Systems Architect

Apple Inc.; Cupertino, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 185,000 - 325,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical and dental coverage

Retirement benefits

Employee stock programs

Tuition reimbursement

Relocation assistance

Job summary

Apple Inc. is seeking a highly experienced Systems Architect to lead hardware-software integration for ecosystem accessories.

You will drive system design tradeoffs, and collaborate with multi-discipline teams to deliver end-to-end products across Home, iPad, iPhone, Watch, Mac and Vision Pro. You will decompose features into enabling technologies, write system-level requirements, and shepherd concepts to execution while influencing decisions with data and clear communication.

Qualifications

• We are seeking leaders with strong system-level requirements for hardware, software/firmware and mechanical subsystems.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including producing concise engineering specifications.
• Ability to influence cross-functional teams and drive architecture tradeoffs with data.

Responsibilities

• Lead and drive system technical designs and roadmaps for Apple ecosystem accessories.
• Decompose user features into enabling technologies and define end-to-end solutions.
• Lay out options, analyze trade-offs, and recommend architectures to meet product goals.
• Collaborate across teams to understand technologies and derive capabilities and costs.
• Review and champion architecture decisions throughout concept to execution.

Skills

HW/SW interfaces

SoC architecture

low-power design

firmware integration

Bluetooth/BLE

USB

I2C

Wi‑Fi

NFC

Thread

systems thinking

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in electrical or computer engineering

Master’s Degree in electrical or computer engineering

Tools

PCB technologies

signal integrity

coexistence/desense mitigation

Job description

Cupertino, California, United States Hardware

Apple’s Ecosystem Products & Technologies team is looking for a highly skilled and motivated product-focused Systems Architect with a passion for creating great user experiences and high quality products. Join a collaborative development team that plays a pivotal role in the development of products that seamlessly integrate with Apple’s portfolio, encompassing Home, iPad, iPhone, Watch, Mac and Vision Pro. This ecosystem of products is unique for its tight integration between accessories and Apple devices that extends the Apple user experience.

Description

We are seeking a highly motivated, energetic Systems Architect to lead and drive system technical designs and roadmaps. You will oversee and analyze key system architectural and implementation trade-offs, such as power and performance in a thermally constrained system, analyzing hardware & data flows, and driving requirements. This role requires that you have strong communication skills, listening/understanding, synthesizing, presenting options & tradeoffs, all while being comfortable with working through ambiguities. In this position, you will:

• Work with multi-discipline teams to design and launch new accessories and features into the market
• Decompose user facing features, experiences, and functions into associated enabling technologies
• Lay out available architectural options, analyze engineering trade-offs, and articulate recommendations to meet product goals
• Work cross-functionally to understand existing portfolio of technologies, derive capabilities & cost functions, and construct an overall end-to-end product solution
• Define and author system level feature descriptions and detailed functional requirements
• Shepherd product features through idea/concept to execution
• Review, influence, and challenge architectural tradeoffs with data and innovative new ideas

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in electrical or computer engineering or similar field
• 10 years interdisciplinary engineering expertise related to consumer electronics or embedded systems (firmware, hardware/electrical, and/or mechanical)
• 5 years developing consumer products from concept to production as a system integrator
• Solid understanding of hardware/software interaction and mechanical constraints
• Ability to develop and maintain product-specific system-level requirements/specifications for hardware, software/firmware, and mechanical subsystems
• Excellent written and oral communication skills including producing concise and clear engineering specifications as well as presenting to engineering leadership
• Ability to build relationships with cross-functional teams and exert effective influence

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in electrical or computer engineering or similar field
• 10 years product development experience in a matrix organization, preferably high volume consumer
• 3 years experience as a technical lead or engineering manager
• History of shipping interoperability and ecosystem features
• Proven expertise in SoC architecture, low-power design, HW/SW interfaces, bus protocols (USB, I2C, etc.), and wireless interfaces (Bluetooth/BLE, NFC, Wi-Fi, Thread)
• Working knowledge of HW/SW interaction, operating systems, estimation of compute workload, thermal, and power controls in modern SoCs
• Previous exposure to PCB technologies, signal integrity considerations, coex/desense mitigation
• Ability to think strategically, while driving tactical details
• Systems thinking mindset with attention to interface definitions and edge cases
• Experience working with teams of diverse technical backgrounds and quickly seeking and integrating their knowledge

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 $184,700 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
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Apple accepts applications to this posting on an ongoing basis.