Material Characterization Engineer, Packaging Product Design

When was the last time you enjoyed a box as much as the product inside? At Apple, every customer interaction is an opportunity for surprise and delight! This philosophy extends beyond the product to its packaging, where every detail is thoughtfully considered.

The Packaging Product Design team is a diverse group of people responsible for the design and execution of structural packaging for every Apple product, shipped to customers around the world. Our packaging delivers an outstanding unboxing experience, protects products throughout the shipping environment, and advances Apple's sustainability goals. We collaborate with a wide range of teams, including Industrial Design, Marketing, Environmental, and Operations, throughout the design process.

We are seeking people who approach problem-solving with passion, creativity, and curiosity. Apple's approach to packaging is unique, so we value people who are eager to learn and further develop their knowledge of packaging design, manufacturing processes, and sustainable materials. We welcome fresh perspectives from outside the standard packaging industry to drive innovation.
In this role, you will build the link between material properties and how our packaging performs. You will identify and bring focus to the material properties that drive critical performance, test materials and parts to failure to measure true design margin, and turn the results into models and specifications that help teams focus early on what matters most. Our core material areas are fiber-based materials, adhesives, and coatings.

Minimum Qualifications

BS in Materials Science and Engineering, Polymer Science, Fiber Science, Chemical Engineering, or Mechanical Engineering with strong materials science knowledge
6+ years of relevant industry experience
Solid knowledge of materials science fundamentals, including how processing and structure drive properties and performance, with hands-on experience in mechanical and physical material testing and failure analysis
Proficiency in trial design and statistical analysis using JMP or equivalent statistical software
Excellent written and verbal communication skills and the ability to present technical details succinctly in a team-based environment
Ability to travel up to 20%, including internationally

Preferred Qualifications

MS or PhD in Materials Science and Engineering, Polymer Science, Fiber Science, Chemical Engineering, or Mechanical Engineering
Experience with fiber-based materials, adhesives, or coatings
Experience with accelerated aging methods and packaging test standards such as ASTM, TAPPI, and ISTA
Working knowledge of analytical techniques to characterize materials (e.g., SEM, FTIR, and DSC)
Advanced data analysis and modeling skills (e.g., regression, machine learning) using tools such as Python or MATLAB, and exposure to finite element analysis (e.g., Abaqus)