Hardware Systems Integration Engineer, Apple Watch

Apple Inc.; Cupertino (CA); On-site; USD 150,400 - 277,600; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock programs

Medical & dental coverage

Education reimbursement

Relocation assistance

Job summary

Apple Inc. in Cupertino, California is seeking an experienced Hardware Systems Integration Engineer to join the Apple Watch hardware team.

You will design, prototype, build, and validate electrical designs across the product development cycle, collaborating with cross‑functional teams to deliver integrated solutions that meet performance and reliability goals. You will own system electrical design, schematic capture, PCB layout, bring‑up, and verification using standard EE tools.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s, Master’s or PhD in Electrical or Computer engineering with 3-5 years of relevant industry experience.
• Excellent EE and physics fundamentals with system integration, power electronics, embedded interfaces (I2C, UART, SPI, USB).
• Hands-on hardware bring-up and debugging using EE test equipment (scope, spectrum analyzer, logic analyzer, DMM).
• Experience with schematic capture and PCB layout using Cadence or similar tools.
• Strong communication skills for cross-functional interaction.

Responsibilities

• Design, prototype, build, and validate electrical designs across the product development cycle.
• Perform schematic capture and PCB layout for integration into Apple Watch hardware.
• Prototype bring-up, debugging, and verification of hardware designs.
• Support factory builds, report status to management and cross-functional forums.
• Travel internationally to support factory builds as needed.

Skills

System integration

Power electronics

Embedded design

Signal integrity

GPIO/UART/SPI/USB

Debugging hardware

Data analysis

Education

Electrical/Computer Engineering degree

Tools

Cadence tools

Oscilloscope

Spectrum analyzer

Logic analyzer

DMM / electronic loads

Job description

Hardware Systems Integration Engineer, Apple Watch

Cupertino, California, United States Hardware

The Apple WATCH hardware engineering team is seeking an experienced electrical engineer to join our team. As Apple integrates more features & technologies into WATCH, we continue to push the boundaries of current technology. Integrating these features and technologies comes with significant system integration and design challenges. In this design engineering position, you will work with a passionate group of hardware engineers, and a range of cross‑functional teams to resolve multi‑domain challenges—diving deep into the details, and evaluating solutions pragmatically with a system and product level perspective. You will join a team that values curiosity, engineering excellence, data‑informed decision making, and creativity. We are looking for a passionate engineer who strives to understand why things work, and use that understanding to deliver high‑quality technical solutions.

Description

In this role you will be designing, prototyping, building, and validating electrical designs throughout our product development cycle, and working with teams across Apple to integrate those designs into WATCH. This includes: system electrical design, schematic capture and PCB layout design; prototype bring‑up and debugging; functional and performance verification of hardware designs using common EE test equipment (including oscilloscopes, DMMs, spectrum analyzers, logic analyzers); hands‑on debugging and failure analysis of manufacturing, design, and reliability issues; factory build support from early NPI through to production; reporting on and presenting status of hardware issues to management and cross‑functional forums; international travel to support factory builds as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s, Master’s or PhD of Science in Electrical or Computer engineering along with 3-5 years of relevant industry experience.
• Excellent EE and physics fundamentals, along with a strong understanding of one or more of the following areas: system integration and validation, power electronics and switching power supplies, embedded device communication (GPIO signaling, common interfaces such as I2C, UART, SPI, USB), embedded system design, analog design, signal and power integrity, sensor design and integration.
• Hands‑on hardware bring‑up, functional validation, and debugging experience using common EE test equipment (i.e. oscilloscope, spectrum analyzer, logic analyzer, DMM, power supplies and electronic loads).
• Experience with schematic capture and constraint‑driven PCB layout design using Cadence tools or similar.
• Excellent communication skills, with an ability to convey technical information in a clear manner adapted to the audience.

Preferred Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience designing hardware for mass produced consumer products with significant form factor and technology integration constraints; 2+ years of experience in the technical lead capacity.
• Demonstrated ability to resolve multi‑domain problems by collaborating with experts in other functional areas (i.e. RF, Silicon Design, Mechanical Engineering, SI/PI).
• Experience with bring‑up and validation of custom SoCs, or other silicon.
• Technical understanding with one or more of the following: IC design and manufacturing, CPU architecture, RF/antenna design.
• Demonstrated ability to apply first‑principles to pick apart and understand problems at a fundamental level.
• Ability to manipulate large data sets to provide insightful analysis coupled with strong visualizations.
• Experience leveraging AI tools to accelerate hardware engineering workflows (examples: generating software/scripts to aid in data analysis, simple firmware development, etc).
• An eagerness to take on new challenges, learn new skills, and continually develop by staying open‑minded & curious. Strong sense of personal ownership, with the ability to comprehensively handle tasks from start to finish independently.

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 $150,400 and $277,600, 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.

Note: Apple benefit, compensation and employee stock programs are subject to eligibility requirements and other terms of the applicable plan or program.

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.

At Apple, we believe accessibility is a fundamental human right. You’ll find that idea reflected in everything here — in our culture, our benefits and our digital tools. By welcoming as many perspectives as possible, we help you build a career where you feel like you belong.

Apple accepts applications to this posting on an ongoing basis.