Health Sensing HW - Module Design Engineer

Apple Inc.; Santa Clara (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 225,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive medical and dental cover

Retirement benefits

Educational assistance (tuition)

Apple stock programs

Job summary

Apple is seeking an optically talented Design Engineer for Health Sensing HW in Santa Clara. You will design optical sensors, run simulations, build prototypes, and study skin-sensor interactions, coordinating with mechanical, electrical and software teams.

Strong data analysis will guide design decisions for health sensors in Apple Watch and AirPods. The role emphasizes cross-functional collaboration, hands-on prototyping, and delivering thorough assessments to leadership, with a competitive

Qualifications

• Knowledge of optical system design for wearable sensing applications including lens design and integration of electro-optical components.
• Experience with bench-top optical sensor prototypes including metrology and characterization.
• Experience working with cross-functional teams on optical sensor technology development.
• Excellent written and verbal communication and documentation skills.
• BS with 3+ years industry experience or MS/PhD in Biomedical or Optical Engineering.

Responsibilities

• Design optical sensor components and assemblies using simulations and prototype-based assessments.
• Collaborate across mechanical, electrical and software teams to define requirements and specs.
• Develop and apply signal processing to analyze optical bio-signals (e.g., PPG).
• Deliver detailed assessments and design evaluations to leadership and partners.

Skills

Optical design

Ray-tracing

Signal processing

MATLAB

Python

C language

Light transport

Cross-functional teamwork

Education

BS in Biomedical Engineering

MS/PhD in Optical/Biomedical Engineering

Tools

Ray-tracing packages

Job description

Health Sensing HW - Module Design Engineer

Santa Clara, California, United States Hardware

The Health Sensing Hardware team is looking for a highly-motivated optical engineer to work on the next-generation of optical health sensors. The successful candidate will be able to leverage training in optical system design, modeling and fabrication to develop the optical health sensors in the Apple Watch and AirPods. This candidate should also be adept at analyzing user data to infer real-world performance trends and emergent behavior. Lastly, the candidate must be able to distill simulation and empirical results into concise design assessments to cross-functional collaborators and senior management.

Description

You will be working with a team of research scientists and hardware engineers developing technologies for the optical health sensors. You will be responsible for the optical design of the sensor via simulations and prototype-based assessments, user studies and analysis of sensor performance. The role also requires strong data analysis skills to infer trends and dependencies in the data to improve the understanding of skin-sensor interactions and directly impact the design and performance of the health sensors. This is a highly cross-functional role and will require close collaboration with mechanical, electrical and software engineers. Lastly, you will be responsible for delivering detailed assessments and designs evaluations to leadership and cross-functional partners.

Responsibilities

• The ideal candidate will be a hardware engineer with demonstrated expertise in the comprehensive design and development of optical assemblies and platforms that seamlessly integrate electro-optical components such as LEDs and VCSELs with mechanical systems. This role requires proficiency in industry-standard ray-tracing and optical design software tools, with the ability to leverage these platforms for sophisticated optical system modeling and optimization. The candidate is also expected to have extensive experience in signal processing techniques to analyze and interpret optical bio-signals (e.g. PPG).
• Success in this role requires strong cross-functional collaboration capabilities, particularly the ability to drive optical sensor development initiatives while effectively coordinating efforts across mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and other technical disciplines. The candidate must have hands‑on experience with optical system design, prototyping and characterization, culminating in defining requirements and detailed specifications for product development. Furthermore, the following skills would be a plus for a successful candidate in this role
• Proficiency in programming languages, MATLAB, Python, C etc.
• Knowledge of light transport (coherent and/or diffuse) in biological tissue.
• Flexible, collaborative and willing to work in cross-functional fast‑paced technology development.

Minimum Qualifications

• Knowledge of optical system design for wearable sensing applications including lens design, integration of electro-optical components etc.
• Experience with building bench‑top optical sensor prototypes including metrology and characterization.
• Experience working with cross‑functional teams (mechanical/electrical engineering) on technology development of optical sensors.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, excellent documentation skills.
• BS with 3+ years industry experience or MS/PhD in Biomedical Engineering, Optical Engineering, or related field.

Preferred Qualifications

• Strong optical simulation skills using commercial ray‑tracing packages.
• Experience with modeling/simulating light transport in biological tissue.Proven experience in designing optical systems for bio‑sensing/imaging applications.
• PhD in Biomedical or Optical Engineering.

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 $225,300, 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.

Learn about accessibility in Apple’s workplace

Learn about reasonable accommodations for job applicants