Sr. Engineering Leader - FoundationDB

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.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership: Define and execute the technical and product roadmap for FoundationDB in collaboration with key internal and external stakeholders.
• Team Management: Build, mentor, and lead a high-performing engineering team focused on distributed databases, storage systems, concurrency, and cloud-native infrastructure.
• Open Source Stewardship: Champion and foster an inclusive, engaged, and growing open-source community around FoundationDB.
• Technical Excellence: Guide complex architectural decisions and contribute to hands-on development to maintain FoundationDB's reputation for reliability, scalability, and determinism.
• Collaboration: Partner with cross-functional teams including adopters, product management, site reliability engineering (SRE), and solutions engineering to ensure seamless integration and adoption.
• Engineering Culture: Oversee development velocity, code quality, testing practices, and release processes to ensure consistent delivery of high-quality software.
• Operational Oversight: Support the availability, durability, and performance of production systems operating at scale.
• Advocacy: Represent FoundationDB in industry forums, conferences, and through technical blogs and community engagement.

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, Google Cloud Platform, 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

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 $262,500 and $393,800, 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.

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 .