Audio & Acoustic Instrumentation Systems Engineer

Apple

3d

About The Position

Apple is seeking a Senior Audio & Acoustic Instrumentation Systems Engineer to serve as Station DRI and technical lead for developing, validating, and deploying calibration and test equipment for Apple manufacturing lines. The role supports products including AirPods, Beats, iPhone, Mac, iPad, and Apple Vision Pro, working with Acoustic Engineering, Validation, Mechanical Design, Operations, vendors, and global manufacturing partners through New Product Introduction (NPI) and mass production.

The engineer will architect, specify, and develop automated acoustic and Noise & Vibration (N&V) instrumentation systems from concept through mass production. The work spans lab-scale measurement prototypes grounded in acoustic physics and product architecture, as well as automated production test stations that balance accuracy, precision, cost, lead time, and throughput. The role also includes simulation, instrument and sensor selection, factory deployment and qualification, production-data analysis, failure investigation, and coordination of hardware/software integration and manufacturing scale-up. Estimated travel is 20%–35%.

Requirements

• PhD or MS in Acoustics, Electroacoustics, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field with a dedicated focus in acoustics.
• At least 1 year of professional experience with a PhD, or at least 3 years with an MS, in acoustic instrumentation, audio test engineering, or metrology system design.
• Deep familiarity with physical acoustics, room/chamber acoustics, electroacoustics, and transducer fundamentals, including microphones, speakers, and receivers.
• Hands-on experience with acoustic and vibro-acoustic multiphysics simulation, such as COMSOL or ANSYS, for cavity acoustics, boundary reflections, and structural isolation.
• Solid understanding of audio DSP, transfer-function calibration, and acoustic measurement instrumentation, such as Audio Precision, SoundCheck, B&K, GRAS couplers, and laser vibrometry.
• Experience with 3D CAD tools, preferably NX/UG, to review and guide mechanical test fixture, sealing, and acoustic chamber architectures.
• Strong programming and data-analysis skills in one or more of Python, MATLAB, C/C++, or JMP.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in both English and Mandarin.
• Proven track record as a Station DRI or Technical Lead in high-volume consumer electronics manufacturing across NPI phases (Proto, EVT, DVT, PVT, MP).
• Experience designing scalable instrumentation and hardware/software test automation, and working directly with contract manufacturers and system integrators.

Nice To Haves

• Experience specifying acoustic materials, including absorbers, dampers, barriers, and sealing elastomers, for test enclosures and fixtures.
• Advanced knowledge of acoustic array signal processing, including beamforming and TDOA, and non-linear distortion diagnostics.

Responsibilities

• Own the end-to-end architecture, specification, and development of automated acoustic and Noise & Vibration (N&V) instrumentation systems as Station DRI, from concept through mass production.
• Conduct FEA/BEM multiphysics simulations to guide enclosure design, acoustic sealing, isolation chambers, and fixture boundary conditions before hardware fabrication.
• Specify, evaluate, and acquire reference acoustic instrumentation, transducers, couplers, and diagnostic tools for NPI and factory environments.
• Deploy and qualify test stations at contract manufacturer (CM) sites, including station-to-station correlation, Gage R&R, Golden Unit correlation, and ambient noise rejection.
• Analyze calibration and production performance data using tools such as Python, MATLAB, and JMP.
• Lead failure analysis involving frequency response, distortion (THD, Rub & Buzz), and micro-acoustic leakage paths.
• Partner with equipment vendors and CMs to drive on-time station bring-up, hardware/software integration, and production scalability.
• Collaborate with Acoustic Engineering, Validation, Mechanical Design, Operations, and global manufacturing partners throughout NPI and mass production.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior