Sensing Hardware - Mechanical Modeling and Simulation; FEA Engineering Director

Sensing Hardware - Mechanical Modeling and Simulation (FEA) Engineering Director

San Francisco Bay Area, California, United States Hardware

Apple's Hardware Technology organization is seeking a visionary Engineering Director to spearhead the use of computational simulation to design and validate the next generation of sensing hardware. This role requires a leader who can combine deep expertise in mechanical simulation with a strategic vision for automation and the application of AI/ML. Your team's primary mission will be to deliver critical insights and design recommendations that ensure the performance and reliability of Apple's most advanced products.

As the director of this team, you will guide a group of world‑class computational engineers, establishing best practices for simulation and analysis. You will be responsible for creating robust, validated designs by applying rigorous systems engineering principles and state‑of‑the‑art simulation techniques. By architecting sophisticated automation workflows, you will accelerate the design process and enhance predictive accuracy, making a profound impact on the development of Apple's breakthrough sensing technologies.

In this leadership role, you will lead, grow and mentor a specialized team of computational mechanics and automation experts, setting the vision for how Apple simulates, designs and validates its most advanced sensing hardware. Your primary mission is to deliver insights, design recommendations and validate designs using simulations. This will involve in-depth knowledge of various simulation techniques, state‑of‑the‑art tools and a rigorous knowledge of systems engineering principles to create robust mechanical designs proven through simulations.

This also involves architecting sophisticated tool chains and automated workflows that integrate deep Finite Element Analysis (FEA) with cutting‑edge AI/ML methodologies as applicable. By doing so, you will dramatically accelerate design cycles, enhance the predictive accuracy of our models, and enable the team to solve complex multi‑physics challenges. You will collaborate closely with cross‑functional partners in sensor design, materials science, and product development, ensuring your team’s strategic innovations in simulation and automation directly influence the performance and reliability of the next generation of Apple products.

• Design Insight and Validation:
  Lead the team in delivering actionable insights, providing data‑driven design recommendations, and validating hardware designs using a wide range of advanced simulation techniques.
• Strategic Leadership:
  Define and execute a technical roadmap for advanced simulation and analysis, applying systems engineering principles to ensure robust design outcomes.
• Team Leadership & Mentorship:
  Build, mentor, and lead a high‑performing team of computational engineers, fostering a culture of technical excellence and focusing on delivering direct design impact.
• Automation & Toolchain Architecture:
  Oversee the development of sophisticated tool chains and automated workflows to accelerate the entire simulation process—from model creation and meshing to analysis and reporting.
• Applied AI/ML for Simulation:
  Guide the application of AI/ML to enhance simulation workflows, using techniques like surrogate modeling and predictive analytics to accelerate analysis and explore complex design spaces.
• Deep Technical Guidance:
  Provide expert technical leadership in computational mechanics, including nonlinear FEA, multi‑physics simulation, and advanced material modeling, to solve complex challenges unique to miniaturized sensing hardware.
• Cross‑Functional Influence:
  Partner with and influence teams in sensor design, materials science, and product development, translating simulation results into tangible design improvements.
• Methodology & Quality:
  Establish and enforce rigorous standards for simulation quality, including validation and correlation with experimental test data to ensure the reliability of all analyses and recommendations.

• M.S. or Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Computational…