Product Design Engineering Lead - Beats

Apple Inc.; Cupertino, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 216,000 - 325,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee stock programs

Medical and dental coverage

Retirement benefits

Tuition reimbursement

Relocation assistance

Job summary

Apple Inc. in Cupertino is seeking a Senior Product Designer to lead mechanical design from concept to mass production for next-generation hardware. You will bridge industrial design intent with manufacturability, owning prototypes, feature definition, and China-based build execution.

The ideal candidate blends hands-on design skills with deep manufacturing knowledge and will mentor junior engineers on the team.

Qualifications

• BS in mechanical engineering or related field.
• 8+ years of mechanical/product design experience in consumer electronics or similar hardware.
• Proven track record shipping high-volume consumer products from concept to mass production.
• Strong CAD skills (SolidWorks, Creo, NX) and FEA tools (ANSYS/Abaqus).
• Deep knowledge of metal/plastic manufacturing processes (CNC, sheet metal, injection molding).
• Hands-on GD&T, tolerance stack-up analysis, and reliability/failure analysis methods.
• Experience with contract manufacturers in China, including on-site build support and vendor management.
• Familiarity with integrating mechanical design around electro-mechanical subsystems.

Responsibilities

• Drive early-stage prototyping and define form factors with cross-functional teams.
• Own detailed design of metal and plastic components for manufacturability and reliability.
• Perform tolerance stack-up analysis, FEA, and failure analysis for long-term reliability.
• Coordinate mechanical design across subsystems (acoustics, display, power, antennas).
• Oversee builds at contract manufacturers in China; troubleshoot design/process issues on the line.
• Support EVT/DVT/PVT to mass production and drive corrective actions.
• Mentor junior engineers with design reviews and technical guidance.

Skills

CAD proficiency

FEA analysis

GD&T

Tolerance analysis

Vendor management

On-site support China

System integration

Education

BS in Mechanical Engineering

MS or PhD preferred

Tools

SolidWorks

Creo

NX

ANSYS

Abaqus

Job description

Cupertino, California, United States Hardware

Apple is a place where people come to do the best work of their lives. We obsess over the details to make products that surprise, delight, and provide new ways to interact with the technology that changes our customers’ lives. The tight integration of engineering teams from hardware, software, silicon, and beyond sets Apple apart and provides unique opportunities for impact and innovation.The Beats Accessories Product Design team is seeking a senior product design engineer to work on the next-generation of products. We work in a highly-collaborative, fast-paced environment with teams across Apple including Industrial Design, Electrical Engineering, Software, and Marketing to define product objectives, create solutions to meet those objectives, and validate the performance of those designs through mass production, all while keeping customer experience at the forefront. Our contributions have broad impacts – from the overall system size and shape down to the smallest details.

Description

We're looking for a Senior Product Designer to lead mechanical design from early concept through mass production. This person will bridge industrial design intent and manufacturable, reliable hardware — owning designs across the full product lifecycle, from prototyping and feature definition through China-based build execution and volume ramp. The ideal candidate combines strong hands-on design skills with deep manufacturing and reliability engineering knowledge, and is excited to mentor junior engineers on the team.

Responsibilities

• Concept & Definition: Drive early-stage prototyping, explore form factors, and define feature sets in close collaboration with industrial design, product management, and engineering leadership.
• Detailed Design: Own detailed design of metal and plastic components — enclosures, brackets, fasteners, and structural elements — ensuring designs meet aesthetic, functional, and manufacturing requirements.
• Tolerance & Reliability Analysis: Perform tolerance stack-up analysis, finite element analysis (FEA), and failure analysis to validate structural integrity, fit, and long-term reliability.
• Systems Integration: Integrate and coordinate mechanical design across multiple subsystems, including acoustics, display, input devices, power electronics, and wireless antennas — ensuring cross-functional compatibility and performance.
• Build & Manufacturing Oversight: Travel to and oversee prototype and production builds at contract manufacturers in China; work directly with vendors and factory teams to troubleshoot design and process issues on the line.
• Production Ramp Support: Support products through EVT/DVT/PVT and into mass production, resolving field and line issues, driving corrective actions, and ensuring design intent is preserved at scale.
• Mentorship: Guide and develop junior and mid-level mechanical engineers, providing technical direction, design reviews, and career mentorship.

Minimum Qualifications

• BS
• 8+ years of mechanical/product design experience, ideally in consumer electronics or similarly complex hardware products.
• Proven track record shipping at least one (ideally multiple) high-volume consumer products from concept to mass production.
• Strong CAD skills (SolidWorks, Creo, NX, or similar) and experience with FEA tools (ANSYS, Abaqus, or built-in CAD FEA modules).
• Deep knowledge of metal and plastic manufacturing processes (CNC machining, sheet metal, injection molding, die casting) and their design constraints (DFM/DFA).
• Hands-on experience with GD&T, tolerance stack-up analysis, and reliability/failure analysis methodologies (root cause analysis, DOE, 8D, etc.).
• Experience working directly with contract manufacturers in China, including on-site build support and vendor management.
• Familiarity with integrating mechanical design around electro-mechanical subsystems (acoustics, displays, input devices, batteries/power electronics, antennas).

Preferred Qualifications

• M.S. or Ph.D. and 6+ years job experience in Product Design, Mechanical Engineering or related field
• Experience with acoustic or RF/antenna co-design considerations.
• Background in industrial design collaboration or human factors.
• Experience with statistical process control (SPC) and yield analysis during ramp.

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 $216,200 and $324,800, 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. Learn about accessibility in Apple’s workplace Learn about reasonable accommodations for job applicants

Apple accepts applications to this posting on an ongoing basis.