A

Apple

Designs phones, computers and their operating systems

Hardware Reliability Engineer - Mac System Reliability

Full-Time
No salary listed
Mid
Bachelor's, Master's, PhD
Cupertino, CA, USA
In Person
Hardware EngineeringHardware Validation & Testing

About the job

Requirements
  • A Bachelor's Degree in a technical field such as mechanical engineering, materials engineering, electrical engineering, physics, or a related field, with 3 or more years of industry experience.
  • Good written and verbal English communication skills, including the ability to communicate effectively through email, WebEx, and phone.
  • Ability to create clear and concise slides and presentations using Keynote, Excel, and similar tools.
  • Strong attention to detail and curiosity about how technologies work.
  • Ability to use basic productivity applications such as email, a web browser, calendar, WebEx or Zoom, spreadsheets, Keynote, and PowerPoint.
  • A deep understanding of mechanical, electrical, optical, and thermal material and device properties and their underlying physics.
  • Proficiency in statistical data analysis and clear reporting, including design risk assessments and guidance for product improvements.
  • Strong theoretical knowledge of physical failure analysis techniques such as scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray analysis, and other characterization techniques.
  • Ability to develop new reliability test procedures, create detailed test plans, and analyze results to assess design risks.
Responsibilities
  • Identify high-risk failure modes early in the design process and work closely with design engineering teams to mitigate risks.
  • Create new reliability tests based on the physics of failure, anticipated user behavior, and the deployment environment.
  • Develop and deliver critical test equipment and specifications, and collaborate with vendors to meet testing deadlines.
  • Support failure analysis efforts and provide design recommendations based on evaluations of test data to drive continuous product improvements.
  • Characterize product usage patterns, translate them into controlled laboratory tests, and coordinate timely design validation efforts.
  • Collaborate through design iterations to ensure products meet high standards for customer experience.
Desired Qualifications
  • A Master of Science or PhD in Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or an equivalent field.
  • Statistical experience with Weibull analysis, JMP, or accelerated test models.
  • Familiarity with failure analysis techniques such as optical microscopy, X-ray or computed tomography, and scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, including the ability to use failure analysis methodology to derive failure root causes.
  • Ability to travel internationally without restriction, up to 10%.

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%
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