Software Engineer – Manufacturing Test Systems (Sensor)
Do you enjoy solving complex engineering challenges by writing software that interfaces directly with hardware systems? Are you passionate about test automation, data integrity, and smart control solutions at scale? At Apple, quality is built into everything we do. Our test engineers are essential to that mission, designing advanced test solutions that uphold the industry’s highest standards.
The Sensing Technology team develops breakthrough features like Face ID, Touch ID, and True Tone Display. We are looking for a software engineer with a deep understanding of instrumentation and algorithms, who can design robust software solutions to drive and optimize sensor test systems in mass production.
This role is ideal for engineers who are not only strong in software and instrumentation, but also motivated to diversify their technical expertise across optical, mechanical, and electrical domains. You’ll help drive seamless integration across Apple’s internal test infrastructure and external vendor ecosystems by building robust APIs that enable scalable collaboration and consistent execution across global manufacturing sites.
In this role, you will:
- Design and develop software to control sensor test stations, execute test flows, and collect high-fidelity measurement data
- Interface with complex instrumentation, implementing drivers and communication layers for reliable, low-latency data exchange
- Build and maintain algorithms for calibration, validation, and optimization, tailored to high-volume sensor testing
- Apply AI/ML or advanced signal processing techniques to enhance test coverage, accuracy, and yield performance
- Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams to develop test solutions that are mechanically, electrically, and software integrated
- Debug issues across the hardware-software boundary and support on-site system bring-up at manufacturing sites
- Contribute to system-level test architecture, improving scalability, maintainability, and long-term performance
- BS or MS in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, or a related field
- 3+ years of experience in software development for manufacturing test, automation, instrumentation, or embedded systems
- Proficient in Python and C/C++, with hands-on experience developing software for hardware control and test automation
- Good understanding of electronic instrumentation and communication protocols (e.g., DMMs, oscilloscope, UART, I2C, SPI, USB)
- Demonstrated ability to implement complex algorithms for calibration, signal processing, or control
- Proven ability to collaborate cross-functionally with electrical, mechanical, and manufacturing teams
- Experience designing robust, scalable software for high-throughput production environments
- Familiarity with sensor technologies (e.g., optical, capacitive, MEMS) and their testing challenges
- Exposure to AI/ML frameworks (e.g., scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch) and deploying models in production
- Experience collaborating with external vendors to integrate test solutions
- Background in instrumentation design, real-time systems, or test automation platforms
- Interest in expanding technical breadth into optics, mechanical systems, and electrical hardware