Operations NPI Test Engineer

Operations NPI Test Engineer

Imagine what you could do here. At Apple, new ideas have a way of becoming extraordinary products, services, and customer experiences very quickly. Bring passion and dedication to your job and there's no telling what you could accomplish. The people here at Apple don't just create products — they create the kind of wonder that's 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. With the explosive growth of iPhone business we are creating new opportunities for individuals to work on the most exciting new products at Apple.

We are seeking an individual with strong Test Engineering skills. You will be based in India and will have an active engagement with the hardware and Software Design and Operations teams in Apple.

Responsibilities:

• Mechanical Engineer focused on consumer electronic manufacturing test, involved in the planning and execution of New Product Introductions to Apple global manufacturing sites.
• Work closely with Hardware Test and Automation teams to ensure the robotics, vision systems, fixtures, and processes required for the New Products meet the standards expected in a high-volume manufacturing environment. Interface with System Integrators, Equipment Vendors, Contract Manufacturers and Automation Suppliers on a regular basis. Provide direction and mentorship to them and be the technical leader and driver. Serving as a technical resource to other engineering groups and project leaders.
• Review fixture and robotic cell designs, fabrication processes, mechanical station bring-up and cross-vendor correlation studies. Utilize statistical tools such as GR&R, SPC and CPK to ensure fixtures and automation solutions are scalable and continue to perform reliably once qualified. Qualify and rate both vendor and automation system performance for mass production deployment.
• Perform Design for Manufacturing (DFM) assessments, technical feedback and error correction with a focus on robotics integration and vision-based inspection systems. Work across all phases of a product from concept to production. Provide early and ongoing manufacturing involvement to ensure new product test stations and automation solutions are designed in a logical and cost-effective manner, incorporating FMEA and product design targets using the Engineering Requirements Specification (ERS).
• Conduct failure analysis and mechanical/automation issue resolution, driving closure of potential gaps and correlation issues between tester suppliers, automation vendors, and contract manufacturers. Provide robotics capability, machine vision expertise and product knowledge to regional test teams to ensure readiness for new products. Support ad-hoc responses on robotics and vision related issues with respect to technically complex stations, fixture cosmetics, tolerance stack, and/or station stability.
• Communicate effectively in a worldwide environment. Prepare and present concise Test & Automation Engineering program status updates to the Exec team on a weekly basis. Responsible for driving and ensuring efficient and robust manufacturing test and automation solutions in new products. Focus on identifying deficiencies in mechanical and automation processes and developing improvements to support the next generation display technologies across a range of Apple products and systems.

Minimum Qualifications:

• BS or MS degree in engineering such as Mechanical, Electric, Manufacturing, or equivalent.
• 9+ years of mechanical engineer experience in high volume mobile device manufacturing in any of assembly, inspection, test station design, test development, qualification, maintenance and / or automation equipment.
• Experienced in working with cross functional teams such as hardware design, system teams, capital equipment, quality and process engineering. Also collaborating with system integrators, fixture manufactures and contract manufacturers.
• Knowledgable of tester qualification requirements including fabrication, calibration, interpretation in GR&R, CPK, design of experiments and failure analysis as well as correlation analysis.
• Ability and willingness work from supplier sites 80% of the time.
• Ability to travel to global manufacturing sites to work with regional test teams at key points in the product development cycle. (Up to 25% international travel)

Preferred Qualifications:

• Proven ability to work independently under high pressure and thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
• Hands-on experience with industrial robotics platforms (ABB, Fanuc, KUKA, UR) and machine vision systems (Cognex, Keyence, or similar).
• Designed and deployed automation solutions including pick-and-place systems and vision-guided inspection to improve manufacturing efficiency and quality.
• Strong knowledge of statistical validation tools (GR&R, SPC, DOE, CPK) to ensure scalability and reliability of automation systems.
• Project management and people management experience with excellent interpersonal skills both oral and written English.