Photonics Test Development Hardware Engineer

Photonics Test Development Hardware Engineer

Cupertino, California, United States Hardware

Imagine what you could do here. At Apple, new ideas have a way of becoming extraordinary products, services, and customer experiences very quickly. Bring passion and dedication to your job and there's no telling what you could accomplish. Dynamic, smart people and inspiring, innovative technologies are the norm here. The people who work here have reinvented entire industries with all Apple Hardware products.

The same passion for innovation that goes into our products also applies to our practices strengthening our commitment to leave the world better than we found it. Join us to help deliver the next groundbreaking Apple product. Do you love working on challenges that no one has solved yet? As a member of our dynamic group, you will have the unique and rewarding opportunity to craft upcoming products that will delight and inspire millions of Apple’s customers every single day.

Apple is looking for a Photonics Test Development Hardware Engineer with strong optics lab skills, coding experience, and passion in scaling technology from prototype to high‑volume manufacturing environment. You will work to develop scalable optical and optoelectronic test/calibration procedures for integrated photonics devices in sensing applications. The candidate will develop test methodologies: spending significant time in the lab, writing code, and defining test plans/specifications.

This will involve designing specialized test equipment, optimizing calibration processes to achieve high throughput and yield, running tests/calibrations, working cross-functionally within Apple, and working with partners external to Apple. Your work will establish the foundation for transitioning cutting‑edge photonics technology into high-volume consumer products.

• Develop and run test/calibration methodologies optimized for speed, scalability, and cost‑effectiveness
• Develop Python scripts and modules for characterization/test/calibration automation, and data analysis
• Define requirements and specifications for specialized test equipment in collaboration with equipment vendors and internal teams
• Optimize control and calibration algorithms for fast feedback loops and automated module operation
• Drive internal and external partners to create test/calibration processes for future high‑volume manufacturing
• Work closely with photonics process and design engineers to establish best practices and understand drivers of performance variability

• BS degree in EE, Physics, or similar
• Experience with laser, free‑space, fiber, or integrated optics, and a variety of optical measurement techniques
• Experience with object‑oriented programming and data analysis in Python, or similar

• PhD degree in EE, Physics, or similar
• 3+ years of relevant mass production experience developing test processes for photonics or optical systems, including design and specification of custom test equipment and automation solutions
• Experience automating hardware test stations in a lab or manufacturing setting for characterization of active integrated photonic devices
• Experience in modelling, designing, and building free‑space, diffuse light, and fiber‑based optical setups
• Experience in cross‑functional collaboration with engineering and operations teams
• Understanding of manufacturing constraints including cost modeling, throughput optimization, and yield considerations
• Experience building and maintaining Python modules, including git‑based version control, documentation and continuous integration testing
• Familiarity with basic electronic circuits, control theory, and feedback loops, optics/electronics lab experience, including working with PCBs and test equipment such as oscilloscopes, OSAs, wavemeters, function generators, etc.

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 $147,400 and $220,900, and your base pay will depend on your skills, qualifications,…