Hardware Systems Design & Integration Engineer - AirPods

Apple • Cupertino, CA

1d

About The Position

The Hardware Systems Design & Integration Engineer will serve as the hands-on Electrical Engineering Lead for an AirPods program, owning system architecture, design, and development from initial concept through mass production. The role defines system-level architecture and contributes to product definition while advancing physical architecture, wireless systems, and custom silicon within tight volumetric, thermal, and power constraints.

The engineer will lead technical decisions and cross-functional execution, conduct prototype bring-up, debugging, and system validation, and define manufacturing test requirements in partnership with contract manufacturers and operations. The role also owns schematic design, layout direction, and design reviews for rigid PCBs and flexible circuits; leads multidisciplinary investigations through root cause and resolution; communicates trade-offs to partners and executives; and mentors engineers. Occasional travel is required to support builds and manufacturing activities.

Requirements

• Bachelor's or master's degree in Electrical Engineering, or equivalent directly related work experience.
• 8+ years of relevant industry experience designing electronic and/or embedded systems.
• 3+ years of experience in technical leadership.
• Strong electrical engineering fundamentals across analog, digital, power, and signal integrity, with a track record of leading complex system decisions to closure.
• Experience driving high-volume consumer product development end-to-end, from architecture through mass production.
• Ability to track, prioritize, and close multiple concurrent issues in a fast-paced environment while keeping cross-functional partners aligned on status and risk.
• Experience productizing new technologies in high-volume applications.
• Ability to turn high-level direction into concrete plans, drive challenging problems forward, and hold peer engineers accountable for delivery.
• Comfort making measured decisions amid ambiguity and incomplete data while balancing engineering constraints.
• Excellent communication skills and executive presence, with the ability to surface critical topics and adjust technical depth for the audience.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with wearables or hearables design and manufacturing.

Responsibilities

• Own system architecture, electrical design, and development for an AirPods program from initial concept through mass production.
• Drive system-level electrical decisions and contribute to product definition with cross-functional engineering teams.
• Apply engineering principles to design, optimize, and validate hardware within volumetric, thermal, and power constraints.
• Conduct hands-on prototype bring-up, debugging, and system validation; build validation plans to prove performance in the lab and quality at the factory.
• Define and drive manufacturing test requirements, partnering with contract manufacturers and operations to support high-volume production ramp-up.
• Lead and organize multidisciplinary investigations across electrical, mechanical, and software domains, driving issues to root cause and durable resolution.
• Communicate technical trade-offs clearly to cross-functional partners, contract manufacturers, and executive audiences; build alignment and drive decisions.
• Own schematic design, layout direction, and design reviews for rigid PCBs and flexible circuits, delivering to program milestones.
• Mentor peers, share best practices, and help raise the technical bar and team culture.
• Travel occasionally to support builds and manufacturing activities.

What This Job Offers

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