Apple

Wireless PHY Systems Engineer

Apple$130K — $180K *
Telecommunications & Hardware
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree with 10+ years of relevant experience
  • MSEE/Ph.D. in electrical engineering or equivalent with significant experience
  • Strong mastery of complex wireless architectures and cross-layer dependencies
  • Proficiency in MATLAB and C/C++ for system modeling and simulation
  • Experience with field data processing and visualization of performance metrics
  • Familiarity with analog/RF impairments in wireless systems
  • Demonstrated application of AI/ML methods in wireless systems

Responsibilities

  • Lead research, modeling, and simulation of sophisticated wireless systems
  • Collaborate with engineers across multiple disciplines to develop physical-layer features
  • Apply AI/ML and classical methods to enhance simulation fidelity and performance
  • Influence chip architecture decisions based on simulation results
  • Utilize large-scale datasets to assess performance metrics
  • Conduct FPGA/silicon bring-up and PHY/MAC testing
  • Present research findings to both technical and non-technical audiences

Benefits

  • Opportunity to work on products impacting hundreds of millions of users
  • Collaborative environment at the intersection of theory and application
  • Engagement with cutting-edge technology in wireless systems
  • Exposure to interdisciplinary collaboration with experts
  • Professional growth through access to research and innovation initiatives
Full Job Description
In this role, you will drive end-to-end simulation and algorithm development for complex wireless systems, spanning Bluetooth and UWB protocol stacks, propagation channel modeling, RF/antenna behavior and PHY & MAC protocols. You will bring deep technical expertise, scientific rigor, and a forward-looking perspective - including the application of AI/ML methods - to solve some of the hardest wireless systems challenges in the industry.\n\nThis role is ideal for those who thrive at the boundary of theory and silicon, and who wants their work to reach hundreds of millions of people through world-class consumer products.

As a Wireless PHY Systems Engineer, you will lead the research, modeling, and simulation of sophisticated wireless systems across the full signal chain. You will work at the intersection of algorithm invention, system-level analysis, and hardware realization - collaborating with PHY/algorithm engineers, analog and digital designers, and firmware/software teams to develop physical-layer features for next-generation SoC designs. You will apply AI/ML-driven approaches alongside classical signal processing methods to push the boundaries of simulation fidelity, algorithm performance, and system understanding. Your work will directly influence chip architecture decisions and the wireless capabilities of future Apple products.

Bachelor's degree with 10+ years of relevant experience. Strong systems-level mastery of complex wireless architectures, including the ability to reason rigorously about cross-layer dependencies between RF, PHY, MAC, and higher protocol layers. Extensive hands-on software programming skills for system modeling and simulation, with required proficiency in MATLAB and C/C++. Experience with fixed-point design and RTL vector generation. Experience collecting, processing, and visualizing large-scale field and simulation datasets, including performance metrics such as measurement accuracy, latency, and throughput. Familiarity with analog/RF impairments common in wireless systems (e.g., phase noise, IQ imbalance, nonlinearity). Experience with or knowledge of wireless standards such as Bluetooth, Ultra-Wideband (UWB), or other wireless protocols. Experience in lab FPGA/silicon bring-up, PHY/RF/MAC testing, and use of RF lab equipment.

MSEE/Ph.D. in electrical engineering, Digital Communications, Signal Processing, or equivalent with 10+ years of relevant experience. Demonstrated experience applying AI/ML methods to wireless systems - such as learned channel estimation, AI-driven receiver design, neural network-based signal detection, or ML-assisted simulation data analysis. Proficiency with Python and data science/ML libraries (e.g., NumPy, PyTorch, scikit-learn) for simulation automation and AI-assisted analysis workflows. Experience with High-Level Synthesis (HLS) tools for algorithm-to-hardware translation. Prior engagement with wireless standards organizations or industry consortia (e.g., IEEE 802.15, Bluetooth SIG, FiRa Consortium). Experience with simulation automation, regression frameworks, or CI/CD pipelines for large-scale system simulation. Track record of technical publications, patents, or contributions to the broader wireless research community. Exceptional communication skills with the ability to present complex research findings and system trade-offs to diverse technical and non-technical audiences.

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

Similar Jobs

More Jobs at Apple

More Telecommunications & Hardware Jobs

Find similar Wireless PHY Systems Engineer jobs: