The first round was an HR interview that focused on motivation and basic technical understanding. Questions included why the candidate was interested in Apple and the PD Engineering Intern role, followed by conceptual and technical questions related to materials science and physics, such as material strength, casting methods, thermal conductivity, and thermal expansion.
Candidates who progressed were invited to a second technical interview. This round began with a self-introduction and discussion of past projects, requiring a solid understanding of engineering decisions and techniques used. The interview then focused heavily on materials, structural behavior, and deformation through scenario-based questions. These included material selection, joining methods, stiffness, deformation under load, and ways to minimize structural deformation. The process concluded with a material selection question related to iPhone design.