Material Characterization Engineer, Packaging Product Design

Apple • Cupertino, CA

16h

About The Position

The Packaging Product Design team designs and executes structural packaging for Apple products shipped worldwide. Its packaging is intended to deliver an outstanding unboxing experience, protect products during shipping, and advance Apple's sustainability goals. The team collaborates with Industrial Design, Marketing, Environmental, and Operations throughout the design process.

The Material Characterization Engineer builds the link between material properties and packaging performance. The role identifies the material properties that drive critical performance, tests materials and parts to failure to measure design margin, and translates results into models and specifications that help teams focus early on key factors. Core material areas include fiber-based materials, adhesives, and coatings.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Materials Science and Engineering, Polymer Science, Fiber Science, Chemical Engineering, or Mechanical Engineering with strong materials science knowledge.
• At least 6 years of relevant industry experience.
• Solid knowledge of materials science fundamentals, including how processing and structure drive properties and performance.
• Hands-on experience in mechanical and physical material testing and failure analysis.
• Proficiency in trial design and statistical analysis using JMP or equivalent statistical software.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present technical details succinctly in a team-based environment.
• Ability to travel up to 20%, including internationally.

Nice To Haves

• Master's or PhD in Materials Science and Engineering, Polymer Science, Fiber Science, Chemical Engineering, or Mechanical Engineering.
• Experience with fiber-based materials, adhesives, or coatings.
• Experience with accelerated aging methods and packaging test standards such as ASTM, TAPPI, and ISTA.
• Working knowledge of analytical techniques to characterize materials, such as SEM, FTIR, and DSC.
• Advanced data analysis and modeling skills, such as regression and machine learning, using tools such as Python or MATLAB.
• Exposure to finite element analysis, such as Abaqus.

Responsibilities

• Identify and prioritize material properties that drive critical packaging performance.
• Test materials and parts to failure to measure design margin.
• Translate test results into models and specifications that help teams focus early on key performance factors.

What This Job Offers

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