,036). Over a year that is 25.7% of the median household income. US housing guidance treats housing as affordable when it takes 30% of income or less, so the typical household is under that line. The median home value is $906,700, which is 8.4 times the median household income ($108,077); a ratio above 5 usually means buying is out of reach without savings or a second income. 47.3% of households own their home, 15% below the state average (47.3% against 55.9%).

Work and pay

The San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metropolitan area has 1,538,060 jobs in the BLS wage survey, and the median pay across all occupations is $58,690 a year, 15% above the national median ($58,690 against $50,980). The biggest occupation groups are food preparation and serving related (161,910 jobs, median $38,840); office and administrative support (155,940 jobs, median $52,940); sales and related (124,550 jobs, median $44,010). The area is most specialised in life, physical, and social science (1.7 times) and architecture and engineering (1.5 times), where the share of workers is well above the national share. The best-paying groups with at least 5,000 jobs are management ($136,440) and computer and mathematical ($129,520). In 2026M09 the unemployment rate of San Diego County was 4.7%. 65.1% of residents aged 16 and over are in the labour force. The city lies in San Diego County; its jobs, pay by industry and GDP are on the county page.

Getting around

Among workers, 62.6% drive alone, 2.7% use public transit, 3.5% walk, 21.2% work from home. 9.5% of workers commute 45 minutes or more, 51% below the state average (9.5% against 19.4%).

People and education

51.0% of adults aged 25 and over hold a bachelor's degree or higher, 38% above the state share (51.0% against 37.1%). 25.1% of residents were born outside the United States, 7% below the state share (25.1% against 27.0%). The poverty rate is 11.0%, 8% below the state rate (11.0% against 12.0%).

Climate

The warmest month is Aug, averaging 77°F (24.9°C), and the coolest is Dec at 51°F (10.7°C). About 320 mm (13 inches) of precipitation falls in a year; Feb is the wettest month (70 mm) and Jun the driest (2 mm). These values come from NASA satellite-based climatology on a grid of about 50 km, so they describe the wider area, not a weather station in the city.

Nearby cities to compare

Closest cities in this guide: El Cajon (10 miles, rent 20% lower); Chula Vista (15 miles, rent 4% lower); San Marcos (22 miles, similar rent); Escondido (22 miles, rent 12% lower). Rent differences are against San Diego; use the Compare tab to put any two cities side by side.

Full guide to San Diego →California guideAll jobs in San Diego

Official links for San Diego

These links go to official sources and open in a new window. The first one is the government's or company's own site as listed in Wikidata (property "official website"); check it before relying on it.

Where to live

CITY Official statistics Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year (via Census Reporter) · Data: ACS 2020–2024

Places within 50 miles (straight line) of San Diego, CA that have a guide, with what living there costs. No pay estimate is shown because the title did not match one occupation.

Sort:
Place ⇅Distance from the job city ⇅Median rent ⇅Median home value ⇅Median household income ⇅Commute 45+ min ⇅Rent as % of occupation pay ⇅Open jobs there ⇅
San Diego, CA0 mi$2,313$906,700$108,0779.5%n/aJobs
El Cajon, CA10 mi$1,856$681,700$67,51110.7%n/aJobs
Chula Vista, CA15 mi$2,229$758,700$108,03217.6%n/aJobs
San Marcos, CA22 mi$2,348$868,000$109,37714.0%n/a—
Escondido, CA22 mi$2,046$714,500$91,96716.8%n/aJobs
Carlsbad, CA23 mi$2,808$1,257,000$142,74816.6%n/aJobs
Vista, CA27 mi$2,249$762,400$94,97514.4%n/a—
Oceanside, CA30 mi$2,303$770,300$97,73718.3%n/a—
Temecula, CA47 mi$2,347$679,700$121,06335.1%n/a—

Career paths

We could not match this title to one occupation, so here are the other sub-niches in Technology, where your skills may carry over:

Cybersecurity (366) Data, analytics and AI (1991) Cloud, IT and infrastructure (504) Product management (412)

Distances

CITY Calculation (straight line) Source: U.S. Census Bureau Gazetteer (coordinates) · Data: 2024

How far San Diego, CA is from the 20 largest US cities, in straight-line miles (not driving distance). Click a column to sort.

Sort:
From ⇅Straight-line distance (miles) ⇅Population of that city ⇅
San Diego, CA0 mi1,389,526
Los Angeles, CA111 mi3,857,263
Phoenix, AZ296 mi1,642,323
San Jose, CA407 mi990,138
San Francisco, CA475 mi830,235
Denver, CO833 mi718,877
Seattle, WA1,059 mi754,195
San Antonio, TX1,123 mi1,479,835
Oklahoma City, OK1,135 mi697,125
Fort Worth, TX1,148 mi963,194
Austin, TX1,153 mi979,539
Dallas, TX1,181 mi1,307,930
Houston, TX1,298 mi2,328,253
Chicago, IL1,724 mi2,711,226
Indianapolis, IN1,782 mi885,860
Columbus, OH1,950 mi914,802
Charlotte, NC2,074 mi903,844
Jacksonville, FL2,085 mi977,670
Philadelphia, PA2,365 mi1,579,706
New York, NY2,427 mi8,483,844

Nearby cities with open jobs (within 120 miles)

Sort:
City ⇅Straight-line distance ⇅Open jobs ⇅
El Cajon, CA10 mi1
Chula Vista, CA15 mi2
Carlsbad, CA23 mi3
Newport Beach, CA69 mi1
Irvine, CA70 mi21
Costa Mesa, CA74 mi10
Anaheim, CA80 mi50
Compton, CA98 mi3
Huntington Park, CA102 mi2
El Segundo, CA106 mi102
Culver City, CA110 mi6
Los Angeles, CA111 mi494
Beverly Hills, CA114 mi2
Burbank, CA117 mi6

The employer

Apple is the employer in this listing. See all its open jobs here →

Company description (from The Muse): Working at Apple means doing more than you ever thought possible and having more impact than you ever imagined.

size: Large Size; industries: Consumer Goods & Services, Information Technology, Software, Technology; locations on The Muse: Cupertino, CA.

It is among the 200 largest US-headquartered employers in our list, with about 166,000 employees worldwide (year not stated). Company page with headquarters, state economy and official links →

Official links for Apple

These links go to official sources and open in a new window. The first one is the government's or company's own site as listed in Wikidata (property "official website"); check it before relying on it.

The employer's profile on The Muse →

What it is like to work at a company (culture, schedules, benefits) is not in the source data, so we do not describe it. Read the description and ask the questions under "How to prepare".

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FAQ

What is the Software Performance Engineer, Audio & Media Technologies job at Apple?

A mid level role in technology (software engineering) listed 19 days ago. The full description is on this page and on The Muse.

Where is this job?

San Diego, CA.

How do I apply?

Use the "View this job and apply on The Muse" button. AtiveSite does not receive applications.

How much does it pay?

The listing does not publish pay, and we could not match the title to one official occupation.

What is the cost of living there?

Median rent in San Diego is $2,313 a month and median household income $108,077 (ACS 2020–2024).

How old is this listing?

It was posted on 2026-10-20 (19 days ago). Jobs older than 90 days are not shown.

Are there similar jobs?

Yes: browse software engineering jobs in California.

Sources and terms

AtiveSite is not affiliated with or endorsed by The Muse, the employer or any government agency, and does not process applications. Verify every detail with the employer before acting.

Sources

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