Hardware Reliability Engineer - Mac System Reliability

Apple • Cupertino, CA

5h

About The Position

Apple is seeking a Reliability Engineer to join its Mac Hardware Reliability team. The System Reliability Engineer collaborates with diverse hardware teams to ensure products are durable, reliable, and exceed expectations. The role spans early product concepts through field returns, leading cross-functional teams, developing reliability tests, and driving continuous product improvements.

The engineer characterizes product usage patterns and translates them into controlled laboratory tests, coordinates timely design validation, and collaborates across design iterations to ensure a high-quality customer experience. The role involves identifying high-risk failure modes early, developing tests based on failure physics and anticipated user behavior and deployment environments, delivering test equipment and specifications, coordinating with vendors, and supporting failure analysis with design recommendations based on test data.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in a technical field such as mechanical engineering, materials engineering, electrical engineering, physics, or a related field.
• At least 2 years of industry experience; the description also lists 2–10 years of experience in an engineering role.
• Deep understanding of material and device properties—including mechanical, electrical, optical, and thermal properties—and their underlying physics.
• Proficiency in statistical data analysis and clear reporting.
• Strong theoretical knowledge of physical failure analysis techniques, such as SEM/EDX and X-ray, and other characterization techniques.
• Ability to develop reliability test procedures, create detailed test plans, and analyze results to assess design risks.
• Good written and verbal English communication skills, including communication by email, WebEx, and phone.
• Ability to create clear and concise slides and presentations using Keynote, Excel, or similar tools.
• Strong attention to detail and curiosity about how technologies work.
• Ability to use basic productivity applications, including email, web browsers, calendars, WebEx/Zoom, spreadsheets, and presentation software.
• Ability to travel internationally without restriction, up to 10%.
• Collaborative attitude and ability to work effectively across functions.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s or Ph.D. in Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or an equivalent field.
• Statistical experience with methods or tools such as Weibull and JMP, or familiarity with accelerated test models.
• Familiarity with failure analysis techniques such as optical microscopy, X-ray/CT, and scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive spectroscopy, and ability to apply failure analysis methodology to derive root causes.

Responsibilities

• Characterize product usage patterns and translate them into controlled laboratory tests.
• Coordinate timely design validation efforts and collaborate with teams through design iterations.
• Identify high-risk failure modes early in the design process and work with design engineering teams to mitigate risks.
• Develop reliability tests based on physics of failure, anticipated user behavior, and deployment environments.
• Create detailed test plans and analyze results to assess design risks.
• Develop and deliver critical test equipment and specifications, collaborating with vendors to meet testing deadlines.
• Support failure analysis efforts and recommend design improvements based on evaluation of test data.
• Communicate statistical analyses, design risk assessments, and findings clearly.

What This Job Offers

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