Tools and Automation Engineer

Apple•Sunnyvale, CA

21h

About The Position

Join the iOS Device QE team to test firmware and help ensure ultra-high quality for Apple’s next-generation human interface devices. The role focuses on understanding microcontroller-based embedded systems and algorithms, validating that Multitouch systems meet Apple’s quality bar, and partnering with development teams to assess architectures, create test plans, and identify weaknesses. The engineer builds test fixtures and tools, writes automated scripts in Python, and executes manual and automated tests on early prototypes. The role also involves documenting test cases and execution code, developing methods to exercise firmware features, tracking performance, reporting results to management, and driving issues to closure. The engineer partners with the Human Factors / User Study Group to validate customer experience and understand how people use new input devices. The ideal candidate cares deeply about user experience and quality, enjoys creative testing and breaking things, and is comfortable working with uncertain early prototypes. They are motivated to learn and teach, collaborate on problem solving, and build or improve processes that enhance product quality and team efficiency. Experience with embedded systems, microcontrollers, and sensors is relevant.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field.
At least 3 years of relevant industry experience.
Experience leveraging AI-powered development tools to streamline workflows, accelerate coding and debugging, create test frameworks, and improve code quality and testing methodologies.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Experience with embedded systems, microcontrollers, and sensors.
Ability to collaborate with engineers, problem-solve, and understand firmware fundamentals.
Passion for quality and user experience, including comfort with creative testing and early prototype work.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field.
Experience writing and/or testing firmware and building embedded systems.
Knowledge of Mac systems and macOS/iOS or a UNIX variant.
Track record of shipping great consumer products.
Experience with test automation using Python or a similar language.
Experience using hardware debugging tools, including USB and Bluetooth CATC, protocol analyzers, logic analyzers, and oscilloscopes.
Familiarity with C/C++ or object-oriented programming.
Experience developing test tools.
Familiarity with continuous integration systems.
Experience with algorithm analysis and validation.

Responsibilities

Test firmware for next-generation human interface devices and help ensure products meet Apple’s quality bar.
Understand microcontroller-based embedded systems, including algorithms.
Partner with development teams to understand architecture, divide it into functional parts, develop test and validation plans, and identify weaknesses.
Build test fixtures and tools, and author automated scripts in Python.
Execute manual and automated test plans on early prototypes.
Document test cases and the code used for test execution.
Develop ideas for custom tools and methods to exercise firmware features.
Track performance, report results to management, and drive issues to closure.
Partner with the Human Factors / User Study Group to validate customer experience and learn how people use new input devices.
Build or improve processes to increase product quality and team efficiency.