Lab Operations Engineer

About the role

The Lab Operations Engineer is responsible for the full lifecycle of test equipment and board setups across a semiconductor test lab, including setup, teardown, maintenance, calibration, and logistics. This role deploys and supports a variety of automated and manual tests - spanning high-speed signal measurements, RF characterization, optics, and scripted validation flows - while maintaining lab standards for safety, organization, and operational efficiency. The engineer works closely with design, validation, and operations to troubleshoot issues, keep equipment calibrated and available, and drive continuous improvement in lab processes.

Responsibilities

• Set up, maintain, calibrate, and tear down test boards and measurement equipment including oscilloscopes, BERTs, power modules, VNAs, and pneumatic thermal head systems
• Deploy and execute a variety of tests including automated scripts, high-speed signal measurements, and RF measurements
• Maintain lab standards for safety, cleanliness, and organization in compliance with site policies
• Manage equipment inventory, calibration schedules, and records; coordinate repairs and calibrations with external vendors
• Troubleshoot, debug, and document issues observed during lab operations; escalate findings to supervisors and cross-functional partners
• Support validation, documentation, and change-control activities following established engineering standards
• Contribute to continuous improvement of lab reliability and efficiency by identifying recurring issues and updating standard procedures
• Perform rework and soldering of components or probes to boards as needed

Requirements

• BSEE or related engineering degree with 5+ years of relevant lab experience
• Familiarity with MacOS, Linux, and Windows environments
• Basic understanding of Unix/shell environments and command-line tools
• Working knowledge of Python
• Ability to read schematics and board layout files to identify component placement
• Understanding of various electronic components and their form factors
• Strong organizational, troubleshooting, documentation, and communication skills
• Hands-on experience with high-speed signal integrity and RF measurement equipment
• Scripting and automation experience beyond basic Python (e.g., GPIB/VISA instrument control)
• Experience with AI-assisted coding tools or agents
• Soldering and PCB rework skills
• Experience with optical test equipment (tunable lasers, OSAs, optical power meters) and silicon photonics measurement techniques such as fiber-to-chip coupling and photonic device characterization
• Familiarity with optical probe stations, fiber alignment systems, and photonic GDS layout interpretation
• Basic understanding of networked equipment and TCP/IP concepts
• Familiarity with root-cause analysis and failure documentation practices
• Minimum requirement of a bachelors degree
• Pay & Benefits
• Note: Apple benefit, compensation and employee stock programs are subject to eligibility requirements and other terms of the applicable plan or program.

Additional Information

Apple's silicon engineering labs are where breakthrough ideas meet rigorous validation. As a Lab Operations Engineer, you will be at the center of a cross-functional lab environment responsible for keeping our high-speed measurement and test infrastructure running reliably. You will work hands-on with a diverse range of state-of-the-art instrumentation - from oscilloscopes and bit-error-rate testers to vector network analyzers and optical systems - enabling the teams around you to gain confidence in results and push performance. If you thrive on solving practical engineering problems, keeping complex systems in top shape, and collaborating across disciplines, this is the role for you.

Your Match

How well this role fits your profile.

Company Intel

What employees say

Worked at Apple? Share your experience