Apple Silicon - Display Driver Software Architecture Manager
Apple
Software Engineering, IT
Cupertino, CA, USA
USD 228,100-393,800 / year + Equity
Posted on Jan 7, 2026
Apple’s GGML (Graphics, Games, Machine Learning) Software team provides the graphics software foundation for all of Apple's innovative products, including iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Mac, Vision Pro and Apple Watch. Our responsibilities encompass the frameworks, developer tools, and hardware drivers for the GPU and Display devices for all of Apple’s hardware.
As the Display Silicon Driver Software Architecture Manager, you will lead a newly formed team responsible for defining and driving the overall software architecture for Apple's display pipeline driver across all products. This is a unique opportunity to shape the foundation of how visual content is delivered on every Apple device, working at the intersection of cutting-edge silicon development and world-class software engineering. You will oversee the architecture spanning user mode, kernel mode, and firmware layers, ensuring a cohesive, scalable, and maintainable software stack. Your team will bridge pre-silicon planning with production implementation, collaborating closely with hardware architects, silicon design teams, kernel engineers, framework developers, and product teams. You'll be responsible for making critical architectural decisions that impact performance, power efficiency, security, and the overall user experience. This role requires both deep technical expertise and strong leadership skills. You'll drive architectural definition, influence hardware design decisions, establish best practices, and ensure your team delivers robust solutions that scale across Apple's diverse product portfolio and emerging use cases.
- Define and drive the software architecture for the display pipeline driver across upcoming SoCs and emerging product categories
- Lead the software pipeline definition including component breakdown, interface specifications, and error handling strategies
- Establish cross-layer architecture spanning application framework integration, kernel and iBoot integration, and firmware interfaces
- Design abstraction layers that future-proof the display software stack against hardware evolution and new feature requirements
- Drive performance optimization and power management strategies across the entire display pipeline
- Define and implement security architecture for display subsystems ensuring data protection and system integrity
- Establish testability and debugging frameworks that enable efficient development and issue resolution
- Build and mentor a high-performing team of software architects and engineers, fostering collaboration with cross-functional partners across hardware, software, and product organizations
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or equivalent work experience
- 10+ years of experience in software engineering with focus on systems software, drivers, or firmware development
- 3+ years of experience in technical leadership or management roles
- Deep knowledge of operating system fundamentals including memory management, scheduling, synchronization, system calls, and inter-process communication
- Strong understanding of SoC hardware architecture, capabilities, and performance characteristics
- Proficiency in C and C++ programming languages
- Extensive experience with display system interfaces at both hardware and software levels
- Experience with iOS, macOS, or other Unix-based operating system internals
- Background in SoC firmware development and system framework design
- Proven track record of defining software architectures for complex hardware/software systems
- Experience leading cross-functional initiatives spanning pre-silicon and post-silicon phases
- Demonstrated ability to build collaborative working relationships across large, distributed organizations
- Excellent communication skills with ability to influence stakeholders at all levels of the organization
- Strong software design, debugging, and performance analysis capabilities
- Experience with power management, security architecture, and system-level optimization
- Track record of balancing architectural vision with practical implementation constraints
- Ability to mentor engineers and build high-performing teams
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.