Hardware Systems Engineer

Apple, Inc.; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Apple, Inc. in Austin, Texas seeks an Electrical Engineer to design 54V DC power circuitry for AI/ML servers, including hot-swap controllers and 54V regulators.

You will analyze datasheets and coordinate 16+ layer PCB layouts with HDI and fine-pitch BGAs, while forecasting design time to meet tight schedules. Responsibilities include prototype bring-up, debugging, electrical characterization, and validation planning for interfaces such as I2C, SPI, UART, and clocks.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or related field and 1 year of experience.
• 1 year of experience with each of the listed skills.

Responsibilities

• Design 54V DC power circuitry for data center AI/ML servers, including hot-swap controllers and 54V DC/DC regulators.
• Analyze datasheets and coordinate layout of 16+ layer PCBs with HDI and fine-pitch BGAs.
• Forecast design time to meet constrained schedules and drive trade-offs across manufacturing, testing, thermal, reliability.
• Prototype bring-up, debugging, verification, and electrical characterization.
• Use lab tools (25 GHz oscilloscopes, network analyzers, and BERT scopes) to assess robustness.
• Review factory test fixtures and ensure manufacturing test coverage for proper assembly.
• Provide root-cause feedback for design/manufacturing improvements for high-volume production.
• Communicate status on top issues and deadlines.

Skills

High-power eLoad testing

HV fuse components

Safety features in board design

Analog telemetry circuitry

I2C/SPI/UART and oscillator testing

Python test scripting

NXP MCU firmware in C

Cadence System Capture

ICs interaction on PCB

Electrical validation plans

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering

Tools

Cadence System Capture

Job description

Imagine what you can do here. Apple is a place where extraordinary people gather to do their lives best work. Together we create products and experiences people once couldn’t have imagined, and now, can’t imagine living without. It’s the diversity of those people and their ideas that inspires the innovation that runs through everything we do.

Description

APPLE INC has the following available in Austin, Texas. Design 54V DC power circuitry for data center AI/ML servers, including hot-swap controllers, safety circuitry, and point‑of‑load 54V DC/DC regulators. Analyze component datasheets and select components for schematic capture. Coordinate layout of highly constrained 16+ layer PCBs, including HDI and fine pitch BGAs. Forecast and plan circuit board design time to meet constrained schedules. Drive design trade‑offs across manufacturing, testing, thermal, performance, reliability, battery life, and electrical stakeholders. Perform prototype bring‑up, debug, functional verification, and electrical characterization. Use advanced lab tools such as 25 GHz oscilloscopes, network analyzers, and BERT scopes to assess the quality and robustness of electrical designs. Analyze factory‑scale data to adjust signal parameters for maximum margin. Review designs of factory test fixtures and ensure manufacturing test plans provide adequate coverage to ensure the design is assembled correctly. Debug issues found in manufacturing, providing feedback on root causes, and identify corrective action for design or manufacturing processes in preparation for high volume production. Communicate and present status on concurrent top issues and deadlines. 40 hours/week.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree or foreign equivalent in Electrical Engineering or related field and 1 year of experience in the job offered or related occupation.

1 year of experience with each of the following skills is required:

• Using high‑power electronic load (eLoad) test equipment to test 1000+W 54V DC power circuitry.
• Characterizing high‑voltage fuse components for use in server power distribution.
• Working with product safety engineering to understand test requirements, add appropriate safety features in board design, and understand 3rd party lab capability and setup.
• Designing analog circuitry for real‑time sensor telemetry feedback to dynamic power control features on SoCs.
• Measuring I2C, SPI, UART, clocks, and crystals with high‑bandwidth oscilloscopes.
• Developing test code using Python to automate system‑level validation.
• Understanding of NXP microcontroller firmware written in C programming language to debug servers.
• Utilizing Cadence System Capture and internal simulation tools to design printed circuit boards.
• Understanding of interaction between many integrated circuits on a circuit board, including electrical compatibility, leakage, bus standards, and protocols.
• Writing detailed electrical validation plans with specific instructions for each interface on circuit boards.

Preferred Qualifications

N/A