Hardware Validation Engineer - Apple Watch

Socket.dev; Cupertino (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Socket.dev is seeking a hardware validation engineer to join the Watch system validation team in Cupertino, CA. You will lead bench validation for prototypes, identify issues during the prototype phase, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to define validation coverage and resolve issues.

The role requires hands-on experience with board-level bring-up, test equipment, and signals/power integrity, with the ability to travel to support factory builds and communicate findings across large

Qualifications

• Hands-on board level bring-up and validation experience.
• Experience with test & measurement equipment and high-fidelity probing.
• Understanding of validating ICs in board designs: power delivery, interfaces (USB, MIPI, I2C, SPI, UART, PCIe).
• Strong foundation in electrical engineering fundamentals.

Responsibilities

• Lead bench validation efforts for new hardware prototypes.
• Identify issues during prototype phase and drive design improvements.
• Develop tools and automation to expand validation coverage and speed.

Skills

Board bring-up

Test equipment

Signal integrity

Power integrity

Electrical fundamentals

Communication

Willing to travel

Education

Bachelors in Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering

Tools

Oscilloscopes

Probes

DMMs

VNAs

Job description

In this role, you will join the Watch system validation team, ensuring that all new and existing hardware features are fully validated on the bench. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in IC (silicon) or system validation and a passion for delivering excellent products to customers.

Description

You will lead bench validation efforts, identifying key issues during the prototype phase and driving improvements in system design. Leveraging your expertise, you will collaborate with cross-functional teams from various disciplines to define validation coverage and resolve issues. You will use your system validation experience to develop tools and automation to assist with expediting and expanding validation coverage. You will also have opportunities to assist with defining factory test coverage and triaging prototype build failures.

Minimum Qualifications

Hands-on experience in board level bring up and validation for a product system or silicon IC development boardStrong familiarity with test & measurement equipment (oscilloscopes, probes, DMMs, VNAs, power analyzer, etc.) ad high-fidelity signal probing techniques Understanding of how to validate all system-facing aspects of an IC in a board design: power delivery, host interfaces (USB, MIPI, I2C, SPI, UART, SPMI, PCIe), control signals, power rail sequencingGood understanding of signal and power integrityA solid foundation of electrical engineering fundamentalsGood written and verbal communication skills — the ability to summarize and organize information for large forumsWilling to travel to support factory builds.Bachelor's in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or equivalent experience is required

Preferred Qualifications

Scripting capability for test automationExposure to AI-enabled hardware validation automation and data analysisDomain experience in silicon IP design/verification, SoCs, or PMICs/power convertersExperience performing schematic and PCB layout reviewsMaster's degree in Electrical Engineering