System Test Engineer, 5G/6G Wireless Interoperability - Wireless Technologies and Ecosystems
Apple
Quality Assurance
San Diego, CA, USA
USD 171,600-302,200 / year + Equity
Posted on Jun 2, 2026
At Apple, we push the boundaries of what's possible — and that starts with the engineers who test it. As a System Test Engineer on our Wireless Technologies team, you'll play a pivotal role in ensuring Apple devices deliver seamless, world-class 5G and 6G connectivity across every network, every carrier, and every corner of the globe. If you thrive at the intersection of deep protocol knowledge and cutting-edge innovation, this is where your expertise will shape products used by hundreds of millions of people.
In this role, you will be at the forefront of validating next-generation wireless connectivity on Apple products through rigorous interoperability testing across 5G and emerging 6G standards. You will collaborate with cross-functional teams spanning silicon, software, and RF engineering to design and execute system-level test strategies that span physical layer performance to end-to-end protocol behavior. Working with global carrier partners and industry standards, you'll leverage AI/ML-driven tooling and scalable automation frameworks to uncover issues early and drive quality to the highest bar — all in pursuit of delivering the best possible wireless experience to Apple customers worldwide.
- Design, develop, and execute system-level interoperability test plans for 5G NR (Sub-6 and FR2/mmWave) and emerging 6G technologies across commercial and lab network environments
- Analyze 3GPP protocol stacks and physical layer behavior to identify failure modes and drive root cause analysis on complex wireless issues
- Build and maintain automated test frameworks and AI/ML-assisted diagnostic tools to accelerate test coverage and reduce manual effort
- Partner with carrier and chipset partners to define interoperability test scenarios and reproduce field-reported issues in a controlled lab setting
- Collaborate with hardware, software, and RF teams to validate new device features against evolving 3GPP specifications
- Triage, document, and track defects with clear technical detail, working closely with engineering teams to drive issues to resolution
- Contribute to the development of internal test infrastructure, signal analysis pipelines, and reporting dashboards
- Stay current with 3GPP Release roadmaps and proactively identify testing gaps as standards evolve
- Master's degree (MS) in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Telecommunications, or a related field
- 3+ years of hands-on experience in wireless system testing, interoperability testing, or protocol validation
- Deep knowledge of 3GPP standards including 5G NR physical layer (FR1 and FR2/mmWave), RRC, NAS, and related protocols
- Proficiency in scripting and automation (Python, shell, or similar) for test development and result analysis
- Experience with AI/ML tools for test data analysis, anomaly detection, or tool development
- Familiarity with lab test equipment such as network emulators, protocol analyzers, and signal analyzers
- Experience with 6G research concepts, IMT-2030 frameworks, or pre-standard wireless technologies
- Hands-on experience with carrier interoperability testing and field trial environments
- Knowledge of 5G core network architecture (5GC), network slicing, and SA/NSA deployment modes
- Experience with iOS or embedded platform debugging and log analysis tools
- Background in RF performance testing including beam management, MIMO, and FR2 mmWave characterization
- Familiarity with test management and CI/CD pipelines for continuous test integration
- Strong cross-functional communication skills with the ability to present technical findings to diverse audiences