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Description
The Manufacturing Design Engineering (MDE) Manager leads a team of engineers accountable for developing key mechanical manufacturing processes across Apple's worldwide supply base. This is a hands-on leadership role requiring strong technical depth alongside the ability to manage people, influence cross-functional partners, and drive program outcomes at scale.
You will work closely with Industrial Design, Product Design, Operations, and global manufacturing partners to ensure that design intent is translated into robust, scalable production processes — from early prototype through mass production.
Responsibilities
Lead and Develop the Team: You hire, develop, and retain a high-performing team of Manufacturing Design Engineers setting clear performance expectations, providing direct feedback, and identifying capability gaps to address through hiring and structured development.
Own the Technical Standard: You define best-in-class manufacturing processes for equipment, consumables, key parameters, process setup, qualification, automation, and strategic R&D. You lead DFM reviews and design- to-manufacturing transitions, validate process feasibility before tooling or supplier commitments, and collaborate with Product and Industrial Designers to define part tolerances and specifications through demonstrated process capability.
Drive Supply Base Performance: Develop and document manufacturing processes, including parameters, consumables, and secondary operations, to meet specifications. Provide on-site technical leadership during development builds and production ramp. Collaborate with Global Supply Managers to define supply chain requirements and select premier equipment manufacturers and suppliers.
Champion Data-Driven Decisions: Establish a data-driven culture where every process decision is based on DOE, SPC, or capability analysis. Use yield bridges, process capability trends, and OEE data to proactively manage program performance and identify risks early.
Communicate and Influence: You clearly communicate at all levels. You deliver focused engineering updates and recommendations to senior and executive leadership. You represent the team's technical positions in design, supplier, and program reviews. You align Industrial Design, Product Design, Operations, and Supply Chain around a shared manufacturing strategy.
Process Domain Expertise: Your team has deep expertise in one or more domains below. You have practitioner-level credibility in at least one area and enough knowledge to guide engineers in all of them. CNC Machining: Milling, turning, fixtures, touch probing, HSM, cutter/coating development, cycle time reduction, SPC-based yield ownership. Surface Finishing: Blasting, tumbling, polishing, wet sanding, lapping, anodizing, and PVD to Apple cosmetic and yield standards. Glass Processing: Scribe/break, grinding, lapping, polishing, chemical strengthening, decoration, and functional coatings at production scale. Assembly: Welding, adhesive bonding, mechanical fit, equipment qualification, SPC-based yield improvement, and automation justification.
Leadership Expectations Lead by solving challenging engineering problems and influencing your team's thinking. Provide clear direction, align the team, and resolve cross-functional issues quickly in a fast paced NPI environment. Foster personal growth through direct feedback, meaningful assignments, and an inclusive environment that values diverse viewpoints. Communicate effectively at all levels, using data to support your conclusions. Invest in Apple's manufacturing capabilities through hiring, coaching, and process decisions.
Minimum Qualifications
12+ years of precision manufacturing engineering experience with demonstrated hands-on capability 5+ years of directly leading or managing engineering teams Deep expertise in at least one process domain: CNC Machining, Surface Finishing, Glass Processing, or Assembly Proficiency in DOE, Root Cause Analysis, SPC, Cp/Cpk, and PFMEA Experience managing programs across the full NPI lifecycle (Proto through MP) Comfortable working with a global supply chain and cross-functional partners ~35% domestic and international travel required B.S. in Mechanical, Manufacturing, or Materials Engineering; M.S. preferred
Preferred Qualifications
Experience with cosmetic consumer electronics or high-volume plastic / sheet metal products Track record of presenting technical strategy and program status to executive leadership Background in automation justification using line efficiency metrics (UPH, OEE, ROD) Experience setting supplier qualification standards and leading equipment development partnerships
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