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Music Software Developer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Senior Software Engineer-Apple Music

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$144K - $190K/yr

Description As a software engineer on the MusicUI team, you will build and maintain the cross-platform framework that powers Apple Music's user interface across iOS, tvOS, macOS, and visionOS. You'll ...

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Music Software Developer information

See California salary details

$47.4K

$110.4K

$163.8K

How much do music software developer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 24, 2026, the average yearly pay for music software developer in California is $110,380.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $88,800.00 and $128,300.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the typical day-to-day responsibilities of a Music Software Developer?

As a Music Software Developer, your daily tasks often include coding and testing features for audio applications or plugins, debugging issues, and collaborating with sound designers, musicians, or other developers to refine product functionality. You may participate in team meetings to discuss new features, review design documents, or contribute to the user interface and user experience elements. Regularly updating documentation, staying current with new music technology trends, and providing technical support or consultation to end-users are also common. This role offers a dynamic mix of technical challenges and creative collaboration, making each workday both varied and engaging.

What is a Music Software Developer job?

A Music Software Developer designs, develops, and maintains software applications for music creation, production, editing, or analysis. They work with digital audio workstations (DAWs), plugins, virtual instruments, and other music-related software. This role requires programming skills in languages like C++, Python, or JavaScript, along with knowledge of audio processing and music theory. Developers may collaborate with musicians, sound engineers, and other tech professionals to create tools that enhance music production.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Music Software Developer position, and why are they important?

To excel as a Music Software Developer, you need expertise in programming languages such as C++, Java, or Python, combined with a strong understanding of digital signal processing, audio engineering, and software design principles. Familiarity with audio frameworks (like JUCE, VST, or Core Audio), version control systems, and sometimes Agile development or relevant industry certifications is highly valuable. Creative problem-solving, strong communication, and the ability to collaborate with both technical and musical professionals set outstanding candidates apart. These skills are vital for building innovative, high-quality music technology solutions that meet user needs in a fast-evolving industry.

What are the most commonly searched types of Music Software Developer jobs in California? The most popular types of Music Software Developer jobs in California are:
What are popular job titles related to Music Software Developer jobs in California? For Music Software Developer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Music Software Developer jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Music Software Developer jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Music Software Developer jobs? Cities in California with the most Music Software Developer job openings:
Infographic showing various Music Software Developer job openings in California as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 82% Full Time, 6% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 11% Contract. Highlights an 83% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 13% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $110,380 per year, or $53.1 per hour.
ML Software Engineering Manager - Apple Music

ML Software Engineering Manager - Apple Music

Apple

Cupertino, CA • On-site

Full-time

Posted 14 days ago


Apple rating

8.0

Company rating: 8.0 out of 10

Based on 674 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

7th of 30 rated technology retailers


Job description

Imagine what you could do here. At Apple, new ideas have a way of becoming extraordinary products, services, and customer experiences very quickly. The work you do here has the potential to reach hundreds of millions of people, and nowhere is that more true than Apple Music, where technology and artistry meet to connect listeners with the music they love.
The Apple Music ML team is looking for an ML Software Engineering Manager to lead a team at the forefront of music recommendation and personalization. This is a rare opportunity to shape how tens of millions of people discover music every day, working alongside world-class engineers, researchers, and product partners to build systems that are both technically ambitious and deeply human.
Description
As an ML Software Engineering Manager on the Apple Music team, you will lead a team of talented engineers responsible for designing, building, and shipping state-of-the-art music recommendation and personalization systems. You will own the technical direction of the team, partner closely with Research and Product, and ensure your engineers have the support, clarity, and growth opportunities they need to do the best work of their careers.
You will collaborate regularly with Apple teams globally, working across time zones to deliver cohesive, high-quality experiences at scale.
Minimum Qualifications
3+ years of experience managing software engineering teams
5+ years of experience building and shipping high-quality software products
Hands-on experience designing and shipping products in the recommendation systems space
Strong computer science fundamentals and system design experience
Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science or a related field, or equivalent practical experience
Preferred Qualifications
Deep understanding of modern recommendation system architectures and the tradeoffs involved in building them at scale
Experience with machine learning frameworks and familiarity with end-to-end ML model development lifecycles
Demonstrated ability to translate complex technical tradeoffs for both technical and non-technical audiences
Experience leading or collaborating with geographically distributed teams across time zones
Track record of attracting, developing, and retaining strong engineering talent in a competitive environment
Passion for music and a curiosity about how technology can deepen the connection between people and the artists they love

What Apple employees say

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About Apple

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Imagine what you could do here! At Apple, new ideas have a way of becoming extraordinary products, services, and customer experiences very quickly. Bring passion and dedication to your job and there's no telling what you could accomplish. Dynamic, intelligent people and inspiring, innovative technologies are the norm here. The people who work here have reinvented entire industries with all Apple Hardware products. The same real passion for innovation that goes into our products also applies to our practices strengthening our dedication to leave the world better than we found it.

Industry

Computer and electronic product manufacturing

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Cupertino, CA, US

Year founded

1976