SAN 
DIEGO

When Edgar was deciding where to relocate from Mexico, he considered engineering positions at several Apple locations. Ultimately, it was the chance to join the new Physical Design team that led him to apply at Apple San Diego. “It was so appealing that this was a new team — there would be a lot of opportunities here.”

As he started his new role, Edgar found the hands-on help from his manager invaluable. “If he saw that I or the team needed help, he jumped in right away. He’s always there for us if things get challenging. I really appreciate that support.”

He also appreciates how much he’s able to learn from his managers. “Something I’m very grateful for here is that my managers have strong technical backgrounds. It’s not like other companies where general managers may have no experience in your field.”

Two years and one promotion later, Edgar is thriving in his role. “I love the work because it’s something I’ve never done before and I’m discovering so many new things. The impact that we’re making here is very exciting.”

Alexa was working as a software engineer in Cupertino when she relocated to the San Diego campus. She knew there was long-term potential at the new location, as well as plans for continued growth, and she wanted to be there from the outset. “Being here from the beginning gave me an opportunity to help shape the culture.”

After the move, Alexa started thinking about what the future could look like, including new Diversity Network Associations, potential employee clubs and ways to encourage collaboration.

“We had a co-working space in Cupertino that we fondly referred to as ‘soft seating’. It was just a circle of couches, but a lot of teamwork happened there and it was important to bring that culture of collaboration here as well.”

It was also important to Alexa that she and her team in San Diego continue to provide support for women in the tech industry. “There has been a real focus on making our hiring process even more inclusive. And I’ve been personally involved with some of those efforts, looking closely at gender and diversity on our team.”

Alexa is now managing her own team, and while she knows there’s still progress to be made, she’s encouraged by those around her. “There’s a female engineer on our team who has been with Apple for 28 years — it’s so inspiring to see that she’s been successful in her role here for almost three decades.”

Jean had been working in the tech industry in San Diego when she decided it was time to make some changes in her professional life. “I had reached a point in my career where I wanted more opportunities to grow and share my own ideas.”

Her one requirement was staying in San Diego — the place she and her children have called home for over 15 years. “It’s not only the weather I love here, but also the diversity and culture, and it’s very family friendly.”

Jean also felt strongly about where she wanted her career path to lead her next. “I saw so much potential for growth at Apple. I knew I could make an impact here because Apple encourages employees to speak up and to lead rather than follow.”

With her background and expertise, Jean was offered a chance to head a new division of signal integrity engineers — just the type of opportunity she had been looking for. She’d be able to bring her own ideas to the table and create something from the ground up. “I knew it would be an exciting challenge.”

Jean has spent the last few years building her team and helping them find their way forward, just as she did. “As we grow and expand, I remind them that every department has its own voice, and how important it is that we continue to develop our own voice too.”

After Jordan finished his master’s, it was time to plan his next move, and he knew exactly where he wanted to go. “The chance to work for a world-class company like Apple in a city like San Diego is huge. Plus, I knew there would be a lot of future expansion and opportunities for growth.”

Jordan joined Apple as a software engineer and found himself quickly engaged in cutting-edge work. “The projects that we’re working on are super unique and very focused on future innovations — everything you think of when you think of Apple.”

But it’s not just the work that Jordan values. He also appreciates how Apple celebrates people’s differences. “There’s a fundamental level of respect shown to everyone here. It encourages more people to share their ideas, which ends up helping us build really great products.”

Above all, Jordan is happy to be somewhere that extends its principles beyond its website’s mission statement. “Apple integrates its values across the entire company. People are expected to carry them through in their work, and I see that almost every day.”