Product Characterization Lead - Hardware Design & Lab

Apple Inc.; Austin, Northern (TX, KY); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Apple in Austin seeks a Product Design Engineering Lead for the Applied Research and Characterization team to guide a group of engineers, steward lab spaces and equipment, and connect product design with customer experience. You will lead day-to-day operations and long-term planning for the characterization lab while enabling bold experimentation early in hardware development.

You will develop custom mechanical characterizations for parts and prototypes, partner with Product Design leads, and

Qualifications

• BS in Mechanical Engineering with minimum 5 years on an R&D or test/measurement-focused team.
• Experience applying engineering first principles to evaluate design performance.
• Experience with multiple measurement systems (e.g., Instron, thermal chambers, drop towers, vibration tables, optical metrology).
• Familiarity with sensor technologies, data acquisition, and signal processing basics.
• Strong technical communication across cross-functional teams and sites.
• Proficiency in MATLAB, Python, LabVIEW, JMP or similar tools.
• Experience CAD and basic lab tools for fixture design and fabrication.
• Ability to navigate ambiguity in early-stage product development.

Responsibilities

• Lead, develop, and support a team of engineers to design and build instrumented test and measurement systems.
• Apply measurement science and engineering analysis to understand inputs and responses that impact design performance.
• Serve as primary contact for product design teams seeking support—build relationships across disciplines.
• Collaborate with Lab Manager to improve lab processes, workflows, and capabilities.
• Scope and add new measurement and test capabilities including equipment and training.
• Triage and prioritize incoming project requests considering urgency, complexity, and capacity.
• Provide personal development plans and performance feedback.

Skills

Mechanical engineering

Data analysis

MATLAB

Python

LabVIEW

CAD

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

BS in Mechanical Engineering

Advanced degree preferred

Tools

Instron

Thermal chambers

Drop towers

Vibration tables

Optical metrology equipment

Data acquisition systems

Job description

Apple in Austin seeks a Product Design Engineering Lead for the Applied Research and Characterization team to guide a group of engineers, steward lab spaces and equipment, and connect product design with customer experience. You will lead day-to-day operations and long-term planning for the characterization lab while enabling bold experimentation early in hardware development.

You will develop custom mechanical characterizations for parts and prototypes, partner with Product Design leads, and