Job Details

Role Number: 200613942-0836

Summary

Apple is looking for a visionary and hands-on engineering leader to guide the future development of FoundationDB, the high-performance, distributed, open source database that underpins iCloud and supports Apple’s most critical cloud services. This role is ideal for a seasoned technical leader passionate about distributed databases, storage systems, open source communities, and building resilient, scalable infrastructure.

As the engineering leader for FoundationDB, you will own the vision and roadmap for a core component of the iCloud platform, guiding foundational technologies that ensure data availability, recovery, and self-healing. You’ll work with exceptional engineers and a vibrant open source community to solve complex problems in distributed computing, all within an environment that values autonomy, creativity, and long-term thinking.

Description

Lead the development of FoundationDB, one of the most technically advanced and widely respected distributed databases, which underpins Apple’s most critical cloud services and supports billions of users globally. This role offers the opportunity to shape the future of data infrastructure by guiding the design and implementation of resilient, scalable, and high performance distributed database and storage systems.

You will collaborate with exceptional engineers solving some of the hardest problems in distributed computing. You will also help build and foster an inclusive, open source community around FoundationDB, working alongside a global ecosystem of contributors and adopters.

Success in this role requires deep technical expertise, strong engineering leadership, and a passion for building reliable, mission critical infrastructure. You will thrive in an environment that values autonomy, creativity, long term thinking, and technical rigor.

Minimum Qualifications

• Decades of proven experience in software engineering with at least 5 years in senior engineering leadership roles

• Deep expertise in distributed databases and storage systems, critical expertise required for success in this role

• Familiarity with cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, GCP, Azure) and Kubernetes

• Strong background in C++, concurrency models, storage layers, and fault-tolerant architectures

• Excellent communication skills and ability to work across organizational boundaries and with external contributors

• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple complex priorities in a fast-paced, collaborative environment

• Passion for building strong engineering cultures rooted in transparency, mentorship, and technical rigor

Preferred Qualifications

• Track record of thought leadership in systems engineering, or experience leading & scaling open-source projects or communities is highly preferred

• Prior experience contributing to open source distributed databases, or similar distributed databases

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 (https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/2023-06/22-088_EEOC_KnowYourRights6.12ScreenRdr.pdf) .