Hardware Systems Design & Integration Engineer - AirPods

Apple • Cupertino, CA

4d

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 product direction while advancing physical architecture, wireless systems, and custom silicon within tight volumetric, thermal, and power constraints.

The engineer drives electrical design decisions, prototype bring-up, debugging, system validation, manufacturing test requirements, and production readiness. The role leads complex investigations across electrical, mechanical, and software disciplines, drives issues to root cause and durable resolution, and builds alignment with engineering partners, operations, contract manufacturers, and leadership. It also includes schematic design, layout direction, design reviews for rigid PCBs and flexible circuits, and mentoring peers. 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 the end-to-end development of high-volume consumer products, from architecture through mass production.
• Demonstrated ability to track, prioritize, and close multiple concurrent issues in a fast-paced environment while aligning cross-functional partners.
• Ability to make measured decisions amid ambiguity and incomplete data while balancing engineering constraints.
• Excellent communication skills and executive presence, including the ability to surface critical topics and adjust detail to the audience.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with wearables or hearables design and manufacturing.
• Experience productizing new technologies for high-volume applications.
• Experience turning high-level direction into concrete plans, advancing difficult problems autonomously, and holding peer engineers accountable for delivery.

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.
• Make engineering trade-offs and design, optimize, and validate hardware within volumetric, thermal, and power constraints.
• Perform hands-on prototype bring-up, debugging, and system validation; develop validation plans to prove lab performance and factory quality.
• Define and drive manufacturing test requirements, partnering with contract manufacturers and operations to support high-volume production ramp.
• Lead and organize multi-disciplinary 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.
• Track, prioritize, and drive closure on multiple concurrent open issues while keeping cross-functional partners aligned on status and risk.

What This Job Offers

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