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Systems Software Engineer Jobs in Seattle, WA (NOW HIRING)

... systems in data centers. Description The Cloud OS System Software Team is looking for an ... We are seeking a skilled Software Engineer to join our System Software Team focused on optimizing ...

Meta is seeking a Software Engineer specializing in systems software to drive technical direction across large-scale infrastructure and platform engineering. In this role, you will architect and ...

Software Engineer 4 Location: REDMOND, Washington (Onsite) Pay: $75.00 - $85.00 Hourly Role ... Implement system software and customize to client requirements. * Prepare detailed software ...

Meta is seeking a Software Engineer to join our Systems ML Engineering team, focused on building and optimizing the machine learning infrastructure that powers Meta's products at massive scale. In ...

Senior Software Engineer

Bellevue, WA · On-site

$149K - $216K/yr

Bachelor's degree or equivalent in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Computer Information Systems, Software Engineering, Information Technology, Electronic Engineering, Electrical Engineering ...

System Software Engineer, HPC Performance

Redmond, WA · On-site

$193K - $229K/yr

In the Software Development Tools Team, we enable 1st & 3rd-party developers to turn NVIDIA ... Enable work in tiny embedded and automotive systems. Our tools span the gamut. What we need to see ...

Showing results 21-40

Systems Software Engineer information

See Seattle, WA salary details

$94.5K

$202.2K

$234.4K

How much do systems software engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 1, 2026, the average yearly pay for systems software engineer in Seattle, WA is $202,249.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $196,900.00 and $233,300.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a systems software engineer?

Systems Software Engineers are professionals who design, develop, test, and maintain the underlying software that enables computer hardware and application software to function effectively. They work on operating systems, device drivers, embedded systems, and other foundational platforms, ensuring system stability, security, and performance. Their role often involves low-level programming, optimizing system resources, and collaborating with hardware engineers to create seamless integration between software and hardware components.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a systems software engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Systems Software Engineer, you need strong programming skills (typically in C, C++, or Rust), a deep understanding of operating systems, and a degree in computer science or a related field. Familiarity with tools like Git, build systems (e.g., Make, CMake), kernel development environments, and sometimes relevant certifications (such as Linux Foundation Certified Engineer) is typical. Analytical thinking, problem-solving abilities, and effective teamwork are essential soft skills that help you excel in complex, collaborative projects. These skills and qualities are crucial to designing robust, efficient system-level software that meets performance, reliability, and security standards.

How does a systems software engineer typically collaborate with hardware engineers and other technical teams?

Systems Software Engineers often work closely with hardware engineers to ensure that software integrates seamlessly with physical components. This collaboration may involve participating in cross-functional meetings, debugging issues at the hardware-software interface, and jointly optimizing system performance. Additionally, they coordinate with quality assurance and product teams to align on requirements, test plans, and release schedules. Effective communication and teamwork are essential, as resolving complex, system-level challenges often requires input from multiple technical disciplines.

What is the difference between Systems Software Engineer vs Software Developer?

AspectSystems Software EngineerSoftware Developer
Primary FocusDesigning and developing system-level software, operating systems, and firmwareCreating applications, websites, and user-facing software
Required SkillsLow-level programming (C, C++), OS concepts, hardware interactionHigh-level programming (Java, Python, JavaScript), UI/UX design
Work EnvironmentOften in hardware or OS teams, embedded systems, or infrastructureApplication development teams, web or mobile app projects
CertificationsTypically none required, but Linux or OS certifications can helpOften certifications like Java, AWS, or specific language certifications

While both roles involve software development, Systems Software Engineers focus on system-level and hardware-interfacing software, whereas Software Developers create user-facing applications. The roles overlap in programming skills but differ in scope and environment.

More about Systems Software Engineer jobs
Infographic showing various Systems Software Engineer job openings in Seattle, WA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 84% Full Time, 10% Part Time, 4% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 91% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 7% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $202,249 per year, or $97.2 per hour.

System Software Engineer

Apple

Seattle, WA

$142K - $263K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Retirement

Re-posted 21 days ago


Apple rating

8.1

Company rating: 8.1 out of 10

Based on 680 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

6th of 30 rated technology retailers


Job description

The cloudOS team is responsible for all facets of delivering OS and system services on Apple silicon servers, including driving hardware and software initiatives to enable new Apple silicon-based systems in data centers.
Description
The Cloud OS System Software Team is looking for an exceptional software engineer to build and integrate software to orchestrate workloads across highly performant and energy efficient systems that will power the next generation of data centers.
In this highly collaborative role, you will be at the center of multiple efforts to utilize hardware acceleration for machine learning and high performance computing workloads. You will be part of a team that builds and maintains system software such as runtime libraries, frameworks, and daemons that will power the next generations of data centers. You will partner with teams across Apple to adapt, tailor, and scale software on a novel compute platform and will help to build the foundation of our future cloud architecture.
We are seeking a skilled Software Engineer to join our System Software Team focused on optimizing and maintaining the core infrastructure of our data center environments. You will work on enhancing operating system performance, scalability, and reliability, ensuring seamless operations for large-scale distributed systems.
If you’re passionate about system engineering and optimizing OS performance at scale, we’d love to hear from you!","responsibilities":"Develop, maintain, and optimize OS-level components for data center infrastructure.
Collaborate with cross-functional teams to improve performance, security, and resource efficiency across distributed systems.
Troubleshoot and resolve low-level OS issues, networking bottlenecks, and hardware-software integration challenges.
Contribute to the development of automation, monitoring, and diagnostic tools to improve system reliability.
Participate in code reviews, design discussions, and architectural decisions related to OS-level services.
Stay up to date with emerging OS technologies, virtualization, and containerization trends in data center environments.
Design, implement, and maintain system daemons that manage hardware components and host processes
Implement robust fault detection and recovery mechanisms for hardware and daemon failures.
Preferred Qualifications
Familiarity with init systems (systemd, launchd, upstart) and service orchestration.
Knowledge of distributed systems, cloud computing, and large-scale data center infrastructure is a plus.
Experience with Swift, Objective-C and Apple development tools
Experience with AI accelerators (GPUs, TPUs, ASICs) or distributed systems
Knowledge of container technologies (Docker, Kubernetes) and AI workload orchestration.
Minimum Qualifications
4+ years of software engineering experience
Proficiency in one of C/C++, Obj-C, Swift
Strong knowledge of OS architecture, and low-level system components.
Passion for software architecture, APIs, and high performance extensible software
Excellent communication skills
Creative, collaborative, and product-focused
Solid understanding of Linux or Apple OS system programming, including process management, IPC, signals, and daemon lifecycle.
Bachelors or Masters in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or equivalent experience.
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 $142,300 and $263,300, 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.

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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