Manufacturing Design Engineer (MDE) - Hardware Enclosures
Confirmed on the employer's own hiring board on Oct 19, 2026. First seen by Alion on Jun 12, 2025. Apple scores B on the Alion truth index.
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Job Summary:
The Apple Manufacturing Design Engineer (MDE) is accountable for driving the development of key mechanical manufacturing processes across Apple’s worldwide supply base. In this highly visible, hands-on role as the expert technical member of the Manufacturing Design Team you will have direct frequent communication and collaboration with Apple Industrial Design, Product Design, Manufacturing Design partners and worldwide suppliers.
Description
Apple MDE’s are extraordinary engineers that provide end to end manufacturing and process solutions for key design features. This includes manufacturing process development and capability (includes incorporating all aspects of equipment, consumables, key parameters, process setup, and qualification), selection and/or design of manufacturing equipment, automation, and strategic R&D.
- Define best-in-class processes to meet all Apple design and operational requirements
- Develop and document processes including all parameters, consumables and secondary operation requirements to meet defined specifications
- Work with Global Supply Managers to define and establish supply chain requirements utilizing selected equipment and manufacturing suppliers
- Provide leadership at manufacturing sites during development and product production ramp, and drive engineering issues to resolution
- Use data to drive process decisions, basic data analysis, DOEs, SPC, etc.
- Identify, research, develop, and qualify premier equipment manufacturers and suppliers
- Define part tolerance and specifications by demonstrating process capability to Product Designers and Industrial Designers
Lead process development/have expertise in one of the process development areas listed below:
- CNC machining - Develop all CNC milling and turning processes. Scope appropriate CNC equipment to be used, develop CNC fixtures, implement touch probing, lead the reduction of cycle time, development of advanced cutters and coatings, High Speed Machining implementation, support the programming and optimization of all CNC-related activities at contract manufacturers worldwide. Own yield improvement actions and process change decisions based on statistical process control (SPC) data analysis.
- Surface Finishing - Develop new processes in the area of blasting, tumbling, polishing, wet sanding, lapping, anodizing, and PVD. Ensure that quality and yield requirements are met.
- Glass Processing - Develop all processes for glass scribe/break, grinding, lapping, polishing, chemical strengthening, decoration and functional coatings (with inks, and other thin film deposition techniques etc). Ensure that quality and yield requirements are met.
- Assembly - Develop all assembly processes. Includes incorporating welding, gluing/adhesives, and mechanical fit based processes. Support qualification of equipment at suppliers, including detailed documentation of process parameters. Own yield improvement actions and process change decisions based on statistical process control (SPC) data analysis. Identify automation opportunities and justify automation projects based on automation line efficiency metrics.
- Painting - Develop all paint processes to achieve cosmetic and surface durability requirements. Scope and specify paint equipment, environmental clean room requirements, evaluate and select most appropriate paints and painting parameters to ensure quality and yield requirements are met.
Minimum Qualifications
3+ years of full time mechanical manufacturing experience required
BS, MS or PhD in mechanical, manufacturing or industrial engineering
25% domestic and international travel required
Preferred Qualifications
Demonstrate hands-on mechanical ability
Demonstrate excellent written and verbal interpersonal skills
Experience with highly cosmetic parts a plus as is experience in a manufacturing environment of consumer electronics or consumer plastic / sheet metal products
Be a self-starter by defining all engineering tasks to meet project objectives and have the ability to quickly learn about new processes with very little information provided