Sensing Hardware - Algorithm Systems Engineering Director

Sensing Hardware - Algorithm Systems Engineering Director

Cupertino, California, United States Hardware

Join the Sensing Hardware Architecture team and define how billions of users interact with Apple's most iconic products, including iPhone, Apple Watch, and Vision Pro. Our team pioneers the sensor technologies that enable magical new experiences, turning physical actions like touch and motion into seamless digital responses. We are seeking a Director for our world‑class algorithms team—the group that develops and delivers the foundational algorithms that bring our sensor hardware to life.

Its unique strength lies in a pragmatic and forward‑thinking philosophy: we artfully blend state‑of‑the‑art AI/ML techniques with traditional signal processing and estimation theory to build the absolute best solution for every challenge. Whether the optimal approach is a classic algorithm, a deep neural network, or a sophisticated hybrid, our focus is always on delivering unparalleled performance and quality  embrace the most advanced tools from the AI/ML community to rapidly develop, optimize, and validate all of our solutions.

As the Director of this team, you will have a rare opportunity to navigate this dynamic technical landscape. You will set the vision for how we solve sensing problems, guiding your team to make critical architectural decisions that have a massive impact. Your leadership will directly influence the next generation of Apple products, deploying solutions at a scale that is second to none.

In this role, you will lead, grow, and mentor a world‑class team of algorithm engineers, fostering a culture of innovation and technical excellence. You will set the long‑term technical vision for sensing algorithms, charting the roadmap and guiding architectural decisions that balance state‑of‑the‑art AI/ML with proven signal processing techniques. Your leadership will span the entire development lifecycle—from early‑stage prototyping, analysis to defining system‑level specifications and delivering full algorithm solutions for deployment in production that ensure robust real‑world performance.

A critical component of this position is driving cross‑functional alignment, collaborating closely with partners in HW Engineering, Firmware, and Software to successfully integrate your team's solutions into sensor modules. To enable this work, you will also oversee the development of the critical software tool chains, methodologies, and validation infrastructure required for rapid algorithm development, rigorous testing, and efficient production deployment at massive scale.

• Lead and Mentor:
  Lead, grow, and mentor a team of highly skilled algorithm engineers. Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and innovative team culture focused on technical excellence.
• Define Technical Strategy:
  Drive the technology roadmap for sensing algorithms, identifying new opportunities and charting the course for future development, including the integration of AI/ML techniques.
• Drive Algorithm Development:
  Guide the entire algorithm lifecycle, from early‑stage prototyping and performance analysis to defining system‑level specifications that guarantee robust real‑world performance.
• Partner and Influence:
  Collaborate closely with cross‑functional partners in Electrical Engineering, Firmware, Software, and System Architecture. Drive consensus and negotiate requirements to ensure your team's algorithms are successfully integrated into state‑of‑the‑art sensor modules.
• Infrastructure & Toolchain development at Scale:
  Oversee the development of the software tool chains, methodologies, and validation infrastructure required for algorithm development, testing, and efficient production deployment at scale.

• BS/MS in a relevant technical discipline (e.g., Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Applied Math) or equivalent experience.
• 10+ years of industry experience in algorithm development, with a proven track record of shipping products.
• At least 5 years in a formal leadership role, with demonstrated experience in hiring, mentoring, and retaining top engineering talent.
• Deep expertise in one or more of…