Hardware Reliability Engineer - Watch System Reliability

Summary

At Apple, we don’t just follow industry standards—we push beyond them. We value creative problem-solving, dynamic thinking, and the ability to quickly adapt to new technical challenges. If you’re excited about tackling tough problems and shaping the future of amazing products, we’d love to have you on board! In this role, you’ll collaborate with diverse hardware teams to ensure our products are not only durable and reliable, but also built to exceed expectations. From early concepts to field returns, you’ll lead cross-functional teams, design innovative reliability tests, and drive continuous product improvements. Come join our team!

Description

As a System Reliability Engineer, you will define and defend product durability from early architecture through mass production. Rather than reacting to failures late in the cycle, you will characterize the fundamental balance between real-world life stress and product strength—developing targeted accelerated test methodologies, isolating failure mechanisms early, and converting empirical data into actionable design risk assessments. Your work directly steers cross-functional design decisions to ensure our products deliver an uncompromised customer experience over their full operating life.

Responsibilities

Front-End Architecture & Risk Mitigation: Partner with Product Design, EE, and Materials teams during early architecture and concept phases to drive FMEAs, identify high-risk failure mechanisms early, and design out vulnerabilities before tooling freezes
Physics-of-Failure Test Methodology: Conceive, author, and validate novel reliability test procedures that map complex real-world user behaviors and environmental stresses into repeatable, accelerated laboratory environments
Test Infrastructure & Automation: Lead the technical definition and delivery of specialized test equipment, fixtures, and specifications; drive vendor development and lab readiness to meet aggressive program milestones
Quantitative Risk & Statistical Assessment: Own the statistical modeling of reliability data (e.g., Weibull distribution, accelerated degradation, stress–strength interference) to establish design margins, project annual failure rates (DPPM), and inform program risk at major build gates
Failure Analysis Leadership: Drive physical FA investigations (optical, X-ray/CT, SEM/EDS, etc.) to definitive root cause, moving beyond surface symptoms to deliver actionable design mitigations and validate corrective actions
Executive Communication & Cross-Functional Alignment: Serve as the authoritative technical voice for reliability; synthesize complex, ambiguous datasets into crisp executive narratives, technical risk waterfalls, and clear paths to closure for cross-functional partners and leadership

Minimum Qualifications

B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Electrical Engineering, Applied Physics, or a related discipline, with 7+ years of hands-on industry experience in hardware reliability engineering, product validation, or failure analysis
Deep, practical background in physical failure analysis techniques (e.g., Optical Microscopy, X-ray/CT, SEM/EDS, cross-sectioning) and a proven track record of methodically driving complex mechanical or electrical failures to fundamental root causes
Proven history of developing custom reliability test suites from first principles, authoring detailed engineering test specs, and bringing up automated fixtures under tight NPI schedules
Demonstrated ability to construct concise, high-signal technical presentations (Keynote/PPT) and communicate complex technical trade-offs with conviction across multi-disciplinary engineering and executive teams
Willingness and ability to travel internationally up to 10% to support factory builds, audit vendor labs, and oversee critical test bring-up

Preferred Qualifications

M.S. or Ph.D. in Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Applied Physics, or an equivalent field
Mastery of reliability statistics and modeling tools (JMP, Python, or R), including Weibull analysis, accelerated test modeling (Arrhenius, Peck, Coffin-Manson), sample size determination, and degradation analysis
Experience taking complex, compact electromechanical systems or wearable devices from early concept through mass production ramp
Specialized knowledge in one or more core degradation modes: adhesive/seal integrity, drop/impact shock dynamics, environmental ingress, corrosion kinetics, or material fatigue
Proven ability to navigate high ambiguity, challenge assumptions with rigorous data, and mentor junior engineers on analytical rigor and decision-making

Pay & Benefits — Cupertino, California, United States

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 $184,700 and $324,800, 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.

Application Deadline

Apple accepts applications to this posting on an ongoing basis.