Hardware Systems Design & Integration Engineer - AirPods
Summary
Apple is hiring a senior hands-on hardware engineer to lead end-to-end electrical design and integration for AirPods — defining system architecture and taking hardware from concept through mass production within tight volumetric, thermal, and power constraints. Core work spans analog/digital EE, PCB/flex/SIP design, RF and power systems, lab bring-up and validation, and cross-functional/vendor col
Every day, hundreds of millions of people reach for AirPods to tune into their world. Behind that seamless, effortless experience is some of the most advanced electrical and mechanical integration in consumer hardware - world-class acoustic performance, custom silicon, sensor fusion, and incredible battery life.
Our team owns the end-to-end electrical design of AirPods. We are seeking a senior technical lead to define what comes next. In this role, you will define system-level architecture, push the boundaries of physical architecture, wireless systems, and custom silicon, and set the technical standard for extraordinary cross-functional teams.
If you thrive on technical rigor and the challenge of turning complex engineering into products the world wears daily, your next chapter is here.
In this role, you will be a hands-on hardware system integrator for an AirPods program, designing, analyzing, and validating hardware from initial concept through mass production. You will drive critical trade-offs—applying rigorous engineering principles to design, optimize, and validate hardware within tight volumetric, thermal, and power constraints. You will work extensively with cross-functional teams and vendors to tackle all kinds of challenges, from development board design to system hardware test and validation and so much more.
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelors or Masters degree in Electrical Engineering or equivalent
- 3+ years relevant industry experience designing electronics and/or embedded systems
- Strong Electrical Engineering fundamentals (analog/digital design, signal/power integrity, etc.)
- Hands-on experience in prototyping, bring-up, debug and validation
- Comfortable in a lab environment using oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers, frequency counters, etc.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with high volume products / consumer electronics from proof of concept to mass production; prior experience in working with contract manufacturers highly desirable
- Expertise in HDI PCB, flex, and/or SIP designs including schematic and layout with strong abilities to implement to a timeline and deliver high quality designs
- Knowledge in one or more of the following areas: CPU/SOC, power(DC-DC converters, battery, power management, low power design), analog circuits, audio, RF integration and measurement, sensor design and integration, ESD safety, high speed interfaces
- Python / scripting experience
- Design validation and bench analysis
- Experience working with mechanical design, software, reliability, manufacturing, and operations organizations
- Experience with challenging and multi-disciplinary failure analysis
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills