Senior Data Engineer - Music Services Operations Analytics & Strategy

About the role

We are seeking a Senior Data Engineer to architect and deploy the robust, AI-ready data pipelines that serve as the foundation for our analytics capabilities. This role demands both deep systems engineering rigor and strong business partnership - the ideal candidate brings battle-tested experience at massive scale and the strategic foresight to build extensible, modular systems that span across Music, Video, and Books.

Responsibilities

• Build & Scale Data Infrastructure: Architect and deploy scalable, modular data pipelines optimized for Apple Music's massive scale - delivering reliable, self-service data products with clear contracts and SLAs that internal teams, data scientists, and external partners can confidently consume.
• Enable Advanced Analytics: Partner closely with data scientists, analysts, and cross-functional stakeholders to deliver structured, high-performance datasets backed by clear SLAs - accelerating insights and systematically reducing dependency on ad-hoc engineering requests.
• Operational Excellence & Self-Service: Lead the team's evolution toward scalable, self-service analytics. Enforce strict CI/CD practices, mentor peers, and foster a strong data engineering culture centered on quality, reliability, and continuous improvement.

Requirements

• Strategic mindset with the ability to define long-term data architecture vision, anticipate upstream and downstream challenges, and make data-informed decisions aligned with broader organizational objectives
• A resourceful, action-oriented innovator who consistently cuts through ambiguity and engineers creative solutions - particularly through the application of AI-driven technologies, intelligent automation, and emerging data tooling
• Experience leveraging AI-enabled tools and workflows within data engineering contexts - including familiarity with LLMs, RAG pipelines, and intelligent automation - with a demonstrated ability to apply these technologies to meaningfully improve speed, quality, and operational output
• Deep familiarity with open table formats (Apache Iceberg, Delta Lake), cloud-native data systems, and self-service data platform principles including data mesh architectures
• Familiarity with graph databases and SPARQL as a forward-looking capability
• Demonstrated expertise implementing data privacy frameworks - including hands-on experience building systems compliant with global regulations (e.g., GDPR, CCPA)
• Proficiency with data visualization and reporting tools such as Tableau, Superset, or equivalent platforms - with an ability to translate complex data into clear, consumable insights for business audiences
• Familiarity with the structural nuances of diverse digital media catalogs - audio, video, and publishing data models
• Experience mentoring peers and championing a culture of data engineering excellence across the team
• A genuine passion for Apple products and services, with deep familiarity with the Apple ecosystem and an understanding of the content and media landscape that drives Apple Music and beyond
• 7+ years of professional experience in data engineering or systems architecture, with a demonstrated history of owning production data systems at massive scale - processing billions of records in complex, high-volume environments
• Advanced proficiency in Python and SQL, with expertise in distributed data processing frameworks (e.g., PySpark/Spark), modular software design, and automated testing methodologies
• Extensive hands-on experience designing and operating CI/CD pipelines, automated deployment workflows, and

Additional Information

The Music Services Operations Analytics & Strategy team builds the intelligence infrastructure that powers Apple's media services. Processing billions of records monthly, we manage complex content taxonomies, variable provider data, and hundreds of analytical dimensions - delivering accurate, actionable insights to cross-functional teams, partner organizations, and executive leadership.

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