Data Center Hardware Engineering — Hardware System Integration Engineer

Apple, Inc.; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Apple Inc. is seeking a Hardware System Integration Engineer to contribute to end-to-end hardware lifecycle for high-performance server compute designs. You will work with cross-functional teams to ensure specifications are met with precision and scale.

The role emphasizes board bring-up, validation of PCIe/Ethernet/USB interfaces, and collaboration across mechanical, firmware, software, silicon, and manufacturing to deliver robust server hardware for Apple’s data center infrastructure.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering.
• 3+ years of relevant industry work experience in hardware or systems engineering.
• Working knowledge of common low-speed and high-speed digital interfaces: I2C/SMBus, SPI, JTAG, USB, PCIe, Ethernet, and DDR memory.
• Broad circuit design experience across multiple domains: power, digital, analog, high-speed communications, and/or programmable logic.
• Experience with PCB bring-up and characterization using standard EE lab equipment (soldering, DMM, oscilloscope, logic analyzer, spectrum analyzer).
• Demonstrated ability to debug complex hardware issues from the system level down to the circuit level.
• Outstanding written, verbal, and visual communication skills, with experience producing functional specs, integration procedures, and technical documentation.

Responsibilities

• Hardware system design and schematic capture for server main logic boards and companion boards, including board layout guidance and design constraint management
• Perform signal integrity simulation, board bring-up, and hands-on debug from the system level down to the component or circuit level
• Develop and maintain functional specifications, validation plans and procedures, and integration documentation for complex system designs
• Execute validation of high-speed digital interfaces (PCIe, Ethernet, USB, DDR, and others), including compliance testing and protocol analysis
• Partner cross-functionally with mechanical, firmware, software, silicon, manufacturing, and reliability teams to balance design tradeoffs and meet program requirements
• Support New Product Introduction (NPI) and factory builds, including travel to overseas build sites, and sustaining engineering activities through mass production
• Drive issues to root cause through systematic debugging using standard EE lab instrumentation (oscilloscope, logic analyzer, spectrum analyzer, DMM)
• Apply DFM/DFT/DFA principles throughout the design cycle to support reliable, cost-effective manufacturability at scale

Skills

Signal integrity

PCB bring-up

High-speed interfaces

Lab instrumentation

Python scripting

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical or Computer Engineering

Master's degree (preferred)

Tools

Cadence tools

Schematic entry

Cadence Allegro

Job description

Data Center Hardware Engineering — Hardware System Integration Engineer

At Apple, we push the boundaries of what's possible and nowhere is that more evident than in the infrastructure that powers our most ambitious technologies. The Data Center Hardware Engineering Team designs and delivers the high-performance compute solutions that underpin Apple's services and products at scale. From custom silicon to full-system integration, our work ensures that Apple's global infrastructure is fast, efficient, and built to last. Every system we ship reflects our relentless commitment to engineering excellence and our belief that great hardware is the foundation of great experiences.The Hardware System Integration team is central to this mission, owning the design and realization of customized compute platforms from concept through mass production. We're looking for a Hardware System Integration Engineer who thrives in a highly collaborative environment, enjoys working across disciplines, and is energized by the challenge of bringing cutting-edge server hardware to life.

Description

As a Hardware System Integration Engineer, you will contribute to the end-to-end hardware engineering lifecycle for high-performance server compute designs from specification and schematic capture through board bring-up, validation, and factory build support. Working alongside senior engineers on the team, you will grow into board-level design ownership while partnering closely with mechanical, power, software, firmware, silicon, manufacturing, and reliability teams to ensure design requirements are met with precision and at scale. This role demands both technical depth and strong communication skills to drive alignment across a broad set of stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Hardware system design and schematic capture for server main logic boards and companion boards, including board layout guidance and design constraint management


• Perform signal integrity simulation, board bring-up, and hands-on debug from the system level down to the component or circuit level


• Develop and maintain functional specifications, validation plans and procedures, and integration documentation for complex system designs


• Execute validation of high-speed digital interfaces (PCIe, Ethernet, USB, DDR, and others), including compliance testing and protocol analysis


• Partner cross-functionally with mechanical, firmware, software, silicon, manufacturing, and reliability teams to balance design tradeoffs and meet program requirements


• Support New Product Introduction (NPI) and factory builds, including travel to overseas build sites, and sustaining engineering activities through mass production


• Drive issues to root cause through systematic debugging using standard EE lab instrumentation (oscilloscope, logic analyzer, spectrum analyzer, DMM)


• Apply DFM/DFT/DFA principles throughout the design cycle to support reliable, cost-effective manufacturability at scale

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or equivalent


• 3+ years of relevant industry work experience in hardware or systems engineering


• Working knowledge of common low-speed and high-speed digital interfaces: I2C/SMBus, SPI, JTAG, USB, PCIe, Ethernet (SGMII, RMII, QSFP), and DDR memory


• Broad circuit design experience across multiple domains: power, digital, analog, high-speed communications, and/or programmable logic


• Experience with PCB bring-up and characterization using standard EE lab equipment (soldering, DMM, oscilloscope, logic analyzer, spectrum analyzer)


• Demonstrated ability to debug complex hardware issues from the system level down to the circuit level


• Outstanding written, verbal, and visual communication skills, with experience producing functional specs, integration procedures, and technical documentation

Preferred Qualifications

• High-speed PCB design experience with 10+ layer boards, including PCB material selection and stack-up definition


• Proficiency with schematic entry and high-speed PCB layout constraint management using Cadence tools or equivalent


• Hands-on PCIe, 100-GbE, USB3/USB4, or similar high-speed serial protocol experience, including compliance testing and protocol analyzer debug


• Server or data center platform experience in board-level design, BMC/management subsystems, or rack-level integration


• Familiarity with computer architecture concepts and hardware design tradeoffs


• Experience scripting in Python or similar languages for test automation, data analysis, or lab instrumentation control


• Experience engaging vendors and ODM/CM partners, including component vendors and reference design partners


• Master's degree in Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering


• 7+ years of relevant industry work experience in hardware or systems engineering

Apple is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to inclusion and diversity. We seek to promote equal opportunity for all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, Veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics. Learn more about your EEO rights as an applicant

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Apple accepts applications to this posting on an ongoing basis.