HW System Development Engineer

Cupertino, California, United States Hardware

Apple is where you go to do your life’s best work. Behind every Apple product is a deep bench of highly talented cross functional teams, where the attention to detail defines success versus failure.

Imagine designing the hardware systems that validate the products millions of people rely on every day. Now imagine those systems becoming intelligent — producing data that not only measures performance but teaches us how to build better products.

Our organization focuses on custom electronics solutions for various areas of Apple, including critical areas of factory, lab and regression environments. The team tackles a multitude of technologies and is seeking a hardware systems architect to design advanced electrical instruments and power systems that enable deep product understanding s role blends hands-on hardware design, system architecture, and AI-aware data thinking. You will build the physical platforms that sit between design and manufacturing, transforming how we observe, diagnose, and improve Apple hardware.

You will design and develop custom electrical instrumentation — from power systems to measurement platforms — that validate Apple products from prototype through mass production. Your hardware will not exist in isolation; it will serve as a foundation for intelligent analysis, feeding structured, high-quality data into advanced software and AI systems.

You will have to establish the link between technical decisions for the system and customer experience and communicating impacts clearly and concisely. The ideal candidate would be expected to use their EE development oriented past to help provide clarity and expectations to a highly technical oriented vertically integrated custom electronics organization.

• Develop hardware platforms that provide rich telemetry, deterministic control, and structured data outputs
• Researching new technologies to understand unique failure mechanisms
• Drive Design-For-Test architecture across silicon and system platforms. Partner with design teams to define hardware and firmware observability features.
• Lead system architecture and design of custom instrumentation — PSUs, eLoads, measurement subsystems, and control electronics
• Drive hardware development from schematic and PCB design concept through factory deployment
• Work with vendors and contract manufacturers to deliver high-quality, scalable solutions
• Collaborate with AI/ML engineers to define data interfaces and observability models.
• Develop automated test and measurement systems - Setup of environments optimized for test measurement
• Serve as validation lead on programs, supporting deployment readiness and failure triage

• B.S. or M.S. in Electrical Engineering or equivalent
• Strong background in analog, power, or mixed-signal design
• Extensive intimate experience with the hardware development flow (concept, schematic, layout, bringup, validation and deployment)
• Understanding of peripheral IO functions (USB, I2C, SPI, UART, SWD, SPMI)
• Ability to operate well in an environment with rapid development cycles and constant change
• Willingness to travel internationally up to 10% of the time; estimated 8-10 days per trip

• Familiarity with AI/ML data workflows and firmware or scripting experience (Python, C/C++)
• Experience with a wide array of technologies, especially in the areas of power architecture, camera systems, display or audio technologies.
• Hands-on and proficient with debugging tools and equipment: DMM, spectrum analyzer, signal generator, oscilloscopes and power supplies.
• Knowledgeable in production control processes, data analysis/interpretation, GR&R, Cp/Cpk and correlation analysis.
• Ability to manage, process, and analyze large data sets using tools like Excel/Matlab/JMP

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 .

Apple accepts applications to this posting on an ongoing basis.