Apple

Senior Hardware Systems Engineer- Data Center HWE

Apple$160K — $190K *
Enterprise Technology
11 - 15 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Systems Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering, or a related field.
  • 12+ years of systems engineering experience on complex, multi-domain hardware programs that have shipped.
  • Proven experience with technical documentation including requirements specs and verification records.
  • Strong communication skills for driving alignment across diverse technical teams.
  • Preferred: Master's degree in a relevant engineering discipline.

Responsibilities

  • Own the system requirements, documentation, and evidence of functionality.
  • Collaborate with architecture to translate platform goals into hardware requirements.
  • Deliver clear, actionable requirements to multiple technical teams.
  • Identify potential integration issues early in the design process.
  • Lead the requirements process from concept through to sustaining phase.

Benefits

  • Opportunity to work on cutting-edge systems across multiple technical domains.
  • Collaborative environment with focus on driving alignment and decision-making.
  • Chance to leverage past experience in dynamic industries like aerospace or defense.
Full Job Description
Description

You will own the system as a whole: the requirements that define it, the interfaces that connect it, the documentation that captures it, and the evidence that proves every part of it works.

You'll work with our architecture team to turn high-level platform goals into a complete, verifiable set of hardware requirements. Then you'll deliver those requirements to the teams responsible for each piece: custom PCBs, rack enclosures, power delivery and energy storage, networking, data storage, mechanical systems, firmware, and software. You won't build each of those pieces, but you'll know each domain well enough to write requirements they can actually build to, catch problems at boundaries before they become integration surprises, and get every team aligned on what the system needs.

Our platforms integrate custom, semi-custom, and off-the-shelf hardware across multiple programs running in parallel. Requirements take shape during the architecture and high-level design process, and one of the most important things this role does is pull that work as early as possible. A requirement discovered during detailed design is expensive, and one discovered during validation testing is far more disruptive. Your job is to lead the requirements process at the system level from the very start: make decisions, document them with enough rigor that a sustaining team can depend on them years from now, and keep the whole picture in focus while everyone else is heads-down in their domain.

The right person for this role has done it before, though not necessarily in a datacenter. We'd rather hire someone who has already lived through a fundamental shift in what a system needs to be. Fields like defense, aerospace, automotive, and industrial systems have been solving exactly this class of problem for decades. What we need is someone who can write a requirement that can be tested, own a room full of specialists and drive them to agreement, and see three moves ahead when a change in one sub-system creates a problem somewhere else. This is a role for someone who measures success in decisions that stick and hardware that ships.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Systems Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering, or a related field

12+ years of systems engineering experience on complex, multi-domain hardware programs that have shipped

A track record of owning system-level technical documentation, including requirements specs, interface definitions, verification and validation records, traceability matrices, and trade study documentation, through formal review and approval across a full program from concept to sustaining handoff

Strong written and verbal communication skills, with experience driving technical alignment across hardware, software, and mechanical teams at all levels

Preferred Qualifications

Experience writing and managing interface control documentation and system specifications across multi-vendor hardware integrations

Experience breaking system requirements into sub-system allocations and building V&V strategies that close at the system level

Systems engineering experience on programs in defense, aerospace, automotive, semiconductor capital equipment, or similar fields where existing standards didn't apply and specs had to be written from scratch

Working knowledge of a recognized systems engineering framework or handbook (for example INCOSE, ISO/IEC 15288, or an equivalent internal program standard)

Deep familiarity with high-power, complex power delivery systems: power architecture, power budgeting, and system-level power integrity

Familiarity with system-level signal integrity for high-speed digital interconnects

Experience with system reliability engineering, including FMEA/FMECA, reliability allocation, and failure mode analysis across complex integrated systems

Working knowledge of AI/ML accelerator interconnects, including PCIe Gen5/6, CXL, NVLink, or comparable high-bandwidth fabrics

Experience defining data storage requirements across latency tiers, from fast local storage through disaggregated or tiered architectures

Familiarity with rack and row-level thermal management, including direct liquid cooling and immersion cooling tradeoffs

Experience managing suppliers as a technical owner, holding them to requirements and managing interface compliance

Experience assessing the systems engineering coverage of an active program, identifying gaps in process or documentation, and driving practical improvements that work within the constraints of a real team on a real schedule

Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or Systems Engineering

About Apple

Apple is a corporation that designs, manufactures, and markets mobile communication and media devices, personal computers, portable digital music players, and sells a variety of related software, services, peripherals, networking solutions, and third-party digital content and applications. Apple provides many products and services, including iPhone; iPad; iPod; Mac; Apple TV; a portfolio of consumer and professional software applications; the iOS and OS X operating systems; iCloud; and accessories, service, and support offerings. It sells its products worldwide through its retail stores, online stores, direct sales force and third-party cellular network carriers, wholesalers, retailers, and value-added resellers to the consumer and also sells third-party iPhone, iPad, Mac and iPod compatible products, including application software and accessories through its online and retail stores. Introduced in 1984, the Macintosh was the first widely sold personal computer with a graphical user interface (GUI). That feature and others such as an improved floppy drive design and a low-cost hard drive that made data retrieval faster helped Apple cultivate a reputation for innovation. Apple was named as the most admired company in the United States in 2008 and in the world from 2008 to 2012 by the Fortune magazine. The company was founded by Steven Paul Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Gerald Wayne on April 1, 1976, and is headquartered in Cupertino, California.

Apple Careers

Join Apple, a place where extraordinary people gather to do their best work. Our ever-expanding global team is at the forefront of innovation and leadership in the tech industry. At Apple, we're not just building products—we're crafting the kind of wonder that revolutionizes entire industries. It's the diversity of our people and their ideas that inspires the innovation that runs through everything we do, from amazing technology to industry-leading environmental efforts. Work You’ll Do Embark on a journey with Apple’s market-leading team to help some of the world’s most influential companies navigate their path to digital mastery with cutting-edge technology and services. Transform industries and touch lives with your unique ideas at Apple. Here, you’ll lead through a unique position at the intersection of technology, creativity, and robust industry expertise. Collaborate with a global team of professionals who are at the top of their game in technology and design. Apple isn’t just a company, it’s a community of innovators and passionate thinkers. Introducing the Apple Innovation and Leadership Initiative We are building a market-leading team to drive our efforts in delivering groundbreaking solutions and services. At Apple, job opportunities are abundant, offering you the chance to explore diverse roles from engineering to marketing, all designed to empower your career growth. Do Innovative Work Join the largest group of creative and technical experts in the world—professionals dedicated to redefining what’s possible through technology and innovation. Deliver targeted solutions through a depth and breadth of expertise that’s unmatched, driving forward our commitment to excellence and leadership in every project we undertake. Be Part of a Great Team Engage in a wide range of projects utilizing Apple’s technology and resources. Harness the unparalleled capabilities, global scale, and joint solution development that only Apple can offer. Future-Proof Your Career Advance your career with limitless opportunities at Apple. Go as far as your ambition takes you with unmatched training, development, and certification support. Explore Discover how Apple is leading the way in tech innovation: [With iOS] Businesses can streamline operations and enhance customer interactions... READ MORE Smart home technology integration that sets the standard for convenience and security... READ MORE The Apple Experience Our combined service capabilities, global scale, and joint solution development help clients overcome challenges and lead transformation in their industries. Clients worldwide look to Apple for new strategies and solutions that drive growth and innovation in the digital era. Stay Connected Join Our Team Search open positions that match your skills and interests. We look for passionate, curious, creative, and solution-driven team players. Whether you’re seeking a professional role, an internship, or a leadership position, Apple offers a variety of employment opportunities. SEARCH APPLE JOBS Keep Up to Date Stay ahead with career tips, insider perspectives, and industry-leading insights you can put to use today—all from the people who work here. READ CAREERS BLOG Job Alert Emails Personalize your subscription to receive job alerts, latest news, and insider tips tailored to your preferences. See what exciting and rewarding opportunities await at Apple, a company committed to diversity, innovation, and leadership. Explore job opportunities, employment benefits, and the culture of growth and innovation at Apple. Prepare your resume, hone your interview skills, and ready yourself for a career at one of the most prestigious companies in the world. Join us in pushing the boundaries of what is possible.
Learn more about Apple
Size
154,000 employees
Market Cap
$2,074.3 billion
Industry
Net Income
$63.9 billion
Founded
1976
5 Year Trend
+11.5%
Revenue
$294.1 billion
NASDAQ

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