Reliability User Research Engineering Manager
Software Engineering, Other Engineering
Cupertino, CA, USA
USD 198,300-342,800 / year + Equity
Posted on Jun 25, 2026
At Apple, we don't just follow industry standards, we push beyond them. The Reliability organization evaluates how well every Apple product holds up to the demands of real-world use. The Reliability Labs User Research team studies how people interact with our hardware products in these tough scenarios. We turn those findings into the specs, test strategies, and design success criteria that engineers and designers depend on across Apple's entire product lineup. In this role, you'll collaborate with diverse hardware teams to ensure our products are not only durable and reliable, but also built to exceed expectations—and our research is where that work begins. We run in-person studies and surveys to understand user and device behavior. If you're energized by leading talented researchers and turning research insights into better, more durable products, we'd love to hear from you.
As the User Research Engineering Manager, you'll lead a team of researchers with expertise spanning mechanical engineering, materials science, human factors, and statistics. You'll set research strategy and grow your team, delivering clear, actionable insights that inform critical decisions across Apple Hardware, products used by millions around the world. As a leader of this group, you will guide your team through every stage of their research—coaching, owning the hard calls, and stepping in when your technical expertise is needed. The result is clear and data-backed guidance that directly shapes how Apple designs and validates its products. This role sits at the intersection of multiple disciplines, requiring you to collaborate with highly technical cross-functional partners, adapt quickly to new domains, and balance a variety of projects simultaneously. Success here means leading with equal parts curiosity, critical thinking, and the ability to translate complex findings into clear, impactful recommendations—all while building a team culture grounded in ethical research and continuous growth.
- Lead, develop, and grow the team—setting direction, coaching researchers, and fostering a collaborative, high-trust culture.
- Set research strategy and priorities across multiple concurrent studies, balancing research needs against product schedules.
- Provide technical leadership as a subject-matter expert in one or more core disciplines—elevating study design, statistical and qualitative analysis, and bias reduction.
- Drive the team to translate complex datasets into compelling presentations and actionable recommendations for cross-functional partners and leadership.
- Partner closely with designers, engineers, and cross-functional teams to align research with product goals and shape test strategies.
- Champion ethical, rigorous, and inclusive research practices, keeping the human experience and Apple quality front and center.
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Physics, Human Factors, Ergonomics, Biomechanics, Human-Computer Interaction, Industrial Engineering, or a closely related field.
- 3+ years of experience in a people-management role of technical teams.
- Strong communication, interpersonal skills, and attention to detail, with the ability to present findings clearly to multidisciplinary teams.
- Proven ability to conduct research experiments to inform engineering decisions.
- Master's or PhD in Mechanical Engineering, Physics, Human Factors, Ergonomics, Biomechanics, Human-Computer Interaction, Industrial Engineering, or a closely related field.
- Track record of building and developing high-performing technical teams, setting vision and strategy while coaching individuals and earning credibility with deep technical experts.
- Experience using AI or Large Language Models (LLMs) for data processing and analysis.
- Proven ability to design and conduct rigorous user studies for consumer product usability evaluation, using robust experimental designs and scientific methods.
- Mixed methods expertise, combining quantitative and qualitative research approaches.
- Experience with human characterization methods