Software Development Engineer - iOS for Keyboard

Summary

Join the Keyboard Infrastructure team to build and maintain the foundational systems that power keyboard behavior across iOS & iPadOS. You'll own keyboard focus, lifecycle management, and the APIs that apps use to interact with keyboard layout — directly impacting every text input experience on iPhone and iPad.

Description

Design, develop, and maintain the keyboard focus system, ensuring correct and predictable focus behavior across complex app hierarchies

Own keyboard lifecycle management — presentation, dismissal, transitions, and state restoration Build and maintain APIs for keyboard layout that apps rely on for positioning, insets, and animation coordination

Ensure keyboard infrastructure works reliably across multitasking, Stage Manager, and diverse app architectures

Collaborate with UIKit, SwiftUI, and framework teams to provide consistent keyboard behavior

Debug and resolve complex issues spanning focus engines, responder chain, and windowing

Write clear documentation and provide guidance to internal and external developers adopting keyboard layout APIs

Responsibilities

What Sets You Apart:
You think in terms of contracts and invariants — your APIs are hard to misuse
You care about edge cases: split view, external keyboards, hardware/software transitions
You can trace a bug from an app's unexpected behavior down through the responder chain to a lifecycle timing issue
You balance stability and evolution, keeping existing adopters working while enabling new platform features

Minimum Qualifications

BS in Computer Science or equivalent experience
10+ years of experience in iOS/macOS development (Swift, Objective-C)
Strong foundation in systems programming, state management, and framework design
Experience designing or maintaining public APIs

Preferred Qualifications

Deep knowledge of UIKit internals — responder chain, UIWindow, UIScene, and view layout systems
Familiarity with keyboard avoidance, input accessory views, and text input architecture (UITextInput, UIKeyInput)
Experience shipping frameworks or infrastructure used by other engineering teams
Understanding of accessibility requirements for keyboard and focus interactions
Track record of diagnosing and fixing subtle lifecycle and state-management bugs

Pay & Benefits — Cupertino, California, United States

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 $216,200 and $394,000, 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.

Application Deadline

Apple accepts applications to this posting on an ongoing basis.