Hardware Systems QA Engineer – Interop & Automation

Apple Inc.; Cupertino (CA); Hybrid; USD 145,000 - 264,000; Full time

Job summary

Apple Inc. is seeking a Systems Quality Engineer for the Accessory Ecosystem in Cupertino, CA. You will own the quality of interactions between Apple devices and accessories, from prototype to release, focusing on automation and robust tooling.

You will collaborate with hardware, software, and product teams, driving telemetry-based decisions and sign-off quality. This hands-on role emphasizes proactive issue detection and scalable test coverage.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of industry experience developing test automation or analysis tooling in Python or C/C++.
• Experience with QA methodology, test planning, and execution for hardware or consumer electronics products.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Own the quality of your projects — you write the test plan, see the testing through, and hold the sign-off
• Represent quality and risks to leadership and cross-functional partners, backed by telemetry and statistical analysis to show customer impact
• Take failures (e.g., functional, interop, power) from investigation to closure with the teams that own the fixes
• Advance the team's test automation and analysis tooling
• Review the team's automation and flag what won't scale, so coverage stays maintainable as it grows

Skills

Test automation

Python/C/C++

QA methodology

Hardware/firmware validation

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or Computer Science

Job description

Systems Quality Engineer - Accessory Ecosystem

Cupertino, California, United States Hardware

Customers plug an accessory into an Apple product and expect it to just work. We find the problems customers would have run into, before they do. Our team validates that experience between Apple products like iPhone, iPad, and Mac — and the accessories and power sources customers rely on.Your work will impact several of Apple's product lines and a wide range of accessories customers connect to them. We're looking for a hands-on engineer who will own the quality of their projects, who isn't afraid to speak up when they believe an approach is wrong or a product isn't ready, and who wants the tooling they build to expand what the whole team can do.Come join our team!

Description

On your projects, you'll own the quality of how Apple devices, accessories, and power sources interact — from early prototypes through release — and partner teams will come to you on them. Much of that is automation, and the coverage you build outlasts the project.

Responsibilities

• Own the quality of your projects — you write the test plan, see the testing through, and hold the sign-off
• Represent quality and risks to leadership and cross-functional partners, backed by telemetry and statistical analysis to show customer impact
• Take failures (e.g., functional, interop, power) from investigation to closure with the teams that own the fixes
• Advance the team's test automation and analysis tooling
• Review the team's automation and flag what won't scale, so coverage stays maintainable as it grows

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field
• 3+ years of industry experience developing test automation or analysis tooling in Python or C/C++
• Experience with QA methodology, test planning, and execution for hardware or consumer electronics products
• Experience with hardware protocol-level validation or firmware validation (e.g., USB, PCIe, I2C, SPI)
• Clear written and verbal communication skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience reviewing others' code and guiding less-experienced engineers on design and quality
• Understanding of USB-PD power negotiation, Type-C specifications, and port controller firmware behavior
• Experience using AI tooling to move faster on automation and analysis, with the judgment to catch where its output is wrong
• Experience finding the issues that matter before release, and quantifying their customer impact

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 $144,600 and $263,800, 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.

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.

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Apple accepts applications to this posting on an ongoing basis.