Title: Mixed Signal Designer
Company: Apple Inc.
Location: Austin, Texas, United States
Shawn Searles, PhD, Mixed Signal Designer at Apple Inc., has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Engineers for dedication, achievements, and leadership in Integrated Circuit Design.
Dr. Searles has established himself in his field with a career marked by more than four decades of innovation and leadership. Since 2013, he has served as a designer at Apple Inc. in Austin, Texas, specializing in hardware and mixed signal design with a focus on power delivery systems. As the chief architect for power delivery, Dr. Searles is responsible for converting input battery or system voltage to precise levels required by various sub-circuits within Apple devices. His work ensures optimal current supply, best-in-class regulation and high system power efficiency while minimizing solution size.
Before joining Apple Inc., Dr. Searles held the role of fellow and mixed signal designer at Advanced Micro Devices Inc. from 2003 to 2013. During these 10 years, he contributed to interface design across multiple product lines, further honing his expertise in mixed-signal technology and advancing the performance of AMD’s hardware solutions.
Between 2001 and 2003, Dr. Searles was a principal engineer at Accelerant Networks in Portland, Oregon, now part of Synopsys Inc., where he focused on high-speed serial interfaces. His work at Accelerant Networks played a pivotal role in developing advanced communication technologies that have since become integral to modern computing systems.
Dr. Searles began his U.S.-based career at Intel Corporation as a principal design engineer from 1995 to 2001. At Intel, he specialized in high-speed digital cores, contributing to the evolution of microprocessor technology during a period of rapid industry growth. Dr. Searles’s foundational experience was shaped by his tenure with Bell Northern Research and Northern Telecom between 1989 and 1992, where he worked on small analog chips for telephones as part of the Bell Northern Research program in Canada. His first involvement in a tape-out sent to production occurred in 1985, marking the beginning of his journey in silicon design.
Highly educated, Dr. Searles’ academic background has been instrumental in shaping his technical expertise and approach to problem-solving. He received a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Manitoba in 1987, followed by a master’s degree in electrical engineering from Carleton University in 1989 and a Doctor of Philosophy in electrical and electronics engineering from the University of British Columbia in 1995. Dr. Searles also holds certification as a professional engineer and is recognized as a licensed pilot.
Throughout his career, Dr. Searles has been an active member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. This affiliation reflects his ongoing commitment to professional development and engagement with advancements in electrical engineering.
Early on, Dr. Searles was awarded a scholarship by the Canadian Society of Professional Engineers, recognizing his academic excellence and potential as an engineer. Among his most notable achievements, however, took place in the field while employed by Apple Inc. Dr. Searles was involved in the development of a scalable power delivery system for Apple silicon in the Mac, a technological advancement that was successfully integrated into the company’s product line and had never been done previously. This accomplishment represents a significant milestone in the industry and underscores Dr. Searles’s commitment to efficiency and innovation.
Dr. Searles attributes much of his success to tenacity and credits the Bell Northern Research program for providing formative opportunities early in his career. The program’s investment in young engineers through summer work terms and hands-on training fostered an environment where emerging talent could thrive.
Looking ahead, Dr. Searles intends to return to academia by contributing to curriculum development at the University of Austin and teaching aspiring engineers. As a licensed pilot, he is eager to instruct others in aviation and hopes to pilot larger aircraft with organizations such as NetJets or Delta. Dr. Searles also plans to deepen his involvement within the local community.
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