Wireless RF OTA Cellular Validation Engineer

Apple • Cupertino, CA

1d • Onsite

About The Position

Apple’s Wireless System Engineering team is looking for an engineer to work on radiated system characterization/algorithm validation across different cellular technologies for Apple’s wireless products and collaborate with cross-functional teams. You will be part of a cross-functional team responsible for validating and certifying wireless performance across Apple's product portfolio. Working hands-on at the intersection of hardware, software, and regulatory compliance, you will translate carrier and industry requirements into test cases, execute OTA validation plans, support certification testing at third-party labs, and debug wireless performance issues alongside antenna, RF hardware, Chipset design, Product design, Field, and software engineering teams — building deep expertise across wireless technologies and RF systems alongside some of the best engineers in the industry.

Requirements

• BS degree.
• Hands-on working experience with antenna design and testing, anechoic chambers, RF test equipment, and Radio Communication tester (CMX/UXM/MT8000A).
• Solid understanding of RF component characteristics and behavior.
• Solid understanding of LTE, NR FR1, NR FR2.
• Excellent communication skills required, both written and verbal.

Nice To Haves

• MSEE degree.
• Understanding of PHY Layer and MAC/application layer protocols.
• Hands-on working experience related to Over-the-Air performance validation such as TRP/TIS on handheld or tablet devices with different wireless communication systems such as LTE, NR FR1, NR FR2.
• Hands-on experience with RF test equipment from industry-leading vendors (e.g., Keysight, Rohde & Schwarz).
• Familiarity with OTA test standards and methodologies (e.g., CTIA, 3GPP).
• Exposure to AI tools and workflows (e.g., LLMs, AI coding assistants, automation platforms) to boost productivity and engineering efficiency.
• Experience driving certification programs at third-party labs (PTCRB, CTIA, CWG).
• Strong communication and organizational skills with the ability to multitask across various disciplines.
• Analytical curiosity and a structured approach to diagnosing complex RF and wireless performance issues.

Responsibilities

• Drive wireless performance validation across carrier and industry certification test setups, including final certification at third-party labs (CTIA, 3GPP, ETSI, NAL, PTCRB), ensuring Apple products meet the highest conformance standards.
• Translate carrier, regulatory, and industry requirements into actionable test cases, ensuring product validation covers all certification, performance, and compliance criteria.
• Define and execute validation plans for custom software features.
• Debug marginal and failure tests with cross-functional teams — RFHW, Antenna, System, Field, Product Design, and others — and drive design changes to address issues.
• Own and continuously improve test setups, ensuring lab environments are calibrated, reliable, and ready for next-generation product testing.
• Plan and execute final certification testing at third-party test labs for PTCRB, CTIA, and 3GPP testing.
• Contribute to evolving Apple's wireless characterization methodologies as new cellular technologies emerge.

What This Job Offers

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