Manufacturing Automation & DFM Engineer - Surface-Mount Technology, Printed Circuit Board Assembly
About the job
- A bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Materials Science, Mechatronics, or a related discipline is required.
- At least 5 years of hands-on industrial experience in surface-mount technology, printed circuit board assembly manufacturing, automation, or high-volume electronics manufacturing is required.
- Strong knowledge of surface-mount technology processes, equipment, and factory automation systems is required.
- Solid fundamentals in mechanical design, geometric dimensioning and tolerancing, tolerance analysis, and engineering drawings are required.
- Experience with manufacturing processes such as machining, molding, stamping, and casting is required.
- Working knowledge of data analysis tools is required, with Excel required.
- Travel domestically and internationally to supplier sites 60% of the time is required.
- Experience with automation controls and software, including programmable logic controller logic, C#, and personal-computer-based control systems, is required.
- Knowledge of robotics systems, including six-axis and/or SCARA robots, pneumatics, servo motors, motion controllers, and industrial automation architectures, is required.
- Familiarity with factory key performance indicators such as yield, overall equipment effectiveness, cycle time, and process capability is required.
- Exposure to artificial intelligence and machine learning applications in manufacturing, inspection, or process optimization is required.
- The ability to communicate effectively with cross-functional teams, suppliers, and factory partners is required.
- Lead and support design-for-manufacturing reviews, build readiness assessments, and manufacturing risk evaluations across new product introduction and sustaining programs.
- Develop a deep understanding of surface-mount technology and surface-mount assembly processes, factory operations, manufacturing metrics, and lean manufacturing principles.
- Collaborate with suppliers and internal engineering teams to collect process data and conduct capability studies, including Cp/Cpk, yield analysis, and design-of-experiments-based experiments.
- Drive automation strategy, equipment evaluation, and machine design-for-manufacturing reviews, ensuring alignment with manufacturing and Apple quality standards.
- Support equipment development, qualification, and ramp activities for surface-mount technology, assembly, and test automation systems.
- Qualify and onboard new original equipment manufacturers and vendors to strengthen supply chain capability and diversification.
- Identify, evaluate, and document new materials, manufacturing processes, assembly technologies, and emerging automation solutions to improve operational efficiency.
- Develop and maintain data analysis and visualization dashboards to support design, process optimization, and decision-making.
- Apply structured problem-solving methodologies, including DMAIC, FMEA, Fishbone, 5-Why, and Kaizen, to failure analysis and continuous-improvement initiatives.
- Work closely with factory teams to ensure adherence to process controls, equipment standards, and quality metrics during volume manufacturing.
- Python, Minitab, or JMP experience is preferred.
About the company
Apple designs and sells consumer electronics, from iPhone smartphones and Mac computers to tablets and wearable devices. Its operating systems manage apps and built-in functions for communication and work, while iCloud stores files and synchronizes data across devices. Customers buy additional digital services through subscriptions such as Apple Music and Apple TV, and developers distribute software through the App Store. Apple earns money from hardware sales, subscriptions and digital transactions, selling directly to customers and through retailers and mobile carriers around the world. It was founded in 1976 and has its headquarters in Cupertino, California.
Company Size
10,001+
Company Stage
IPO
Headquarters
Cupertino, California
Founded
1976
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Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- Business demand is growing: Apple reported $109.4 billion revenue in the June 2026 quarter, up 16% year over year.
- Eligible US employees get learning support: Apple reimburses career-related tuition and runs Apple University classes.
- Services earn richer margins: Apple reported 75.6% services gross margin in the June 2026 quarter, versus 40.1% for products.
What critics are saying
- Assembly depends on Asian partners: Apple outsources substantially all final hardware assembly, reducing direct control over production.
- iPhone concentrates demand risk: the product generated 49.6% of Apple revenue in the June 2026 quarter.
- Student support shifts take evenings: Apple College Advisors typically work three evening shifts and one weekend shift weekly.
What makes Apple unique
- Its chips link hardware and software: Apple designs M-series processors and developer frameworks tuned to their unified memory.
- Stores double as service hubs: Apple combines device sales, Genius Bar technical help and in-person learning sessions.
- It owns a spatial operating system: Apple Vision Pro runs visionOS, controlled through eyes, hands and voice.
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Benefits
Health Insurance
Dental Insurance
401(k) Retirement Plan
401(k) Company Match
Tuition Reimbursement
Performance Bonus
Relocation Assistance
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Growth & Insights and Company News
6 month growth
↑ 0%1 year growth
↑ 0%2 year growth
↓ -5%Tim Cook concluded his tenure as Apple CEO with a fiscal third-quarter earnings call showing quarterly revenue of $109.4 billion, surpassing the company's entire fiscal 2011 revenue of $108.2 billion. During Cook's 15 years as CEO, Apple's stock returned 2,720%, including dividends. New CEO John Ternus takes over a company heavily reliant on iPhone sales, which now represent half of total revenue at $54.3 billion. The services business, comprising 28% of sales, grew 12% year over year. Ternus reportedly plans to streamline operations and accelerate product releases throughout the year rather than at special events. Apple recently launched the iPhone Duo, a foldable phone priced at $2,000. However, recent product launches, including the VisionPro and a cancelled self-driving car project, have struggled to gain traction. Apple trades at a price-to-earnings ratio of 38, above its 10-year median of 27.
Apple's App Store revenue grew 5% year-over-year in September, a marked improvement from August's flat growth, according to UBS analyst David Vogt. However, he cautions against drawing broader conclusions from a single month's performance. For the full quarter, App Store revenue increased only 2%, marking the second consecutive quarter of low-single-digit growth. Vogt attributes September's improvement partly to easier year-over-year comparisons. October presents a tougher test, with comparisons about 180 basis points more challenging. It will also be the first full month reflecting App Store changes in the EU, which accounts for just over 10% of trailing twelve-month revenue. Apple currently trades at 37.69 times forward earnings, a 28% premium to its five-year average P/E of 29.54 times. Vogt, who maintains a Neutral rating and $296 price target, suggests this valuation leaves limited room for weaker growth. Hedge fund interest remained stable, with 169 funds holding positions at the end of Q2.
Apple has acqui-hired Huxe, an AI startup founded by former Google NotebookLM developers, according to the EU's Digital Markets Act transparency database. The deal, disclosed in June, grants Apple the right to hire certain Huxe employees and receive a non-exclusive licence to the company's intellectual property. Huxe was founded in December 2024 by Raiza Martin, Jason Spielman, and Stephen Hughes, who previously worked on NotebookLM. The startup created a personalised AI audio app that generated daily briefings from emails and calendars, and podcast-style conversations. Huxe raised $4.6 million in September 2025 before shutting down in May 2026. This marks Apple's fourth AI-related deal disclosed this year.
Western Digital forecasts fiscal Q1 2027 revenue of $4.1 billion, up from $3.75 billion in the previous quarter. The company's revenue grew 36% over the past twelve months, outpacing Apple's 14.2%. Western Digital reported its average price per terabyte rose by a high-teens percentage year-over-year in fiscal Q4 2026, whilst costs per terabyte fell around 8%. By contrast, Apple warned of rising memory costs during its fiscal Q3 2026 call. Western Digital maintains a 36% operating margin compared to Apple's 33%, and carries less debt relative to market value. However, cloud customers account for 89% of Western Digital's revenue, whilst Apple benefits from diversified income streams including iPhone and services. Western Digital shares returned 224% over twelve months, significantly exceeding Apple's 32%.
Apple has appointed Steve Smith as its new mergers and acquisitions chief, according to people familiar with the matter. The move comes as part of management changes under new chief executive officer John Ternus. Adrian Perica, who previously held the M&A role, is being transferred to the company's services business. The leadership reshuffle represents the latest organisational shift at Apple following Ternus's appointment as CEO. The changes signal Apple's continued evolution of its executive structure as it navigates strategic priorities across its hardware, software, and services divisions.