Data Strategy Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

The people here at Apple don’t just create products - they create the kind of wonder that’s revolutionized entire industries. It’s the diversity of those people and their ideas that inspires the innovation that runs through everything we do, from amazing technology to industry-leading environmental efforts.
Apple is seeking an experienced Data Strategy & Program Lead to join our Finance Process, Analytics, Reporting & Technology (PART) Data Operations team. You will own the data strategy and roadmap behind the data foundations that power Retail Finance - directing the engineers who build them and partnering closely with our IT and technical partner teams to deliver trustworthy, high-quality data at scale. This is a role for someone who thinks strategically about data, defines what “good” looks like, and orchestrates the people and partners needed to get there. If you’re energized by ambiguous problems, cross-functional influence, and turning a portfolio of data initiatives into measurable business impact, we’d love to hear from you.
Description
You will set the direction for how Retail Finance’s data is sourced, built, governed, and delivered - translating business needs into a clear technical roadmap and orchestrating the engineers and partner teams who execute it. Today that work spans dozens of data pipelines processing billions of records per day; your job is to ensure that work is prioritized well, built to a high standard, and continuously evolving to meet changing business conditions.
You will lead through influence as much as authority. You’ll direct the priorities and delivery of our data engineering resources and partner with technical teams across Apple, relying on those partners for the deepest engineering expertise. Your value is in connecting the dots: understanding the business deeply, knowing enough about the technology to make sound trade-offs and challenge designs, and keeping a complex set of initiatives moving toward outcomes that leadership can trust.
We’re a growing team with plenty of interesting technical and business challenges to solve. We’re looking for a self-starter who learns fast, adapts well to changing requirements, builds trust across organizational boundaries, and is comfortable working with minimal direction in a global, fast-paced, sometimes ambiguous environment.","responsibilities":"Own the data strategy and multi-quarter roadmap for Retail Finance data, partnering with cross-functional leadership to define and gain buy-in on a long-term vision
Define “what good looks like” - setting standards, principles, and success metrics for data quality, reliability, and delivery - and hold the work to them
Translate Retail Finance business needs into clear requirements, prioritized initiatives, and well-scoped projects
Direct the priorities, workload, and delivery of data engineering resources, balancing competing demands while maintaining quality
Partner with Apple’s IT and technical partner teams who hold deep data engineering expertise - directing the work, making trade-off decisions, and ensuring solutions are scalable, efficient, and well-architected
Establish and champion data governance frameworks, including data quality, validation, monitoring, and ownership
Monitor initiatives from intake through delivery - planning schedules, managing dependencies, surfacing risks, and keeping stakeholders informed
Articulate priorities, trade-offs, and technical concepts in business context to senior Finance, Sales, and Operations leaders
Drive adoption of data products and self-service capabilities across the Retail Finance organization
Champion modern technology and AI adoption across the team and the analysts we support, helping the organization understand where new tools can drive leverage
Plan and run enablement activities - training, workshops, summits - to build data fluency across Retail Finance
Preferred Qualifications
Experience directing, mentoring, or managing engineers, contractors, or technical project teams
Working familiarity with the modern data stack and concepts behind technologies like Python, SQL, Airflow, Spark, Trino, Kafka, Docker, Iceberg, and Databricks - enough to set direction and make informed decisions, even if you’re not the hands-on builder
Experience establishing data governance, data quality, and data product frameworks
Proficiency in process mapping, business process analysis, and systems development lifecycles
Familiarity with SDLC best practices, version control, and CI/CD
A point of view on applying AI/LLM tooling to improve analyst and engineering workflows
Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, Azure) for data infrastructure
Experience managing large-scale data migrations or onboarding data from external partners
Finance and accounting process experience; familiarity with Retail or Sales Finance a plus
BS or MS in Engineering / Computer Science
Minimum Qualifications
8+ years in program/project management, data strategy, business analysis, or technical program management roles, with a strong data and technology focus
Demonstrated experience owning and delivering complex, cross-functional initiatives end-to-end in an ambiguous, fast-paced environment
Strong technical fluency: able to read and reason about SQL and data pipelines, understand data warehouse/lakehouse architecture, and credibly challenge technical designs and trade-offs
Proven ability to influence and build trust across all levels of an organization, including with senior leadership and technical partner teams
BS or equivalent degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Finance, Business, or a related field
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 $146,300 and $244,100, 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.