Hardware Reliability Engineer - Materials

Apple

Apple

Other Engineering

Cupertino, CA, USA

USD 147,400-272,100 / year + Equity

Posted on Mar 20, 2026
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Are you passionate about the development, characterization, and failure analysis of innovative materials? Do you ever wonder what goes into creating amazing Apple product user experiences? The engineers in Apple’s Materials Reliability Group assess material-level reliability risks and have an influential role in guiding materials and finishes toward reliable designs for new product development. Through deep investigation and collaboration, we strive to create a customer experience of enduring product quality. We are looking for an experienced individual who is passionate about: understanding how materials fail, driving test development to characterize failure risk, diving into failure root cause analysis, and advocating for material reliability improvements. Come join our team!
As a Materials Reliability Engineer, you will assess material-level reliability risks of new product designs; and work with materials engineering and process teams to perform failure analysis, and to push for design and process mitigations and controls.
  • Identify high risk material failure modes early in the design cycle, utilizing tools like Failure Mode Effects Analysis (FMEA)
  • Develop new test stress conditions based on material Physics of Failures, expected user behaviors, expected field stresses
  • Assess product-facing reliability through stress test data and material understanding
  • Support failure analysis and provide design direction based on evaluation of test data and failure root cause understanding
  • Collaborate with design and process engineering teams to improve material reliability performance
  • Identify and implement necessary equipment and specifications that are critical to validating material performance and product reliability
  • Support vendor testing by collaborating with global teams and traveling internationally to implement reliability test solutions
  • Manage multiple projects simultaneously while maintaining high reliability standards and fast-paced testing timelines
  • Bachelor’s Degree in technical field (Engineering, Physics, Materials Science, etc) with 3+ years of industry experience
  • Understanding of how material properties, processing, and structure impact product performance. Our team works on a range of materials. An expertise in a particular material area is not required, as long as you are able to dive deep into learning about a new material space quickly
  • Experience working in, or collaborating with, a lab environment with a focus on understanding root cause of material failures
  • Experience using statistical data analysis, and the ability to communicate results from analyses clearly
  • Ability to identify failure root cause and potential corrective actions, utilizing results from multiple data sources
  • Ability to travel internationally without restriction as needed (less than 20% of the year)
  • M.S. or PhD in Materials Science, Materials Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering
  • Familiarity with failure characterizations techniques (Optical Microscopy, X-ray/CT, Scanning Electron Microscopy/Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy, etc.), and the ability to use failure analysis methodology to derive failure root cause
  • Experience with Failure Mode Effects Analysis (FMEA) and reliability prediction modeling
  • Experience with statistical tools such as Weibull, JMP, or familiarity with accelerated test models
  • Familiarity with one of the following material types: anodized aluminum, titanium, precision glass, PVD coatings, optical materials
  • Interest in developing new tests and methodologies for replicating and validating complex failure modes
  • Collaborative approach to working with other teams
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 $147,400 and $272,100, 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.

Apple is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to inclusion and diversity. We seek to promote equal opportunity for all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, Veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics. Learn more about your EEO rights as an applicant.

Apple accepts applications to this posting on an ongoing basis.

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