Operations NPI Test Engineer
About the role
Mechanical Engineer focused on consumer electronic manufacturing test, involved in the planning and execution of New Product Introductions to Apple global manufacturing sites. Works with Hardware Test and Automation teams to ensure robotics, vision systems, fixtures, and processes meet high-volume manufacturing standards. Provides technical leadership to system integrators, vendors, and contract manufacturers, and supports cross-functional teams through product lifecycle from concept to production.
Responsibilities
- Review fixture and robotic cell designs, fabrication processes, mechanical station bring-up and cross-vendor correlation studies. Utilize statistical tools such as GR&R, SPC and CPK to ensure fixtures and automation solutions are scalable and continue to perform reliably once qualified. Qualify and rate both vendor and automation system performance for mass production deployment.
- Perform Design for Manufacturing (DFM) assessments, technical feedback and error correction with a focus on robotics integration and vision-based inspection systems. Work across all phases of a product from concept to production. Provide early and ongoing manufacturing involvement to ensure new product test stations and automation solutions are designed in a logical and cost-effective manner, incorporating FMEA and product design targets using the Engineering Requirements Specification (ERS).
- Conduct failure analysis and mechanical/automation issue resolution, driving closure of potential gaps and correlation issues between tester suppliers, automation vendors, and contract manufacturers. Provide robotics capability, machine vision expertise and product knowledge to regional test teams to ensure readiness for new products. Support ad-hoc responses on robotics and vision related issues with respect to technically complex stations, fixture cosmetics, tolerance stack, and/or station stability.
- Communicate effectively in a worldwide environment. Prepare and present concise Test & Automation Engineering program status updates to the Exec team on a weekly basis. Responsible for driving and ensuring efficient and robust manufacturing test and automation solutions in new products. Focus on identifying deficiencies in mechanical and automation processes and developing improvements to support the next generation display technologies across a range of Apple products and systems.
Qualifications
- BS or MS degree in engineering such as Mechanical, Electric, Manufacturing, or equivalent.
- 2+ years of mechanical engineer experience in high volume mobile device manufacturing in any of assembly, inspection, test station design, test development, qualification, maintenance and / or automation equipment.
- Experienced in working with cross functional teams such as hardware design, system teams, capital equipment, quality and process engineering. Also collaborating with system integrators, fixture manufactures and contract manufacturers.
- Knowledgable of tester qualification requirements including fabrication, calibration, interpretation in GR&R, CPK, design of experiments and failure analysis as well as correlation analysis.
- Ability and willingness work from supplier sites 80% of the time
- Ability to travel to global manufacturing sites to work with regional test teams at key points in the product development cycle. (Up to 25% international travel)
- Proven ability to work independently under high pressure and thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
- Hands-on experience with industrial robotics platforms (ABB, Fanuc, KUKA, UR) and machine vision systems (Cognex, Keyence, or similar).
- Designed and deployed automation solutions including pick-and-place systems and vision-guided inspection to improve manufacturing efficiency and quality.
- Strong knowledge of statistical validation tools (GR&R, SPC, DOE, CPK) to ensure scalability and reliability of automation systems.
- Project management and people management experience with excellent interpersonal skills both oral and written English.
Skills
About Apple
Discover the innovative world of Apple and shop everything iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Mac, and Apple TV, plus explore accessories, entertainment, and expert device support.
Discover the innovative world of Apple and shop everything iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Mac, and Apple TV, plus explore accessories, entertainment, and expert device support.
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