Manufacturing Design Engineer (MDE) - SME Additive Manufacturing

Apple Inc.; Cupertino, Northern (CA, KY); On-site; USD 164,000 - 246,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive medical & dental

Retirement benefits

Discounted products & free services

Education reimbursement

Bonus or relocation potential

Job summary

Apple Inc. in Cupertino, CA, seeks a Manufacturing Design Engineer (MDE) for SME Additive Manufacturing to lead high-precision processes across Apple’s supply base.

You will collaborate with Industrial Design, Product Design, and suppliers to deliver end-to-end manufacturing solutions that meet quality, cost, yield, and environmental targets. Role involves global site leadership, DOE-driven optimization, and advancing metal additive manufacturing capabilities for Apple products.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in mechanical product development or manufacturing engineering.
• Ability to travel 25%+ is required.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate product and design goals to understand dimensional, cosmetic, and functional priorities.
• Collaborate with global suppliers to align on manufacturing development strategy and schedules.
• Identify and validate suitable fabrication equipment and processes.
• Develop and document manufacturing processes with parameters and consumables.
• Conduct DOE-based process optimization using data and hands-on approaches.
• Report development status to teams and align design with manufacturing capability.
• Provide leadership at global sites during development and ramp, traveling as needed.
• Refine metal additive manufacturing processes with internal teams and suppliers.
• Optimize additive processes for cosmetic quality, reliability, and throughput.
• Support product design in metal alloys and post-processing techniques.
• Develop qualification plans (DQ/IQ/OQ/PQ) for equipment and materials.

Skills

Mechanical design

Manufacturing engineering

Problem solving

Communication

Education

BS or higher in mechanical or related field

Job description

Manufacturing Design Engineer (MDE) - SME Additive Manufacturing

Cupertino, California, United States Operations and Supply Chain

Imagine what you could do here. At Apple, new ideas have a way of becoming extraordinary products, services, and customer experiences very quickly. Bring passion and dedication to your job and there's no telling what you could accomplish. The people here at Apple don't just create products - they create the kind of wonder that's revolutionized entire industries. It's the diversity of those people and their ideas that inspires the innovation that runs through everything we do, from amazing technology to industry-leading environmental efforts. Join Apple, and help us leave the world better than we found it.

Description

The Apple Manufacturing Design Engineer (MDE) is accountable for leading the development and implementation of high precision mechanical manufacturing processes across Apple's worldwide supply base. In this highly visible hands-on role, you will have direct frequent communication and collaboration with Apple Industrial Design, Product Design, and Manufacturing Design partners, as well as our worldwide suppliers. The MDE role is empowered and expected to bring creativity to Apple's manufacturing approach, enabling us to deliver our best work to as many customers as possible. As an MDE, you'll lead the creation, evaluation, and implementation of end-to-end manufacturing solutions for key design features on Apple's products. You will ensure our manufacturing solutions meet our product quality, cost, yield, capacity, schedule, and environmental goals.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate product and design goals to understand the dimensional, cosmetic, and functional priorities for the product
• Collaborate with Global Supply Managers and Apple's suppliers to align on a manufacturing development strategy with clear goals, expectations, and schedules
• Identify and validate suitable fabrication equipment and processes to meet all Apple design and operational requirements
• Develop and document processes including all parameters, consumables and secondary operation requirements to meet defined specifications
• Conduct process optimization DOE’s, using data and hands-on approaches together to find solutions to sophisticated challenges
• Communicate ongoing process development status to functional teams and lead discussions to align design requirements with manufacturing capability
• Provide leadership at global manufacturing sites during development and production ramp, traveling internationally, identifying root causes of open issues and driving corrective actions to timely resolution
• Collaborate with internal partners and equipment suppliers to develop and refine metal additive manufacturing processes and equipment, utilizing data including, but not limited to, machine sensor data.
• Optimize additive manufacturing processes for Apple cosmetic, dimensional quality, reliability, and throughput requirements. Develop methods to model and characterize key performance indicators in additive manufacturing.
• Support Product Design in development of metal alloys for additive manufacturing utilizing knowledge of metal 3D printing technologies, powder metallurgy, and post-processing techniques including heat treatment.
• Provide expert level support to project teams utilizing metal additive manufacturing to bring designs from concept to mass production
• Develop best in class qualification plans and procedures to qualify additive manufacturing equipment and materials utilizing DQ/IQ/OQ/PQ

Minimum Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in mechanical product development, manufacturing engineering, tooling engineering, high precision fabrication, or similar roles
• Ability to travel 25%+ is required

Preferred Qualifications

• Utilizes a hands-on approach to engineering and problem-solving
• Demonstrates commitment and tenacity; a self-starter who learns quickly and adapts to find new solutions in the face of adversity
• Communicates technical information clearly and persuasively in both written and verbal forms, adapting content to suit the intended audience
• Employs project management tools to effectively plan and track work to completion; diligent and reliable in executing tasks independently
• Experience on the shop floor, in a hobby or professional context, is helpful
• Experience working with highly cosmetic parts or products is preferred
• Experience with design, data preparation and simulation software for additive manufacturing
• BS or higher in mechanical, manufacturing, industrial engineering, or related fields preferred

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 $163,500 and $246,200, 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.