Database Engineer - RAG Platform Developer

As a Database Engineer on our team, you will architect and optimize our SQL and vector database infrastructure supporting enterprise-scale design data. You'll lead technical decisions on database architecture, scaling patterns, and technology selection for our RAG platform while designing comprehensive strategies to ensure optimal performance. Working closely with the development team, you'll build and refine data ingestion pipelines that enable design teams across all disciplines to seamlessly onboard their data. You'll collaborate with DevOps/SRE teams to ensure quality of service, proper resource allocation, and system scalability while improving RAG retrieval performance through hybrid search strategies, index tuning, and embedding optimization. In addition to your primary database focus, you'll contribute to full-stack development using Python and JavaScript, monitor database health and performance metrics for our multi-tenant system, and develop and maintain database operations procedures, monitoring, and disaster recovery strategies while driving continuous improvement of retrieval quality, search latency, and overall system reliability. You'll also provide mentorship to other engineers on database best practices and scalable design patterns.

Proficiency in Python or Javascript.
Production experience deploying and managing vector databases (Milvus, Qdrant, or Weaviate) at scale
Experience with PostgreSQL or MySQL in production environments
Understanding of RAG pipelines, including embedding strategies, chunking, and retrieval optimization
Minimum requirement of BS + 10 years of relevant industry experience

Understanding of Vector database indexing strategies and tradeoffs
Strong SQL proficiency with deep understanding of query planning, indexing strategies, and optimization techniques
Postgres advanced features (extensions, replication, sharding)
Experience managing large-scale databases serving high-concurrency workloads
Experience with embedding models and LLM integration patterns
Demonstrated experience building or optimizing RAG systems in production environments
Collaborative mindset with ability to mentor engineers and work closely with DevOps/SRE teams
Monitoring and observability tools (Prometheus, Grafana)
Kubernetes experience, particularly with stateful applications and database deployments
Proven ability to make architectural decisions for scalable database systems

We're seeking a Database Engineer to architect and optimize our large-scale RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation) platform that serves our users across all of the Hardware Tech group. This role combines deep database expertise with modern AI/ML infrastructure, enabling design teams to seamlessly onboard and query enterprise-scale datasets. You'll be responsible for database architecture and optimization while also contributing to full-stack GenAI application development.

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 $181,100 and $318,400, 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’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.

Apple is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to inclusion and diversity. We seek to promote equal opportunity for all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, Veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics. Learn more about your EEO rights as an applicant

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

Learn about reasonable accommodations for job applicants

Apple accepts applications to this posting on an ongoing basis.

Apple is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to inclusion and diversity. We seek to promote equal opportunity for all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, Veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics. Learn more about your EEO rights as an applicant

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

Learn about reasonable accommodations for job applicants

Apple accepts applications to this posting on an ongoing basis.