Materials Engineer, Failure Analyst - NMR Specialist

Description

At Apple, our Product Investigations and Failure Analysis team is all about pushing boundaries, and as an NMR Specialist and Failure Analyst, you'll be right at the forefront. Your deep expertise in NMR spectroscopy won't just characterize materials; it will be key to help in unraveling complex material issues, pinpointing root causes, and proactively preventing future occurrences that could impact our users.

This role thrives in a dynamic, fast-paced environment where you'll expertly balance urgent failure investigations with the strategic development of cutting-edge NMR methodologies. Your contributions will directly influence design decisions, optimize manufacturing processes, and ultimately contribute to the quality millions of users expect from Apple products. We're looking for someone with not only exceptional technical proficiency in advanced NMR but also an incisive analytical mind, relentless problem-solving skills, and the ability to translate sophisticated scientific data into clear, actionable recommendations for diverse engineering and design teams. If you're a collaborative team player driven by innovation and a relentless pursuit of excellence, you'll find your home here.","responsibilities":"Operate, maintain, and troubleshoot advanced NMR instrumentation (e.g., 500 MHz, solid-state, solution-state systems), ensuring optimal performance, calibration, and uptime. Contribute to the evaluation and implementation of new NMR technologies and capabilities. Ensure rigorous adherence to safety procedures and maintain an organized and efficient laboratory workspace.

Develop and optimize advanced sample preparation protocols for challenging polymeric and other organic materials, and sol-gels, including complex matrices, trace analysis, and specialized in-situ experiments.

Conduct failure analysis investigations, developing clear problem statements, formulating testable hypotheses, and designing comprehensive experimental plans to identify root causes and provide actionable solutions.

Actively manage and shepherd failure analysis projects, maintaining continuous communication with project requesters and the internal analysis team. Provide timely updates and critical information to ensure project progression, and deliver insightful, actionable reports that drive solutions.

Maintain a balance between urgent FA queue support and long-range NMR method development.

Design, execute, and interpret sophisticated 1D and 2D NMR experiments (e.g., solid-state NMR, diffusion, relaxation, variable temperature) to address complex structural, dynamic, and quantitative material challenges.

Provide expert analysis and interpretation of NMR data, translating complex spectroscopic information into clear, actionable insights and comprehensive reports for diverse technical audiences.

Collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams (e.g., R&D, Design, Manufacturing, Failure Analysis, Reliability) to understand characterization needs, develop experimental strategies, and deliver critical insights for root cause analysis, material selection, and process optimization.

Contribute to NMR-related projects, including defining experimental approaches, executing tasks, and communicating progress and results to project leads and stakeholders.

Serve as a key technical resource for NMR, educating colleagues on the technique's capabilities and guiding them on appropriate experimental design and data interpretation.

Maintain robust data management systems and best practices for experimental data, instrument parameters, and results, ensuring data integrity, traceability, and accessibility.

Act as a technical resource for integrating NMR data with complementary analytical techniques (e.g., FTIR, Raman, GC-MS, SEM), providing input on experimental design, sample preparation, and data correlation.

Learn other complementary analytical techniques such as FTIR and Raman to facilitate FA project insights, as well as provide backup for the team.

Coordinate with external analytical laboratories and academic partners when specialized NMR techniques or advanced capabilities are required to solve complex material problems, ensuring data quality and effective communication.

Provide input to the analytical strategy, including identifying needs for capability development and emerging trends in NMR.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience with multiple NMR instrument platforms (e.g., Bruker, JEOL, Agilent/Varian).

Experience coordinating with external vendors or analytical service providers.

Experience with automation.

Prior experience in an industrial R&D setting.

Publications in peer-reviewed journals or presentations at major scientific conferences.

Familiarity with computational chemistry or molecular modeling for NMR data interpretation.

Experience with cryogenic liquids (liquid nitrogen, liquid helium) and advanced NMR probe handling.

Strong problem-solving skills with a proactive and detail-oriented approach.

High scientific curiosity and a drive for continuous learning.

Collaborative team player with strong interpersonal skills.

Minimum Qualifications

Ph.D. in Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, Materials Science, or a closely related field with 2-4 years of hands-on experience in solid-state and/or solution-state NMR spectroscopy, or M.S. with 6-8 years, OR B.S. with 8-10 years of relevant experience.

Demonstrated proficiency in advanced NMR techniques (e.g., solid-state NMR, diffusion, relaxation, advanced pulse sequences) and their application to complex materials problems.

Experience with failure analysis methodologies, including problem statement development, hypothesis generation, and experimental design.

Proven ability to design, execute, and interpret complex NMR experiments to solve material challenges.

Experience in developing and optimizing new NMR methodologies or adapting existing ones for novel applications.

Proficiency with industry-standard NMR data acquisition and processing software (e.g., TopSpin, Mnova)

Strong background in organic structure elucidation and polymer characterization via NMR, with an understanding of underlying physical and chemical principles.

Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams and contribute to technical solutions.

Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present complex technical information clearly and concisely.

Commitment to safety and quality.

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 .

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 $147,400 and $220,900, 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.

Client-provided location(s): Cupertino, CA

Job ID: apple-200648057-0836_rxr-661

Employment Type: OTHER

Posted: 2026-02-27T19:13:42