RF System Integration Engineer (Instrument Engineering)

Apple, Inc.; Cupertino (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 278,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock programs

RSU awards

Employee stock purchase plan

Medical and dental coverage

Retirement benefits

Relocation

Job summary

Apple Inc. in Cupertino, CA is seeking an Instrument Engineer to help design and produce precision RF and analog test equipment used to calibrate and validate cellular radios across iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch.

You will collaborate with RF, software, and signal-processing engineers to take concepts to mass production while maintaining Apple’s exacting standards. This hands‑on RF role blends bench debugging, RF applications support, and test automation.

Qualifications

• BS in Electrical Engineering or related field; MS preferred.
• 3–4 years of hands‑on RF, wireless, or test/measurement engineering experience.
• Strong RF fundamentals and ability to debug RF problems on the bench with standard RF test equipment.
• Proven experience developing automated test software in Python and/or C++ from the ground up.
• Strong communication skills with customers and cross‑functional teams.
• Willingness to travel internationally up to 15%.

Responsibilities

• Debug RF and analog measurement problems on the bench, isolating root cause across hardware, firmware, and software.
• Develop, maintain, and extend automated test and calibration software for RF instrumentation.
• Characterize RF systems and instruments using signal generators, analyzers, VNAs, and power sensors.
• Support RF applications and bring‑up, partnering with hardware and software engineers from prototype through mass production.
• Work directly with internal customers to understand test requirements, deploy solutions, and provide hands‑on RF applications support.
• Analyze RF measurement data and present clear, actionable findings to technical and cross‑functional audiences.
• Improve test coverage, repeatability, and throughput by automating manual workflows and CI/CD.

Skills

RF fundamentals

Python

C++

Bench debugging

Customer communication

Education

BS in Electrical Engineering

MS in Electrical Engineering (preferred)

Tools

Signal Generators

Vector Network Analyzers

Spectrum Analyzers

Power Sensors

Job description

Cupertino, California, United States Hardware

Join our Wireless team and build the technology that makes every Apple radio possible. We're looking for engineers with strong fundamentals in RF, communication, software and signal processing to join the growing Instrument Engineering team at Apple. This small team of extraordinary engineers designs and produces precision RF and analog test equipment used to calibrate and validate cellular (5G/4G and legacy), Wi‑Fi, Bluetooth, mmWave, UWB, and NFC radios across millions of iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch units. You'll collaborate closely with RF, software, and signal processing engineers, and work directly with the internal customers who rely on this equipment, to take internal products from concept to mass production, each one built to Apple's exacting standards. If you love chasing an elusive RF problem down to root cause and then writing the automation that makes sure it never comes back, this is your team.

Description

This is a hands‑on RF role that blends bench debugging, RF applications support, customer engagement, and test automation. You'll characterize and troubleshoot RF measurement systems on the bench, develop and maintain automated test and calibration software, and partner across hardware, software, and customer teams to keep our test equipment accurate and reliable at production scale. You'll work across the RF bench, test‑automation software, and direct collaboration with internal customers.

Responsibilities

• Debug RF and analog measurement problems on the bench, isolating root cause across hardware, firmware, and software.
• Develop, maintain, and extend automated test and calibration software for RF instrumentation.
• Characterize RF systems and instruments using signal generators, signal/spectrum analyzers, vector network analyzers, and power sensors.
• Support RF applications and bring‑up, partnering with hardware and software engineers from prototype through mass production.
• Work directly with internal customers to understand test requirements, deploy solutions, and provide hands‑on RF applications support.
• Analyze RF measurement data and present clear, actionable findings to technical and cross‑functional audiences.
• Improve test coverage, repeatability, and throughput by automating manual workflows and integrating them into CI/CD.
• Contribute to calibration methods and procedures that keep test equipment accurate and traceable.

Minimum Qualifications

• BS in Electrical Engineering or a related field; MS preferred.
• 3–4 years of hands‑on experience in RF, wireless, or test/measurement engineering.
• Strong RF fundamentals and demonstrated ability to debug RF problems on the bench using standard RF test equipment (signal generators, analyzers, VNAs, power sensors).
• Proven experience developing automated test software in Python and/or C++ from the ground up.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work directly with customers and present technical findings to engineering and cross‑functional audiences.
• Willingness to travel internationally up to 15%.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with RF system calibration methods, procedures, and traceability.
• Recent experience analyzing RF parameters in Python or MATLAB (power, return loss, S‑parameters, EVM, ACLR, IQ mismatch, statistics).
• Working knowledge of DSP and communications theory.
• Familiarity with cellular (5G/4G), Wi‑Fi, Bluetooth, mmWave, UWB, or NFC radio test and measurement.
• Familiarity with RF test equipment vendors (Keysight, Rohde & Schwarz, NI, LitePoint, Anritsu).
• CI/CD experience and a track record of integrating automated tests into a pipeline.
• Hands‑on experience using AI assistants and agentic coding workflows to design, write, and debug production‑level engineering software.
• Experience applying AI/ML techniques to RF data analysis, modeling, or anomaly detection.

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 $277,600, and your base pay will depend on your skills, qualifications, experience, and location.

• Opportunity to become an Apple shareholder through participation in Apple’s discretionary employee stock programs
• Eligibility for discretionary restricted stock unit awards
• Ability to purchase Apple stock at a discount if voluntarily participating in Apple’s Employee Stock Purchase Plan
• Comprehensive medical and dental coverage
• Retirement benefits
• A range of discounted products and free services
• Reimbursement for certain educational expenses — including tuition
• Discretionary bonuses or commission payments
• 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

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