Sr Software Engineer-macOS

Job Description Senior Software Engineer, Client Applications (macOS) Location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Role Overview Our client is seeking a highly skilled Senior Software Engineer, Client Applications (macOS) to join their team in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This role will focus on the core sync and operating system integration layer of the client desktop application on macOS. The primary emphasis is on system-level development in Swift, leveraging Apple’s File Provider framework and a strong understanding of macOS internals, filesystems, and OS integration. The successful candidate will design and implement core sync and filesystem logic, integrate with Finder and macOS system services, and collaborate closely with QA, UI, and backend teams to deliver a robust desktop client experience. This is a fully office-based role in Riyadh.

Key Responsibilities Design, develop, and maintain system-level components for the desktop application on macOS using Swift 5.5 and above. Work with Apple File Provider, File Provider domain management, and Endpoint Security / ESClient to handle filesystem events, placeholders, hydration/dehydration, and user actions. Implement and maintain gRPC services and clients, along with JSON/REST-based APIs where required, to connect low-level system components with higher-level layers such as Electron / TypeScript UI and server-side services. Contribute to Windows system components in modern C++ using the Windows Cloud Files API (CFAPI) where applicable. Develop and maintain automated test coverage, including unit tests (gtest) and integration tests (Python + pytest). Integrate with Finder for file badges, context menus, and other extensions using File Provider and PlugInKit. Debug complex system-level issues using Xcode, LLDB, Instruments, and other macOS system tools. Contribute to build and CI/CD pipelines, including Jenkins, Xcode build tools, Swift Package Manager, and shell scripting. Collaborate effectively with UI, QA, Windows engineering, and backend teams to deliver stable, high-performance client applications.

Key Skills & Experience 1) Swift / macOS System Programming Strong hands-on experience with Swift (Swift 5.5 and above) in a commercial environment. Strong experience with async/await, actors, and structured concurrency. Solid understanding of macOS internals, including: o processes o Grand Central Dispatch o concurrency primitives o synchronization o I/O o memory management o security entitlements Hands-on experience with macOS / POSIX and Apple framework APIs, including: o Foundation o FileProvider o EndpointSecurity o XPC Experience building multithreaded and asynchronous applications using Swift structured concurrency. 2) Filesystems, Sync & Networking Strong understanding of filesystem behavior, including: o notifications o metadata handling o caching o locking o renames o symbolic links / junctions Experience in or strong exposure to sync clients, backup applications, cloud storage, or related desktop platforms. Familiarity with networked applications and protocols such as HTTP/HTTPS, TLS, and proxies from a development perspective. 3) APIs, Testing & Debugging Experience working with RPC / typed APIs, such as gRPC, JSON/REST, or similar service communication frameworks. Hands-on experience building automated tests, including: o unit tests in gtest o integration tests in Python + pytest Strong debugging and troubleshooting capability on macOS using: o Xcode o LLDB o Instruments o Console.app o fs_usage o log stream 4) Collaboration & Work Style Ability to work independently and take ownership of complex technical subsystems. Comfortable collaborating with UI, QA, Windows/C++ engineers, and backend services teams. Good communication skills in English and prior experience working in a globally distributed team. Comfortable using AI-assisted coding tools such as GitHub Copilot, Cursor, Claude Code,