Hardware System Engineer – iPhone System Technologies — SoC

Summary

People here at Apple don’t just build products – we build the kind of wonder that has revolutionized entire industries. It’s the diversity of those people and their ideas that inspires the innovation that runs through everything we do, from amazing technology to industry-leading environmental efforts. Join Apple, and help us leave the world better than we found it.
Join our cutting-edge iPhone Hardware Engineering team as a System Hardware Engineer and help shape the future of iPhone technology. We are looking for a self driven, solution-oriented engineer who is passionate about advancing SOC system technologies. In this role, you'll work with a collaborative team of experts to analyze, characterize, and validate key features related to SOC design in iPhone systems. You will play a critical part in optimizing SoC architecture and system integration solutions for the whole iPhone product line.

Description

You will lead the development of complex iPhone SoC and system validation strategies and advanced debugging. You will play a pivotal, global role from architecture definition to mass production, directly influencing SoC system design and quality to deliver optimal solutions for iPhone’s overall success. This position requires collaboration with cross-functional teams and includes opportunities for domestic and international travel.

Responsibilities

• Lead system-level SoC bring-up, functional validation, and stress testing on iPhone hardware platforms from early prototypes to mass production.
• Perform deep hardware/software debug and root cause analysis to resolve complex silicon and system issues efficiently.
• Develop and execute comprehensive system SoC validation plans, leveraging deep understanding of SoC architecture, feature definition, and system design.
• Analyze factory and validation data to identify and resolve silicon/system issues, inform strategic design and system optimization efforts.
• Drive power, performance, and thermal characterization and optimization to deliver industry-leading user experiences.
• Collaborate closely with cross-functional hardware, software, and silicon teams across global sites to define validation strategies and meet critical product milestones.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical field.
• 5+ years of industry experience in system-level SoC bring-up, validation, and debugging.
• Strong understanding of SoC architecture (e.g., ARM-based systems), including hardware/software interaction, boot flows, and low-level debug techniques.
• Hands-on experience with hardware lab tools such as oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, power meters, and thermal chambers for SoC characterization and debug.

Preferred Qualifications

• Proven experience with kernel- and device driver–level debugging, including use of relevant debug and validation tools.
• Proficiency in scripting and programming languages such as Python, TCL, or similar, to develop test plan, enable test automation and data analysis.
• Strong familiarity with mobile hardware platform design, including power delivery systems (PDN, PMIC) and high-speed, low-speed, and debug interfaces such as USB, MIPI, UART, and JTAG.
• Self-motivated and able to work independently in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and interpersonal skills, with experience working across global, cross-functional teams.

Apple is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to inclusion and diversity, and thus we treat all applicants fairly and equally. Apple is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to applicants with physical and mental disabilities.