Tools & Automation Backend Quality Engineer – App Store Analytics

Summary
The App Store Analytics Quality Engineering team ensures the accuracy, reliability, and integrity of customer experience data that powers features and insights across the App Store ecosystem. We are seeking a Backend Test Engineer with strong experience in Big Data environments (Spark, Kafka, Flink, Hadoop, Hive, Iceberg) and the ability to build scalable, robust backend test automation using Java or Python.

This role is central to ensuring quality throughout the data lifecycle — from client instrumentation to backend aggregation and reporting — by applying shift-left testing principles, embedding quality checks early in development, and integrating test automation within CI/CD pipelines.

Description
In this role, you will drive quality for large-scale distributed data systems that power App Store analytics. You will collaborate closely with engineering, data, and program management teams to define test strategies, contribute to automation frameworks, and ensure high data fidelity across ingestion, transformation, and reporting layers. You will be responsible for:

• Implementing and maintaining automated validation frameworks for data pipelines and services
• Integrating automated tests into CI/CD pipelines to ensure continuous feedback and early defect detection
• Partnering with developers to shift quality left by embedding testability into data workflows and APIs
• Ensuring consistency and correctness of client-to-backend data flows across iOS, macOS, tvOS, and Web

This role requires a self-driven engineer with strong technical depth, solid analytical skills, and the ability to influence quality across complex, evolving systems.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and maintain automated test frameworks for backend data validation, ETL verification, and system integration testing
• Collaborate with data and backend engineers to embed test hooks and validations early in the development lifecycle (Shift-Left)
• Integrate automated tests into CI/CD pipelines to ensure continuous quality validation
• Validate data pipelines built on Spark, Kafka, Flink, Hive, Hadoop, and Iceberg, ensuring correctness, completeness, and performance
• Develop scalable utilities for schema validation, data comparison, and regression checks across distributed datasets
• Conduct functional, regression, and data integrity testing across multiple storage and compute layers
• Build monitoring and alerting mechanisms for pipeline health and data quality KPIs
• Investigate, isolate, and debug complex data issues across client and backend layers
• Document test strategies, automation architecture, and validation reports

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or similar field
• At least 7+ years industry experience in a similar role
• Strong proficiency in Python and/or Java for backend test automation and data validation
• Working knowledge of SQL and large-scale dataset validation across distributed storage or data lake environments
• Experience with REST API testing and automation
• Experience with CI/CD pipelines and continuous testing frameworks
• Proven experience implementing Shift-Left testing practices and embedding automation early in the SDLC
• Strong analytical, debugging, and communication skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Hands-on experience with Big Data frameworks (Spark, Kafka, Flink, Hadoop, Hive, Iceberg)
• Familiarity with containerized environments (Docker, Kubernetes) and deployment automation
• Knowledge of Charles Proxy, Postman, or equivalent tools for API and network validation
• Exposure to iOS/macOS platforms and Swift (for end-to-end validation scenarios)
• Passion for building maintainable, reusable, and scalable test automation systems

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 $130,200 and $253,400, 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 Inc.’s discretionary employee stock programs. Employees are eligible for discretionary restricted stock unit award recommendations, and can purchase Apple Inc. stock at a discount if voluntarily participating in Apple Inc.’s Employee Stock Purchase Plan. Participation in Apple Inc.’s discretionary stock programs is governed by Apple Inc.’s stock plans and agreements and are not part of local employment contracts or compensation.

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 and compensation programs are subject to eligibility requirements and other terms of the applicable plan or program.

Apple is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to inclusion and diversity. Apple provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. Apple is a drug-free workplace.

At Apple, we believe accessibility is a fundamental human right. You’ll find that idea reflected in everything here — in our culture, our benefits and our digital tools. By welcoming as many perspectives as possible, we help you build a career where you feel like you belong.

Learn about accessibility in Apple’s workplace

Role Number: 200663122-3350