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Tools Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Mid-Level AI Product / Creative-Tools Engineer

Santa Ana, CA · On-site

$120K - $155K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Our engineers work with agentic coding tools as a primary part of their daily workflow, which allows a small team to operate at a scope that would conventionally require a much larger one. We are ...

Mid-Level AI Product / Creative-Tools Engineer

Santa Ana, CA · On-site

$120K - $155K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Our engineers work with agentic coding tools as a primary part of their daily workflow, which allows a small team to operate at a scope that would conventionally require a much larger one. We are ...

Experience of tools implementation on Unix * At least 4 years of experience in Business Process Consulting, problem definition, Architecture/Design /Detailing of Processes * Analytical and ...

Required : • 3+ years of experience building product as a backend, full-stack, product, AI, or developer tools engineer • Fluency in Python and TypeScript • Strong backend engineering ability ...

This team of highly skilled developers provides close coaching and mentoring. In your daily job you will: * Design, develop and maintain OS technologies for a new state of the art real-time operating ...

Showing results 41-60

Tools Engineer information

See California salary details

$53.3K

$108.5K

$161.4K

How much do tools engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 16, 2026, the average yearly pay for tools engineer in California is $108,547.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $81,900.00 and $121,400.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a tools engineer do?

A Tools Engineer designs, develops, and maintains software tools that improve workflow efficiency for engineers, designers, and developers. They create automation scripts, internal utilities, and custom applications to streamline development processes. Their role often involves working with game engines, build systems, CI/CD pipelines, or proprietary tools tailored to a company's needs. Strong programming skills, problem-solving abilities, and collaboration with other teams are essential for success in this role.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a tools engineer?

To thrive as a Tools Engineer, you need strong programming abilities, problem-solving skills, and a background in computer science or related technical fields. Experience with scripting languages (such as Python or Bash), source control systems, and build automation tools is often required, and certifications in relevant technologies can be beneficial. Excellent communication, teamwork, and adaptability help tools engineers collaborate efficiently and respond to evolving project needs. These skills are essential for designing and maintaining robust tools that streamline workflows and improve productivity for development teams.

What are popular job titles related to Tools Engineer jobs in California?

For Tools Engineer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Tools Engineer jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Tools Engineer jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Tools Engineer jobs?

Cities in California with the most Tools Engineer job openings:

What are popular job titles related to Tools Engineer jobs in CA?

For Tools Engineer jobs in CA, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Infographic showing various Tools Engineer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 81% Full Time, 13% Part Time, 2% Temporary, 3% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 89% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $108,547 per year, or $52.2 per hour.

Senior Software Engineer, AI Tools - Special Projects

Apple

Cupertino, CA • On-site

$151K - $199K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 10 days ago


Apple rating

8.0

Company rating: 8.0 out of 10

Based on 677 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

7th of 30 rated technology retailers


Job description

Apple's next generation of intelligent experiences requires new ways for engineers, designers, animators, roboticists, and researchers to explore, visualize, and shape how AI systems behave. We're looking for a senior tools engineer who can build the applications, pipelines, and creative workflows that make this possible - from interactive data visualization tools to content creation utilities, user-study data collection systems, and annotation platforms.
You will develop the software that empowers Apple teams to understand complex, multi-modal data, prototype intelligent behaviors, and craft delightful user experiences. Your work will directly influence how Apple builds, evaluates, and iterates on AI-driven features across devices and platforms.
Description
Our team works at the intersection of hardware, software, and intelligence. We design the systems, infrastructure, and tools that enable Apple's next generation of AI-driven experiences - from on-device middleware and distributed inference platforms to large-scale data pipelines, interactive analytics, and advanced developer tooling. We collaborate closely with hardware, robotics, ML, design, and platform teams to build end-to-end solutions that are performant, intuitive, and deeply integrated into Apple's ecosystem. The work is hands-on, highly cross-disciplinary, and central to shaping how Apple's intelligent systems evolve.
Minimum Qualifications
Proven experience developing high-quality tools with intuitive workflows for technical or creative professionals
Proficiency in Swift, SwiftUI, Objective-C, or C++, with strong experience developing for macOS and iOS (visionOS experience strongly preferred)
Experience developing software in Python, including scripting, pipelines, or backend integrations
Experience working with 3D content creation tools or environments (e.g. Maya, Unity, or Unreal)
Understanding of system architecture, including multi-device workflows, real-time data handling, and cloud-connected applications
Strong grasp of Apple development tools and frameworks
Ability to design modular, maintainable architectures and decompose complex requirements into practical, high-impact features
Demonstrated success collaborating with cross-functional teams
Excellent problem-solving, debugging, and communication skills
Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science or related technical field, and 5+ years of industry experience
Preferred Qualifications
Experience with 3D animation workflows, including rigged characters, blendshape systems, or runtime animation frameworks (e.g. RealityKit or game-engine animation systems)
Experience with 3D content creation pipelines and familiarity with common formats such as USD
Knowledge of modern rendering techniques, including Metal
Experience developing connected applications backed by large-scale data storage and cloud services
Experience with data visualization, data mining, or analytics tooling
Familiarity with creative pipelines in animation, simulation, robotics, or game development
Experience building annotation tools, labeling systems, or user-study data pipelines
Experience with game engines or spatial computing environments (e.g. Unity, Unreal, or RealityKit)
Understanding of interaction paradigms for spatial interfaces or AR/VR workflows

What Apple employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom


Apple logo

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