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Apple Seeks Additive Manufacturing Design Engineer with Seven-Figure Salary, Requires Rapid Integration into Global Supply Chain

September 23, 2025 Services 3612

Apple has officially unveiled the next-generation iPhone 17 and Apple Watch series. The premium models of the Apple Watch Ultra 3 and Apple Watch Series 11, along with the iPhone 17 Air, incorporate 3D-printed titanium alloy components in their casing structures.

Apple has begun recruiting for a Design Engineer (MDE) specializing in Additive Manufacturing. The position is based in the San Francisco Bay Area, California, USA, with job number 200619724-3401, and falls under the Operations and Supply Chain team.

Basic requirements include over 3 years of experience in mechanical product development, manufacturing engineering, or related fields, as well as the ability to undertake international travel for more than 25% of the time, ensuring the candidate can quickly integrate into the rhythm of the global supply chain.

Since these 3D-printed components for Apple are produced by Chinese suppliers, the industry observer Polar Bear infers that this design engineer will need to travel frequently to China for communication with suppliers.

In terms of compensation, this position offers a base salary range of $157,200 to $236,700 USD (equivalent to over 1 million RMB annually). The total rewards package also includes an equity incentive plan (comprising Restricted Stock Units), an employee stock purchase discount program, comprehensive medical and dental insurance, retirement benefits, and reimbursement for education expenses related to career development. Potential bonuses and allowances may also apply. Such a comprehensive benefits package is designed not only to attract top talent but also to incentivize long-term commitment to the research, development, and industrialization of additive manufacturing technologies.

Apple Watch with 3D-printed titanium case

From this perspective, Apple's recruitment initiative primarily targets 3D printing design professionals residing long-term in the United States. While this may not be an opportunity for us to participate directly, Apple's hiring approach offers insights into the company's strategic direction for 3D printing technology. In May of this year, Apple posted a similar recruitment call for prototyping specialists in 3D printing, based in Sunnyvale, California. The role required familiarity with key 3D printing technologies (such as Polyjet, MJF, SLA, SLS, FDM, etc.), including expertise in post-processing tools; the ability to lift objects weighing up to 25 pounds; and proficiency in CAD software (e.g., SolidWorks, Siemens NX, Fusion 360) and slicing tools (e.g., GrabCAD, Netfabb, Magics).

This recruitment move not only reflects Apple's technical roadmap in the field of precision manufacturing but also highlights the growing demand for additive manufacturing talent among global tech giants. Below, we break down the key implications of this job posting from an industry perspective.

Demand for Versatile Talent with Both Hard Skills and Soft Competencies

As a Manufacturing Design Engineer (MDE), the candidate will be responsible for leading the development, evaluation, and implementation of end-to-end manufacturing solutions for critical design features of Apple products. These solutions must align with the company’s objectives for quality, cost, yield, capacity, timeline, and sustainability.

iPhone Air featuring 3D-printed titanium parts

• Evaluate product and design objectives to clarify priorities for dimensional accuracy, aesthetic appearance, and functional realization.

• Collaborate with Global Supply Managers and Apple suppliers to develop manufacturing strategies, defining goals, expectations, and timelines.

• Screen and validate suitable manufacturing equipment and processes to ensure compliance with all Apple design and operational requirements.

• Develop and document manufacturing processes, including all process parameters, consumables, and secondary processing requirements to meet established technical specifications.

• Conduct Design of Experiments (DOE) for process optimization, combining data-driven and hands-on approaches to resolve complex technical challenges.

• Communicate process development progress to cross-functional teams, lead related discussions, and drive alignment between design requirements and manufacturing capabilities.

• Provide technical guidance to global production sites during manufacturing solution development and ramp-up phases, requiring international travel; identify root causes of issues and drive corrective actions to ensure timely resolution.

In this role, you will also:

• Collaborate with internal partners and equipment suppliers to develop and refine metal additive manufacturing processes and equipment.

• Optimize additive manufacturing processes to meet Apple’s requirements for aesthetics, dimensional accuracy, reliability, and production efficiency; explore modeling and characterization methods for key performance indicators in additive manufacturing.

• Apply knowledge of 3D printing systems, powder metallurgy, binder systems, and debind-sinter-HIP processes to support product design teams in developing metal alloys suitable for additive manufacturing.

• Provide specialized support to project teams using metal additive manufacturing technologies, assisting in transitioning designs from concept to mass production.

• Establish industry-leading qualification plans and processes, completing equipment and material qualifications for additive manufacturing in accordance with Design Qualification (DQ), Installation Qualification (IQ), Operational Qualification (OQ), and Performance Qualification (PQ) standards.

In terms of candidate qualifications, Apple’s "threshold" emphasizes both hard skills and soft competencies. The role highlights the ability to "solve problems hands-on," requiring candidates to quickly learn and develop new solutions in challenging situations, while also possessing clear technical communication and project management skills. Notably, the position specifically mentions that "experience in a workshop environment (whether amateur or professional)" and "exposure to high-visibility aesthetic components" are advantageous. This aligns with Apple’s pursuit of "exquisite aesthetics + precision craftsmanship," providing a clear direction for "hands-on" talent in the additive manufacturing field.

Summary

From an industry perspective, Apple’s recruitment sends two important signals: First, additive manufacturing has evolved from a "niche technology" to a core part of the supply chain for tech giants, becoming a key enabler of differentiated product innovation. Second, additive manufacturing professionals with "cross-functional collaboration skills + mass production experience" are emerging as a core resource sought by global tech companies. For the 3D printing industry, this represents both an opportunity and a challenge—the opportunity lies in the fact that industry leaders will drive the scalable application of additive manufacturing, while the challenge is the need to rapidly cultivate versatile talent capable of meeting "mass production-level" demands.

If you are interested in applying, please visit Apple’s career page. https://jobs.apple.com/en-us/det ... acturing?team=OPMFG

Nanji Bear will continue to monitor Apple’s developments in the additive manufacturing space. We also look forward to more companies leveraging technological innovation to advance 3D printing from the "laboratory" to "every household," truly enabling additive manufacturing to reshape the global manufacturing landscape.