Firmware Engineer — AirPods HID Sensing & Interaction
Summary
Senior firmware engineer on Apple's HID AirPods team, owning the real-time, power-efficient embedded C/C++ software that turns sensor inputs (touch, force, heart rate) into intuitive AirPods interactions. The role spans the full product lifecycle — bring-up and characterization of new sensing technologies, algorithm integration, and system-level work across sensors, custom silicon, and firmware th
Part of what makes AirPods amazing is how effortless they are to use. Put them in your ears and they know they're being worn. Press or swipe the stem and they respond naturally. Start a workout and they can measure your heart rate. Behind these seemingly simple experiences are challenging problems across sensing, algorithms, real-time firmware, custom silicon, and system software.
The Human Interface Devices (HID) AirPods Firmware team is looking for an experienced firmware engineer to architect and build the embedded systems powering these sensing and interaction technologies. You will work across the entire product lifecycle — from early technology exploration through mass production — collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to create intuitive experiences used by millions of customers.
As a Senior Firmware Engineer on the HID AirPods Firmware team, you will own critical sensing and interaction technologies, developing the real-time, power-efficient embedded software that turns physical sensor inputs into intuitive customer experiences. You will architect and deliver robust C/C++ firmware, bring up and characterize new sensing technologies, integrate algorithms, and solve complex system-level problems spanning sensors, custom silicon, firmware, and higher-level software.
Minimum Qualifications
- BS in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience
- 10+ years of industry experience developing embedded software or firmware for production systems
- Strong C/C++ programming and embedded software design skills
- Experience developing and debugging firmware in bare-metal or RTOS-based embedded systems
- Experience leveraging AI-assisted development tools to improve engineering productivity, code quality, debugging, or testing
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience developing firmware for sensing, wearable, audio, haptic, robotics, or other highly integrated embedded products
- Experience integrating or characterizing sensing technologies such as optical, capacitive, force, touch, motion, or proximity sensors
- Familiarity with signal processing fundamentals, sensor algorithms, calibration, filtering, or sensor fusion
- Experience with hardware or silicon bring-up, embedded system debugging, or contributing firmware requirements to custom silicon and hardware architectures
- Demonstrated technical leadership through system architecture, cross-functional technical ownership, product delivery, or mentorship