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Product Design Engineering Lead - Applied Research and Characterization

Apple· Hardware
Apply on company site
Austin, TXFull-timePosted 4w ago

About the role

Leader of a product characterization team in Austin, guiding engineers, managing lab spaces and equipment, and acting as a bridge between product design and customer experience to enable data-backed design decisions across Apple’s hardware portfolio.

Responsibilities

  • Lead, develop, and support a team of engineers in applying a mix of technical and creative problem-solving skills to quickly design and build instrumented test and measurement systems.
  • Apply a mix of measurement science and engineering analysis to gain an understanding of the static/dynamic inputs and system responses that drive design performance and ultimately impact the customer experience.
  • Serve as a primary point of contact for product design teams seeking support — build strong working relationships across disciplines.
  • Work closely with Lab Manager to identify and drive continuous improvement in lab processes, workflows, and capabilities.
  • Scope and add new measurement and test capabilities including capital equipment, training, etc.
  • Triage and prioritize incoming project requests, balancing urgency, complexity, and team capacity.
  • Provide personal development plans and feedback on performance.

Qualifications

  • BS in Mechanical Engineering or a similar technical discipline, with a minimum of 5 years of experience as an individual contributor on an R&D or test/measurement-focused team.
  • Experience in applying engineering first principles to evaluate the performance of designs.
  • Demonstrated experience in the use or design of multiple measurement systems. Examples include: mechanical test systems (Instron), thermal chambers, drop towers, shock towers, vibration tables, and optical metrology equipment.
  • Familiarity with sensor technologies, data acquisition systems, and fundamental analog/digital signal processing techniques.
  • Strong technical communication skills with experience aligning cross-functional teams and stakeholders across multiple sites.
  • Proficient in MATLAB, Python, LabVIEW, JMP, or similar data analysis tools.
  • Experience using CAD and basic lab tools to enable the design and fabrication of test fixtures and measurement systems.
  • Ability to navigate ambiguity in early-stage product development.
  • Advanced degrees are valued, but applicable hands-on experience is still required.
  • 3+ years of experience managing an R&D, test/measurement, or product design team with direct hands-on technical credibility, delivering actionable data to drive design decisions.
  • Ability to build collaborative relationships with cross-functional stakeholders.
  • Understanding of the use of and ability to interpret computational mechanics in complex multi-physics behaviors (e.g., structural, thermal, vibrational, fatigue).
  • Proficiency in statistics to ensure proper interpretation of your data.
  • Experience evaluating and incubating emerging sensor technologies to innovate on lab capabilities.

Skills

Required:Leadership and people management
Last updated Sep 25, 2026. Interested? Apply on the company site.

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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