Test & Instrumentation Development Engineer

Summary

At Apple, individual creativity converges around shared values that drive innovation. Our products emerge from collaborative teams strengthening each other's ideas, fueled by diverse perspectives and a belief we can transform lives. Ready to make an impact?

Description

The Instrumentation and Test technology team architects and designs best-in-class, end-to-end test and measurements systems.

We are a collaborative group of creative and thoughtful people developing highly complex and sophisticated systems to validate the performance of sensors and other critical technologies in our world-class products.

This individual will play a key role in designing comprehensive test strategies, methodologies, and integrating the measurement systems to support new product introduction, characterization, ramp, and mass production. This includes everything from defining high level test plans to architecting the specific instruments required to execute them.

Responsibilities

Architecting, designing, developing instrumentation hardware, software & firmware platforms required to test and calibrate sensors
Production instrumentation software creation and roll-out to suppliers
Authoring sensing technology instrumentation engineering requirements documents
Prototyping, bring-up, debug and characterization of instruments for new Apple products
Preparing and delivering technical presentations
Defect root cause analysis and resolution, including diligent bug database tracking
Supplier liaison, including supporting instrumentation bring up and qualification at engineering builds, usually in Asia.
May lead an engineering team
Developing generative AI tooling that amplifies how the team works — automating test data analysis, failure triage, documentation, and reporting — and driving adoption of these tools across the broader test organization
International Travel: This role requires international travel (up to 25%) to support our manufacturing partners during key product builds. This typically involves 2-4 trips per year at sites in Asia. Our team is committed to providing as much advance notice as possible to support your planning.

Minimum Qualifications

We are looking for a systems-thinking engineer ready to take ownership of complex test solutions. Our ideal candidate has experience in test integration, implementation, and has a strong foundation in at least one of the following core areas: system or application-level test software or instrumentation hardware design.
Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering or Computer Science
3+ years of experience in a programming language like C/C++ or Python
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with an ability to collaborate with cross-functional engineering and design teams.
Hands-on experience applying generative AI or LLM-based tools to engineering work – code generation, data analysis, documentation, or failure triage.
Excellent skills in debugging and performing failure analysis across software, hardware and system domains.
Experience with structured problem-solving methodologies like Design of Experiments (DOE).
Ability to perform and interpret statistical data analysis

Preferred Qualifications

End-to-end Test Design: Experience creating and documenting comprehensive test plans, defining test cases and coverage, and developing validation methodologies for complex systems.
Curiosity and Adaptability: You are driven by curiosity, energized by solving novel problems, and motivated to learn new skills to get the job done.
Focused Problem Solving: You excel at identifying the most critical variables in a complex system and can develop a clear, focused plan of action even when all the details are not yet available.
Hands-on experience with electronics debugging tools
Electrical engineering fundamentals (ability to read schematics & layout & component datasheets).
You have experience developing robust software and algorithms in a modern object-oriented or scripting language (e.g., Python, C++). Familiarity with the Apple ecosystem is a plus but not required.
Background in testing high-volume consumer electronics, particularly with Touch, Sensing, Display, or other complex user-facing technologies.
Knowledge of digital signal processing (DSP) or image processing algorithms.
Experience with instrument camera and optical capture system is a plus.
Interest in building AI workflow: experience developing scripts, agents, or tooling that wraps a LLM around existing processes to reduce manual overhead.

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 $129,300 and $194,700, 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.