Manufacturing Design Engineer- Assembly
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The Apple Manufacturing Design Engineer (MDE) is accountable for owning the development and implementation of innovative manufacturing processes across Apple’s worldwide supply base. In this highly collaborative role, you will work closely with Apple Industrial Design, Product Design, and Manufacturing Design partners and our worldwide suppliers. This role is empowered to bring creativity to Apple’s manufacturing approach, enabling us to deliver our best work to as many customers as possible.
This role is a part of collaborative environment contributing to the creation, evaluation, and implementation of end-to-end manufacturing solutions for Apple’s iPhone enclosures. You will collaborate closely with cross-functional stakeholders in Quality Engineering, Global Supply Management, Product Design, and Industrial Design in order to ensure our manufacturing solutions meet our product quality, cost, yield, capacity, schedule, and environmental goals.
We seek an individual who will:
- Evaluate product and industrial design goals to understand the dimensional, cosmetic, and functional priorities for the product
- Collaborate with Global Supply Managers and Apple’s manufacturing suppliers to align on a manufacturing development strategy with clear goals, deliverables, and schedule
- Identify and validate suitable fabrication equipment and processes to meet all Apple design and operational requirements
- Develop and document processes, including all parameters, consumables, and secondary operation requirements to meet defined specifications
- Conduct process optimization DOE’s, using data-driven and hands-on approaches together to find solutions to complex challenges
- Communicate ongoing process development status to cross-functional teams and lead discussions to align design requirements with manufacturing capability
- Travel within India to support manufacturing partner sites and collaborate with in-region team members
- Familiarity with a phase gate product development approach
You may be asked to lead development in one or more of the following areas:
- Assembly - Develop all assembly processes. Includes incorporating welding, gluing/adhesives, and mechanical fit based processes. Support qualification of equipment at suppliers, including detailed documentation of process parameters. Own yield improvement actions and process change decisions based on statistical process control (SPC) data analysis. Identify automation opportunities and support automation projects based on automation line efficiency metrics.
- Develop fully automated SPM or integrated assembly automation in line with multiple manufacturing processes (gluing, laser welding, mechanical fastening, riveting, film lamination, spray coating, auto-wiping)
- Extensive knowledge in design of automation/equipment including mechanical/electrical component selection, mechanical/structural design of machine, electrical diagram and routing, layout and part flow design, fixture design, robot arm integration, CCD programming, PLC programming, running automation simulations, understanding of industrial safety standards for equipment
- Drive entire development cycle of equipment including: RFQ, ROI calculation, prototype machine design, DOE, production machine BOM finalization, DFMEA/PFMEA, FAT/SAT, safety evaluations, installation/operational/production qualification, maintenance, documentation and implementation, CT/OEE optimization, flexible/modular design for high YoY re-use
- 5+ years of experience in high-volume mechanical product development, manufacturing engineering, tooling engineering, high-precision fabrication, or similar roles
- BS or higher in mechanical, manufacturing, industrial engineering, or related fields
- Hands-on experience in the following expertise: robotics, laser etching, laser welding, adhesive dispensing, potting, mechanical fastening, automation
- Understanding core principles of fixture and automation design, including the use of design software and FEA for stress/structural analysis
- Understanding core principles of Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing
- Understanding core principles of Data Analysis and Design of Experiments
- Willingness and ability to travel domestically up to 75%
- Hands-on approach to engineering and problem-solving
- A quick learner who approaches problems flexibly and proactively identifies solutions in the face of challenges
- Strong ability to influence using clear and concise communication skills to make data-driven manufacturing decisions
- Applies innovative approach to problem-solving by demonstrating past experiences
- A passion for manufacturing and engineering excellence
- Unwillingness to compromise on quality and customer satisfaction
- Experience working with OEMs and Contract Manufacturers in the Consumer Electronics Industry is a plus