Manager, Manufacturing Design Engineer - Chennai

Apple; Bengaluru; On-site; INR 4,500,000 - 7,500,000; Full time

Job summary

Apple in Bengaluru, India seeks a Manufacturing Design Engineering Manager to lead a team of engineers responsible for developing robust mechanical manufacturing processes across Apple’s global supply base. This hands-on leadership role requires deep technical depth, people management, and the ability to drive programs from prototype through mass production.

You will collaborate with Industrial Design, Product Design, Operations, and Global Supply to translate design intent into scalable

Qualifications

• 12+ years of precision manufacturing engineering experience with hands-on capability.
• 5+ years of directly leading or managing engineering teams.
• Deep expertise in at least one process domain: CNC Machining, Surface Finishing, Glass Processing, or Assembly.
• Proficiency in DOE, Root Cause Analysis, SPC, Cp/Cpk, and PFMEA.
• Experience managing programs across the full NPI lifecycle (Proto through MP).
• Comfortable working with a global supply chain and cross-functional partners.
• ~35% domestic and international travel required.
• B.S. in Mechanical, Manufacturing, or Materials Engineering; M.S. preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead and Develop the Team: hire, develop, and retain a high-performing team with clear performance expectations.
• Own the Technical Standard: define best-in-class manufacturing processes and oversee design-to-manufacturing transitions.
• Drive Supply Base Performance: develop processes and provide on-site technical leadership during development and ramp.
• Champion Data-Driven Decisions: use DOE, SPC, and capability analysis to steer program performance.
• Communicate and Influence: deliver engineering updates to senior leadership and align cross-functional partners.
• Process Domain Expertise: guide engineers across CNC Machining, Surface Finishing, Glass Processing, and Assembly.
• CNC Machining: milling, turning, fixtures, probing, HSM, cycle-time reduction.
• Surface Finishing: blasting, tumbling, polishing, anodizing, PVD.
• Glass Processing: scribe/break, grinding, lapping, polishing, chemical strengthening.
• Assembly: welding, bonding, fit, qualification, SPC-based yield improvement, automation justification.
• Leadership Expectations: solve problems, provide direction, and foster inclusive growth.
• Invest in manufacturing capabilities through hiring, coaching, and process decisions.

Skills

Leadership

People Management

Cross-functional Collaboration

Education

BS in Mechanical/Manufacturing/Materials Engineering

MS preferred

Tools

DOE

SPC

Cp/Cpk

PFMEA

Job description

Summary

Imagine what you could do here. At Apple, innovative ideas quickly become extraordinary products, services, and customer experiences. This is where individual imaginations and experiences gather, leading to great work. Bring passion and dedication to your job, and there's no telling what you could accomplish.

The people here at Apple don’t just create products - they make the kind of wonder that’s revolutionized entire industries. The diversity of those people and their ideas inspire the innovation that runs through everything we do, from amazing technology to industry-leading environmental efforts. Join Apple, and help us leave the world better than we found it.

Description

The Manufacturing Design Engineering (MDE) Manager leads a team of engineers accountable for developing key mechanical manufacturing processes across Apple's worldwide supply base. This is a hands-on leadership role requiring strong technical depth alongside the ability to manage people, influence cross-functional partners, and drive program outcomes at scale.

You will work closely with Industrial Design, Product Design, Operations, and global manufacturing partners to ensure that design intent is translated into robust, scalable production processes - from early prototype through mass production.

Responsibilities

• Lead and Develop the Team: You hire, develop, and retain a high-performing team of Manufacturing Design Engineers setting clear performance expectations, providing direct feedback, and identifying capability gaps to address through hiring and structured development.
• Own the Technical Standard: You define best-in-class manufacturing processes for equipment, consumables, key parameters, process setup, qualification, automation, and strategic R&D. You lead DFM reviews and design-to-manufacturing transitions, validate process feasibility before tooling or supplier commitments, and collaborate with Product and Industrial Designers to define part tolerances and specifications through demonstrated process capability.
• Drive Supply Base Performance: Develop and document manufacturing processes, including parameters, consumables, and secondary operations, to meet specifications. Provide on-site technical leadership during development builds and production ramp. Collaborate with Global Supply Managers to define supply chain requirements and select premier equipment manufacturers and suppliers.
• Champion Data-Driven Decisions: Establish a data-driven culture where every process decision is based on DOE, SPC, or capability analysis. Use yield bridges, process capability trends, and OEE data to proactively manage program performance and identify risks early.
• Communicate and Influence: You clearly communicate at all levels. You deliver focused engineering updates and recommendations to senior and executive leadership. You represent the team's technical positions in design, supplier, and program reviews. You align Industrial Design, Product Design, Operations, and Supply Chain around a shared manufacturing strategy.
• Process Domain Expertise: Your team has deep expertise in one or more domains below. You have practitioner-level credibility in at least one area and enough knowledge to guide engineers in all of them.
• CNC Machining: Milling, turning, fixtures, touch probing, HSM, cutter/coating development, cycle time reduction, SPC-based yield ownership.
• Surface Finishing: Blasting, tumbling, polishing, wet sanding, lapping, anodizing, and PVD to Apple cosmetic and yield standards.
• Glass Processing: Scribe/break, grinding, lapping, polishing, chemical strengthening, decoration, and functional coatings at production scale.
• Assembly: Welding, adhesive bonding, mechanical fit, equipment qualification, SPC-based yield improvement, and automation justification.
• Leadership Expectations
• Lead by solving challenging engineering problems and influencing your team's thinking.
• Provide clear direction, align the team, and resolve cross-functional issues quickly in a fast paced NPI environment.
• Foster personal growth through direct feedback, meaningful assignments, and an inclusive environment that values diverse viewpoints.
• Communicate effectively at all levels, using data to support your conclusions.
• Invest in Apple's manufacturing capabilities through hiring, coaching, and process decisions.

Minimum Qualifications

• 12+ years of precision manufacturing engineering experience with demonstrated hands-on capability
• 5+ years of directly leading or managing engineering teams
• Deep expertise in at least one process domain: CNC Machining, Surface Finishing, Glass Processing, or Assembly
• Proficiency in DOE, Root Cause Analysis, SPC, Cp/Cpk, and PFMEA
• Experience managing programs across the full NPI lifecycle (Proto through MP)
• Comfortable working with a global supply chain and cross-functional partners
• ~35% domestic and international travel required
• B.S. in Mechanical, Manufacturing, or Materials Engineering; M.S. preferred

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with cosmetic consumer electronics or high-volume plastic / sheet metal products
• Track record of presenting technical strategy and program status to executive leadership
• Background in automation justification using line efficiency metrics (UPH, OEE, ROD)
• Experience setting supplier qualification standards and leading equipment development
• partnerships

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Role Number: 200655985-0321