Prototyping Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

The Home Hardware team is looking for a highly motivated and creative Electrical Engineer to help define, prototype, and build the future of Apple home product concepts. In this 0-to-1 role, you will be at the forefront of early-stage product exploration, operating at the intersection of hardware, software, and user experience. You will work with a diverse, cross-functional team of mechanical engineers, software developers, and industrial designers to architect complex systems, spin up rapid proof-of-concept hardware, and evaluate the technologies that will enable entirely new, accessible, and intuitive experiences in our customers' personal spaces.
Description
As a Home Prototyping System Engineer, you will be responsible for the electrical definition and rapid realization of early-stage concepts. Your day-to-day work will span high-level system architecture to hands-on bench-level prototyping.
You will research and select novel sensors, compute modules, power electronics, and electromechanical technologies, driving the electrical architecture from a blank whiteboard to a fully functioning prototype. You will need to constantly balance performance, power, thermals, acoustic noise, and safety-ensuring our products bring surprise and delight to customers.","responsibilities":"Defining end-to-end electrical architectures for novel systems
Designing and building rapid proof-of-concept electronics, including schematic capture, component selection, and guiding PCB layout.
Collaborating closely with Industrial Design, Mechanical Engineering, Software and AIML teams to negotiate complex system trade-offs and integrate electronics seamlessly into physical models.
Bringing up new prototype boards, debugging complex mixed-signal systems, and integrating edge compute, motor drivers, and high-bandwidth sensors (vision, audio, LiDAR, IMU).
Evaluating and benchmarking new silicon, sensors, and power technologies from internal teams and external vendors.
Writing basic bring-up code or scripts (C/C++ or Python) to validate hardware functionality before handing it off to core software teams.
Fostering an inclusive and deeply collaborative environment where diverse perspectives are leveraged to solve deeply technical, unprecedented problems.
Preferred Qualifications
MS or PhD in electrical engineering or similar field
Experience leading teams through product development cycle from concept development to production bring up
Large scale data analysis and knowledge of statistical techniques.
Excellent communication skills, with the ability to distill
Minimum Qualifications
BS in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or equivalent practical experience.
5+ years of industry experience in hardware design, specifically in rapid prototyping, architecture, or R&D environments.
Strong electrical engineering fundamentals across digital, analog, mixed-signal, and power delivery (DC-DC) design.
Proven experience in system-level architecture and component selection for embedded systems, consumer electronics, or electromechanical systems.
Hands-on experience with sensor integration, microcontrollers/SoCs, and standard digital interfaces (I2C, SPI, UART, MIPI, USB, PCIe).
Proficiency with schematic capture tools (e.g., Cadence Concept/Allegro, Altium) and a solid understanding of PCB layout principles for signal integrity and power delivery.
Extensive experience in a lab environment: board bring-up, debugging, and using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and multimeters.
Pay & Benefits
At Apple, base pay is one part of our total compensation package and is determined within a range. This provides the opportunity to progress as you grow and develop within a role. The base pay range for this role is between $150,400 and $277,600, and your base pay will depend on your skills, qualifications, experience, and location.
Apple employees also have the opportunity to become an Apple shareholder through participation in Apple's discretionary employee stock programs. Apple employees are eligible for discretionary restricted stock unit awards, and can purchase Apple stock at a discount if voluntarily participating in Apple's Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You'll also receive benefits including: Comprehensive medical and dental coverage, retirement benefits, a range of discounted products and free services, and for formal education related to advancing your career at Apple, reimbursement for certain educational expenses - including tuition. Additionally, this role might be eligible for discretionary bonuses or commission payments as well as relocation. Learn more about Apple Benefits
Note: Apple benefit, compensation and employee stock programs are subject to eligibility requirements and other terms of the applicable plan or program.