Senior Cellular Applications Engineer (m/f/d)

Summary

We are seeking an experienced and technically exceptional Senior Cellular Signaling Testing Applications Engineer to join our customer-facing technical team at Apple in Germany. This senior role is designed for an engineer who brings deep, hands‑on expertise in 3GPP 4G LTE and 5G NR cellular protocols, strong software engineering fundamentals—spanning object‑oriented design, clean code principles, and rapid prototyping—and a proven track record of technical leadership in complex, customer‑facing environments. This position demands not only strong individual contribution, but the ability to lead technical engagements, mentor peers, and shape the direction of our test solutions. You will serve as the primary technical authority for our internal RF test equipment across cellular development teams, driving both customer success and long‑term product strategy. Our small team of highly skilled engineers designs and produces precision RF test equipment used to calibrate and test cellular, Wi‑Fi, Bluetooth, mmWave, UWB, and NFC radios in millions of iPhones, iPads, Macs, Apple Vision Pro, Apple Watch, and AirPods. Every team member brings unique expertise to take internal Apple products from concept to mass production—each built to Apple's exacting standards.

Description

As a Senior Applications Engineer, you will act as the definitive local technical authority on our internal RF test equipment, working closely and collaboratively with cellular development engineers across multiple teams. You will own complex customer engagements from early architecture discussions through to feature delivery, leading the design, validation, and troubleshooting of sophisticated wireless devices and networks. In this role, you will be expected to drive technical strategy, influence product roadmaps based on customer insights, and independently resolve ambiguous, high‑impact problems. You will lead demonstrations, workshops, and executive‑level technical presentations, and will play a key role in growing the capabilities of the broader team through mentorship and knowledge sharing.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary technical point of contact for advanced signaling test solutions; independently diagnose and resolve complex, multi‑layered technical issues across hardware and software domains
• Lead product demonstrations, technical presentations, workshops, and customer evaluations at both engineer and leadership levels
• Own and drive customer integration efforts, from requirements gathering through deployment and post‑delivery optimisation
• Architect, develop, and optimise sophisticated automated test scripts and solutions; establish best practices and reusable frameworks for the wider team
• Mentor and coach junior and mid‑level engineers, fostering technical growth and a culture of engineering excellence
• Contribute to product roadmap discussions, translating field experience and customer feedback into actionable engineering requirements
• Author, review, and maintain high‑quality technical documentation and internal knowledge bases
• International and domestic travel up to 20% is required

Minimum Qualifications

• Typically 7+ years of hands‑on experience in cellular systems, RF test, or applications engineering in a technically demanding environment
• Expert‑level understanding of 3GPP cellular standards, particularly 5G NR and LTE (including physical layer, MAC, RLC, PDCP, RRC, and NAS protocols), with experience applying this knowledge in real‑world test scenarios
• Deep knowledge of RF fundamentals, wireless system architecture, and advanced RF test methodologies
• Extensive hands‑on experience with professional wireless test equipment including network emulators, protocol testers, signal generators, spectrum analyzers, and vector signal analyzers
• Proficiency in at least one scripting or programming language (e.g., Python, C#, C++, MATLAB) with a strong background in building robust, production‑quality test automation frameworks
• Proven ability to lead technical discussions and present complex concepts clearly and persuasively to diverse audiences—including engineers, cross‑functional partners, and senior stakeholders
• Demonstrated experience mentoring engineers and driving technical best practices within a team
• Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree or PhD strongly preferred. Relevant disciplines include Electrical Engineering, Mathematics, and Physics.

Preferred Qualifications

• Deep familiarity with professional test and measurement platforms (e.g., Keysight, Rohde & Schwarz, Anritsu), including scripting and advanced configuration
• Broad knowledge of adjacent wireless technologies (e.g., IoT, Wi‑Fi 6/7, Bluetooth LE, UWB)
• Experience with virtualization, cloud‑native architectures, or Open RAN concepts in a testing or validation context
• Prior experience in a technical leadership or staff engineer role, with a history of driving cross‑team technical decisions
• Background in applications engineering, pre/post‑sales engineering, or a similarly customer‑facing technical role at a technology company
• Experience contributing to or influencing product roadmaps based on field and customer data

At Apple, we’re not all the same. We draw on the differences in who we are, what we’ve experienced, and how we think. Because to create products that serve everyone, we believe in including everyone. Therefore, we are committed to treating all applicants fairly and equally. We will work with applicants to make any reasonable accommodations. 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.