Senior Mechanical Prototyper & Lead

Apple Inc.; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 125,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Apple Inc. is seeking a Senior Mechanical Prototyper to design, fabricate, and assemble prototype parts and assemblies. You will troubleshoot and repair prototypes while mentoring a small team of prototypers to accelerate development cycles.

You'll work within a hands-on team to translate CAD models into tangible hardware, collaborate with engineers, and ensure prototypes meet schedule expectations in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• 7+ years in Mechanical Engineering with prototyping background.
• Bachelors in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent required.
• Hands-on with shop tools and fabrication techniques.

Responsibilities

• Design and fabricate electro-mechanical prototypes of varying sizes and complexity.
• Mentor a small team of mechanical prototypers and track progress.
• Work with engineers to translate CAD models into functional parts.
• Troubleshoot prototypes and document failures for improvements.
• Coordinate with vendors and internal teams to meet deadlines.

Skills

Mechanical Engineering

Prototyping

CAD modeling

Problem solving

Team collaboration

Project timelines

Education

Bachelors in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent

Tools

Unigraphics NX

3D printers

Laser cutter

MacOS

JMP

Job description

Summary

Apple is where individual imaginations gather together, committing to the values that lead to great work. Every new product we build, service we create, or Apple Store experience we deliver is the result of us making each other’s ideas stronger. That happens because every one of us shares a belief that we can make something wonderful and share it with the world, changing lives for the better. It’s the diversity of our people and their thinking that inspires the innovation that runs through everything we do. When we bring everybody in, we can do the best work of our lives. Here, you’ll do more than join something — you’ll add something. The Product Design Engineering group working on new and future product concepts is looking for a Senior Mechanical Prototyper who will be responsible for assisting in the design, fabrication, and assembly/disassembly, troubleshooting and repair of prototype parts and assemblies as well as managing and mentoring a small team of mechanical prototypers.

Description

We are the hands-on technical team that carries the design of Apple Vision Products through the entire process, from early prototyping to mass production. By joining our team, you'll work side by side with your teammates inside Apple and at our partner facilities to define parts of a system in CAD, hand build physical electro-mechanical assemblies, and collaborate with vendors to produce parts and assemblies. You will support the fabrication, modification, and repair of prototype hardware that will indirectly and directly inform what we ship to customers.

• Design and fabrication of functional electro-mechanical prototypes of various sizes, materials and levels of complexity
• Execute detailed mechanical and electrical assembly operations, accurately record and communicate progress and challenges
• Maintain prototypes & perform failure analysis on electro-mechanical systems
• Work closely with a range of Mechanical, Electrical, and Systems engineers to support project development work
• Perform a mix of independent and collaborative work

Minimum Qualifications

• 7+ years of Mechanical Engineering related industry experience
• 5+ years of relevant mechanical prototyping experience
• Bachelors of Science in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent
• Hands-on experience with shop tools, prototype fabrication techniques and equipment (3D printers, laser cutter, lathe, mill, etc.)
• Familiar with a wide range of materials (plastics, foams, textiles, metals, composites, ceramics), their properties, and methods of processing them
• Ability to understand and to develop hand sketches, CAD models, and technical drawings
• Strong mechanical problem solving and troubleshooting skills
• Team player with excellent verbal and written communication
• Ability to predict timelines and meet deadlines in a fast paced environment

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience root causing failures and implementing corrective actions
• Familiarity with inspection and analysis equipment (microscopes, load cells, etc.)
• Experience mentoring or managing others
• Fluent in Unigraphics NX including surfacing tools, statistical software (JMP), MacOS
• Experience designing mechanisms, actuated systems, and machines