March 24, 2025

Hardware System Engineer - AirPods System Technologies - Sensing

Mid • On-site

$175,800 - $312,200/yr

Cupertino, CA

Summary

Posted:
Role Number:200596099
The AirPods System Technologies Team is looking for electrical engineers who are eager to help define technologies that will be fundamental to our future products. Our team is responsible for architecting, developing, and delivering features and technologies that fit within the most challenging physical and power envelopes in a way that only Apple can.

Description

As part of the team you will be responsible for developing specifications for, analyzing, and reviewing designs for custom silicon and sensing modules. You will be involved in evaluating early concepts and working through feasibility studies for novel sensing systems. These technologies only come into existence when they solve a real user-facing problem, and as such you will be responsible for comprehending end-user features and how they translate to low level electrical specifications. Knowledge of how submodules of a complete system architecture interact is critical for projecting and mitigating coexistence issues at the architectural level. Working within the tiny power and physical envelope that AirPods demand requires careful consideration of every microwatt and every square millimeter. Nothing comes for free, so you will need to understand and navigate all the tradeoffs across various engineering disciplines to come to a realizable solution.

Minimum Qualifications

  • Bachelors or Masters degree in Electrical Engineering or equivalent
  • 7+ years of proven experience in electronic system design or analog sensing module design
  • Excellent EE fundamentals: basic circuits, analog, digital, power
  • Familiarity working with open ended constraints and relying on understanding the user experience to define electrical requirements

Preferred Qualifications

  • Strong analog and analytical skills with experience in power and performance tradeoffs
  • Knowledge of digital signal processing techniques and implementation tradeoffs
  • Ability to traverse the full stack from the analog front end all the way up to how sensor performance manifests in the output of a digital algorithm
  • Acquaintance with the ASIC / semiconductor development and manufacturing process
  • Ability to understand tradeoffs amongst the electrical, mechanical, and software domains
  • Practical knowledge with various communication protocols (especially USB, SPI, I2C and UART)
  • Hands-on experience in prototype bring-up, debugging and functional verification is extremely beneficial

Pay & Benefits

  • At Apple, base pay is one part of our total compensation package and is determined within a range. This provides the opportunity to progress as you grow and develop within a role. The base pay range for this role is between $175,800 and $312,200, and your base pay will depend on your skills, qualifications, experience, and location.

    Apple employees also have the opportunity to become an Apple shareholder through participation in Apple’s discretionary employee stock programs. Apple employees are eligible for discretionary restricted stock unit awards, and can purchase Apple stock at a discount if voluntarily participating in Apple’s Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You’ll also receive benefits including: Comprehensive medical and dental coverage, retirement benefits, a range of discounted products and free services, and for formal education related to advancing your career at Apple, reimbursement for certain educational expenses — including tuition. Additionally, this role might be eligible for discretionary bonuses or commission payments as well as relocation. Learn more about Apple Benefits.

    Note: Apple benefit, compensation and employee stock programs are subject to eligibility requirements and other terms of the applicable plan or program.

  • Apple is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to inclusion and diversity. We take affirmative action to ensure equal opportunity for all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, Veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics. Learn more about your EEO rights as an applicant.