14 DAY TRIAL // If you’re looking to make a change in this word and have at least 5 years of experience developing server software in Java, C, C++, or C#, Apple needs someone to mend and improve iMessage. And FaceTime too, while you’re at it.
A memo posted by the company’s small but proud server engineering team reveals that Apple needs a guy or a gal who wants to tag along and help improve iMessage and FaceTime, two of the most popular communications platforms out there.
A truly convincing job posting
If you’ve ever had an undelivered iMessage or switched to Android to find that your texts are no longer moving between numbers, then you’ll instantly realize why Apple needs someone dedicated to improving these services.
The company generally posts typical job descriptions, carrying the usual introduction about the importance of the job, key qualifications, and education requirements. This one has all that, plus a link to the company’s iPhone 5 TV ad dubbed FaceTime Every Day.
Instead of talking from Apple’s perspective as an organization, the post echoes the voice of a small team inside the company reaching out to experienced engineers who like to make things work server-side. Here’s am excerpt from the ad.
“We are a small team, but we are highly visible due to the nature of services we offer, and their importance to our customers. We are looking for an extremely capable software engineer to join our team. You will be responsible for designing, developing, maintaining and monitoring large scale distributed cloud messaging services that have a very high level of reliability and availability.”
Requirements & actual duties
The usual requirements apply here as well, such as the need to have a passion-driven applicant seeking this job opportunity, someone who can juggle multiple priorities and manage uncertainty, but also communicate excellently with others.
In essence, Apple wants someone to “build the server stacks for iMessage, FaceTime, and help us grow this platform to support several new services in the future. You'll design system architectures, specify custom network protocols, and implement high performance code. You'll also develop scalability strategies for applications that support hundreds of millions of users,” the job advert adds.
At least 5 years of Java, C, C++, or C# is required, in addition to experience with network protocols, storage systems, security algorithms, and unix system internals, as well as know-how in large distributed systems. Education-wise, you’ll need a bachelor's degree in computer science or equivalent. The job application is here.
