Optical Thin Film Coating Design Engineer

Optical Thin Film Coating Design Engineer

Imagine what you could do here! At Apple, great ideas have a way of becoming great products, services, and customer experiences very quickly. Bring passion and dedication to your job and you will help to create the next generation of the world's finest electronic devices. As an Optical Thin Film Coating Design Engineer within the Coating Materials Product Design organization, you will bring strong design expertise and a passion for advancing coating solutions that help to form the building blocks of our devices.

As a member of the Coating Materials Product Design Team, you will design and develop advanced optical thin film coatings for Apple products across a broad range of coating types and applications. Working closely with cross-functional partners — including design, materials, and operations teams — you will translate complex requirements into coating solutions, develop specifications, and drive qualification into our products. You will contribute to the development of new coating materials and processes, support hands-on characterization and analysis, and help push the boundaries of what's possible through rigorous data-driven workflows and modern AI-assisted design tools.

Minimum Qualifications

• PhD in Physics, Optical Sciences, Material Science or related fields
• 5+ years relevant experience in optical thin film coatings and processes
• Experience designing thin film interference coatings, including with commercial design packages and numerical optimization methods with cosmetic and functional requirements
• Familiarity with PVD processes and equipment, especially sputtering and evaporation
• Experience with thin film characterization methods and statistical data analysis
• Experience coding analytical / modeling tools
• Familiarity with AI-assisted design and analysis tools, with genuine enthusiasm for advancing these capabilities
• Willingness and ability to travel internationally (1-2 trips / year)

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience designing and qualifying a broad range of coating types including AR, bandpass and cosmetic coatings for consumer electronic applications
• Proven track record translating cross-functional requirements and constraints into coating solutions under real-world manufacturing constraints
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with proficiency in statistical analysis
• Strong materials fundamentals and a clear grasp of structure-property-performance relationships
• Good communication and organizational skills, with ability to explain coating concepts to varied technical audiences
• Ability to independently plan, drive and deliver projects in a fast-moving environment
• Experience working with coating suppliers and contract manufacturers, including internationally

Pay & Benefits

At Apple, base pay is one part of our total compensation package and is determined within a range. This provides the opportunity to progress as you grow and develop within a role. The base pay range for this role is between $212,000 and $318,400, and your base pay will depend on your skills, qualifications, experience, and location. Apple employees also have the opportunity to become an Apple shareholder through participation in Apple's discretionary employee stock programs. Apple employees are eligible for discretionary restricted stock unit awards, and can purchase Apple stock at a discount if voluntarily participating in Apple's Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You'll also receive benefits including: Comprehensive medical and dental coverage, retirement benefits, a range of discounted products and free services, and for formal education related to advancing your career at Apple, reimbursement for certain educational expenses — including tuition. Additionally, this role might be eligible for discretionary bonuses or commission payments as well as relocation. Learn more about Apple Benefits Note: Apple benefit, compensation and employee stock programs are subject to eligibility requirements and other terms of the applicable plan or program. Apple is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to inclusion and diversity. We seek to promote equal opportunity for all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, Veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics. Learn more about your EEO rights as an applicant At Apple, we believe accessibility is a fundamental human right. You'll find that idea reflected in everything here — in our culture, our benefits and our digital tools. By welcoming as many perspectives as possible, we help you build a career where you feel like you belong. Learn about accessibility in Apple's workplace Learn about reasonable accommodations for job applicants Apple accepts applications to this posting on an ongoing basis.