Wireless RF Systems Validation Engineer (Connectivity)

Socket.dev; Cupertino (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Apple's RF System Engineering team seeks a driven engineer to validate and characterize wireless system performance across WLAN, Bluetooth, UWB, and Thread.

You will execute validation plans, bring-up test devices, analyze results, perform failure analysis, and collaborate with vendors to optimize radio performance and support product certification.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and 10+ years of relevant experience.
• Practical knowledge of WLAN, Bluetooth, UWB or Thread.
• Experience with bench-level wireless testing and debugging at module, reference board, or system level.
• Ability to work with cross-functional teams to drive issues to closure.

Responsibilities

• Validate and characterize wireless system performance across WLAN, BT, UWB, and Thread.
• Execute test plans to meet industry, emissions, and performance requirements.
• Bring-up device-under-test and define test requirements and setups.
• Track validation status and communicate findings to cross-functional forums.
• Perform failure analysis using experimental SW/FW and development hardware.
• Collaborate with vendors and teams to optimize radio performance and support certification.
• Assist manufacturing test and product certification processes.

Skills

Wireless testing

Debugging

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree

Tools

Call boxes

Power meters

Network analyzers

Spectrum analyzers

Signal generators

Job description

At Apple, we work every single day to craft products that enrich people’s lives. Do you love working on challenges that no one has solved yet? Do you like changing the game? As a member of our dynamic group, you will have the unique and rewarding opportunity to shape upcoming products that will delight and inspire millions of Apple’s customers every day. Apple’s RF System Engineering team is looking for a passionate, self‑motivated individual to work on integration of connectivity (WLAN, BT, UWB, Thread) technologies into Apple’s wireless products.

Description

You will validate & characterize wireless system performance across wireless technologies towards industry conformance, regulatory compliance, & use case requirements. You will perform debug and failure analysis of issues with cross‑functional engineering teams and drive issues to closure. You will be responsible to complete certification testing. Examples of activities you may be involved in are:

• Executing validation and characterization test plans to meet industry, emissions and performance requirements.
• Bringing‑up device‑under‑test, help define test requirements and implement test systems setups for validation readiness.
• Tracking validation status, analyze results, communicate issues & insights from data to cross functional forum.
• Performing failure analysis to understand low margin or failures making use of experimental SW/FW and modified development hardware.
• Collaborating with vendors, technology suppliers and cross‑functional staff to optimize radio performance of the device.
• Supporting manufacturing test and Certification of Apple products.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree with 10+ years of relevant experience.Practical knowledge of at least one Connectivity Wireless technology including WLAN, BT, UWB, Thread. Experience with bench level wireless testing, debug at the module, reference board or system level.

Preferred Qualifications

Master’s degree with 10+ years of relevant experience.Practical knowledge of at least one of connectivity industry standards including 802.11, Bluetooth SIG, 802.15 requirements, compliance requirements and required testing methodologies.Expertise in configuring and operating complex RF test setups for hardware validation. Proven experience in characterizing and validating devices against industry and global regulatory RF emission standards using laboratory equipment such as call boxes, power meters, network analyzers, spectrum analyzers, and signal generators.Good understanding of system‑level RF emissions and their sources, including RF component characteristics and behavior.Experience with device certification processes, including industry certifications (e.g., Bluetooth SIG, FiRa) and regulatory compliance (e.g., FCC, EU, China).Debug level experience on connectivity radio systems at the conducted level.Strong written and verbal communication skills.