Coating Materials Engineer

Coating Materials Engineer Cupertino, California, United States Hardware Summary Posted:

May 21, 2026

Role Number:

200664836-0836 Our Materials Engineering Product Design team is dedicated to creating and optimizing polymer materials. We influence and enable innovative designs across all Apple product lines year after year. We work with the utmost attention to detail, directly impacting the design of products that millions of people around the world love.

As a Materials Engineer within the Product Design organization, you will drive the development of new coating materials and processes to meet the surface durability and aesthetic requirements across a wide range of part designs and in support of Apple's ambitious design goals. Description The candidate will be responsible for identifying, developing, and implementing new coating materials used across Apple hardware products. They will foster collaborative relationships with Apple suppliers in order to influence product development to meet material needs anticipated in future Apple product designs. They will collaborate with product design and industrial design groups on material selection, design feasibility and aesthetics of new plastic part designs. They will help deliver Apple's materials environmental goals and reduce the carbon footprint of plastics. This position will require a high level of autonomy and effective communication as well as the management of multiple projects in parallel. Responsibilities Establish relationships with world class coating material suppliers to learn about emerging technologies and collaborate on the development of new coating materials to meet Apple's product roadmap needs. Lead the development of new painted products, processes and quality specifications to meet a wide range of product applications of different finishes and cosmetic requirements. Collaborate with product design and industrial design groups on material selection, design feasibility and aesthetics of new painted part designs. Serve as Apple's internal coatings expert by leveraging thorough understanding of properties of coating materials, application processes and performance criteria of coated substrates. Support failure analysis and provide design direction based on evaluation of test data and failure root cause understanding. Develop new characterization methods to better predict the performance of coatings in end-use applications. Proficient with the use of statistical tools, Design For Manufacturing, JMP and Six Sigma techniques and visit factories to fully understand their capabilities, quality requirements and resolve difficult issues. Create material specifications for coating materials and collaborate with suppliers and manufacturing engineers to implement OQC process on new materials and applications. Manage multiple projects simultaneously while maintaining high cosmetic & reliability standards with fast-paced testing timelines. Minimum Qualifications MS in Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Polymer Engineering, plus 3+ years in coating industry Strong materials fundamentals in polymer material properties Experience in polymer coating chemistries and application processes. Knowledge of paint materials and design for manufacturing in terms of geometry and cosmetic quality. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including the ability to use statistical tools and techniques Demonstrated ability to independently drive multiple projects with high attention to details, setting priorities and deliver results Ability to travel within China and Internationally within Asia 25%-35% Preferred Qualifications PhD in Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Polymer Engineering, or 10+ years in coating industry Effective written, presentation and verbal communication skills, providing technical expertise and updates on project milestones High attention to detail, fastidious management of large quantities of details, solution-driven mindset to manage projects to successful completion Demonstrated ability to independently drive multiple projects, setting priorities and deliver results Familiarity with failure characterizations techniques (Optical Microscopy, X-ray/CT, Scanning Electron Microscopy/Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy, etc.), and the ability to use failure analysis methodology to derive failure root cause 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 $272,100, 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.

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. 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. Apple accepts applications to this posting on an ongoing basis.