Advanced Manufacturing Engineer, iPad

Apple•Cupertino, CA

About The Position

The Advanced Manufacturing Engineer oversees new product and process development through launch and early sustaining, ensuring contract manufacturers are ready for high-volume production. The role drives technical operational issues related to yield and system integration through resolution across the new product introduction cycle and into mass production. The engineer provides early and ongoing manufacturing input to ensure products can be assembled at high volumes, applying knowledge of new technologies and mechanical, electrical, and RF design. The role designs and develops technically complex processes for precision assembly and improved quality and efficiency, and implements and scales automated and semi-automated solutions. It works across product phases from concept through scaled manufacturing and end of life. For each NPI build, the engineer coordinates with CapEx, equipment design, and factory teams to confirm assembly and test equipment installation and qualification, publication of operator instructions, and operator training. The role leads yield-detractor triage and failure analysis, identifies root causes relating to design, process, or part quality, and drives corrective and preventive action with responsible teams. It also communicates program readiness, factory readiness, scenarios, trade-offs, and development impacts to senior management, including regular VP-level updates on technical program health. The engineer uses statistical tools such as GR&R, SPC, and process capability to evaluate whether qualified processes and equipment are scalable and continue to perform. The role plans and implements complex testing and evaluation procedures for products nearing release, specifies tests, analyzes data, and recommends design changes and final assembly standards, including use of Design of Experiments and Six Sigma statistical analysis. International travel up to 25% is required.

Requirements

At least 1 year of experience in engineering and manufacturing.
Bachelor's degree in a related engineering field.
Excellent project-management skills, particularly in planning, cost, and delivery.
Knowledge of equipment qualification requirements, design of experiments, and failure analysis.
Experience introducing products into manufacturing; high-volume production and international OEM experience are highly desired.

Nice To Haves

Working knowledge of Lean Manufacturing principles.
Experience working in a matrix organization with multiple stakeholders.
Direct experience leading Mechanical Engineering, Process Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or Test Engineering teams.
Knowledge of assembly tolerance stack-ups and part-level engineering design; strong knowledge of GD&T principles.
Working knowledge of pneumatics, servomotors, PLCs, and PC-based control systems.
JMP, Minitab, and Six Sigma experience.

Responsibilities

Oversee new product and process development through launch and early sustaining, ensuring contract-manufacturer readiness for high-volume production.
Drive technical operational issues related to yield and system integration to effective closure through NPI and mass production.
Provide early and ongoing manufacturing involvement to ensure products are manufacturable at high volumes.
Design and develop complex precision-assembly processes to improve quality and efficiency.
Implement and scale automated and semi-automated manufacturing solutions.
Support product phases from concept through scaled manufacturing and end of life.
Coordinate with CapEx, equipment design, and factory teams at NPI builds to ensure assembly and test equipment is installed and qualified, work instructions are published, and operators are trained.
Lead yield-detractor triage and failure analysis to identify root causes related to design, process, or part quality, and drive corrective and preventive actions.
Communicate product and factory readiness, scenario projections, trade-offs, and impacts on development goals to senior management, including regular VP-level updates on technical program health.
Use GR&R, SPC, and process-capability tools to assess process and equipment scalability and ongoing performance after qualification.
Plan and implement complex procedures for testing and evaluating products nearing release; specify tests, compile and analyze data, and recommend product-design changes and final assembly standards.
Use Design of Experiments and statistical analysis based on Six Sigma principles.
Travel internationally up to 25%.