Global Navigation Satellite System Evaluation & Field Test Intern

Summary

Apple is a place where extraordinary people gather to do their best work. Just be ready to dream big. The people here at Apple don’t just build products — they build the kind of wonder that’s revolutionized entire industries. It’s the diversity of those people and their ideas that encourages the innovation that runs through everything we do, from amazing technology to industry-leading customer experiences. Join Apple, and help us leave the world better than we found it. Imagine what you could do here. At Apple, great ideas have a way of becoming wonderful products, services, and customer experiences very quickly. Bring passion and dedication to your job and there’s no telling what you could accomplish. Be a part of the Field Design Engineering (FDE) team!

Minimum Qualifications

Currently enrolled in an M.S. or Ph.D. program in Communication Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Telecommunications or a related field, with knowledge of Geomatics / Geodesy, Navigation, GNSS. Available to join internship for ~6 months full-time internship. Full-time employment opportunities may be considered upon successful completion of the internship. Solid theoretical foundation in GNSS principles (pseudorange, carrier phase, Doppler observables, atmospheric delays, and multi-constellation systems). Strong understanding of high-precision positioning (RTK, DGNSS, PPP) and GNSS/INS integrated navigation (Kalman filtering / EKF principles and IMU error models). Proficiency in Python for automated data parsing, telemetry analysis, and scientific computing (e.g., Pandas, NumPy). Hands-on experience working with raw positioning data formats (e.g., RINEX, NMEA-0183, Android GnssMeasurement, or binary GNSS/INS logs).

Preferred Qualifications

Prior experience capturing, analyzing, or configuring raw GNSS/Sensor logs on Android devices (via GnssLogger, ADB, or engineering tools). Experience with tactical-grade reference systems (e.g., NovAtel SPAN, Oxford OXTS,U-blox) or RTK base stations for field ground truth collection. Familiarity with C++ for high-performance algorithm verification or test automation tooling. Strong problem-solving skills and a passion for uncovering edge-case failure modes in consumer mobile devices.

Description

As a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Evaluation & Field Test Intern, you will be on the front lines of testing and validating our location services. In this role, you will help us design and evaluate the next-generation location technologies powering future Apple products. You will combine high-precision GNSS and sensor fusion theory with rigorous real-world field evaluations to analyze performance and uncover critical user-experience gaps.

Responsibilities

Field Testing & Ground Truth: Designing and executing real-world field tests using tactical-grade reference systems (e.g., NovAtel SPAN, Oxford OXTS, U-blox) and RTK base stations to establish ground truth. Performance Analysis: Evaluating GNSS and sensor fusion performance in challenging environments to identify edge-case failure modes and root causes. Competitive Benchmarking: Conducting competitive tests against other devices and emerging technologies to analyze user-experience gaps. Data Automation: Developing and enhancing Python-based tooling to automate the parsing, analysis, and visualization of massive GNSS telemetry and sensor logs.