Freelance 3D Architectural Rendering Jobs in California

Apple Maps offers a constantly evolving and increasingly detailed 3D world, and our team renders every frame of it. We develop the graphics engine that powers the mapping and navigation experiences across Apple's entire device ecosystem, from Watch to Vision Pro, as well as the Web. We're looking for a Senior Rendering Engine Software Engineer who is excited by the challenge of rendering our planet beautifully and performantly in real time.
Description
We are the Map Display team, and every day our work is used by hundreds of millions of people to explore and navigate the world. We own the 3D visual experience inside Apple Maps and the graphics engine that fuels a thriving ecosystem of first- and third-party applications. You'll work at the intersection of art and engineering, developing novel algorithms, pushing rendering techniques forward, and collaborating with world-class designers and cartographers to make every pixel perfect. Whether it's the 3D imagery and splats of Yosemite National Park, the historical landmarks of Rome, the streets of Paris, or the transit systems of Tokyo, you'll have a hand in how people interact with our world.","responsibilities":"Architect and implement Maps rendering features and technologies across all Apple platforms
Partner with HI and Cartography teams to design new visual experiences
Help drive on long-term technical strategy and roadmaps for future rendering and Maps experiences
Contribute to critical decisions balancing visual quality, implementation complexity, and platform constraints
Optimize rendering performance and power efficiency across our diverse hardware ecosystem
Uphold and evolve team culture through architecture and code reviews, mentorship, and leadership by example
Preferred Qualifications
Track record of shipping interactive rendering or game engines at scale for mobile platforms such as iOS, Android, or Linux
Experience navigating the entire lifecycle of software development, from whiteboarding designs to shipping quality, optimized code
Proficiency with GPU profiling tools and performance optimization for mobile platforms
Familiarity with AR/VR rendering technologies and the unique challenges of immersive environments
Minimum Qualifications
BA/BS plus 5 years of hands-on experience building real-time 3D rendering applications
Mastery of writing C++ that is safe, performant, readable, and built to last
Experience with one or more modern graphics APIs (e.g., Metal, Vulkan, Direct3D 12, WebGPU) and shading languages (e.g., MSL, HLSL, GLSL, WGSL)
Ability to use 3D geometry and linear algebra to solve graphics problems
Experience with multi-threaded engine architectures and synchronization
Methodical debugging mindset and tenacious problem-solving instincts
Communication skills to make complex ideas clear to leadership and the collaboration skills to focus teams’ efforts
Deep ownership of the features you ship
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 $184,700 and $324,800, 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.