Apple looking for engineers to redesign the 30-pin dock connector

Apple posted a new corporate job offer seeking someone to go work in Cupertino to help redesign its 30-pin dock connector, used on all iOS products.

It looks like the 30-pin dock connector might be getting smaller in the upcoming iPhones, iPod touch and iPad models. The job posting corroborates recent rumors that Apple would shrink the size of the connector. They originated from the leaked photos of the next-generation iPhone, some of which show the bottom side of the device with an unusually small connector slot.

The advantage of making it smaller is simple. Having a connector port that takes up less space inside the device gives Apple more room for more important hardware parts that could contribute better to the function of said device. Also, depending upon which dimension of the dock connector Apple is planning on shrinking, doing so might be necessary to make an upcoming iOS device — like, say, the next iPhone — thinner.

An excerpt from Apple’s job description reads:

The Connector Design Engineer will be responsible for managing multiple connector designs and developments in support of the iPod product lines. Cross-functional development and consulting will be a major part of your daily work. As a Lead Engineer you be responsible for identifying appropriate connection technology requirements for new products and follow through with selection and development of suitable interconnect products. This will often involve adaptation of existing connectors or complete new designs.

It should come as no surprise that Apple requires a long list of qualifications to get the job. The full posting is available on Apple’s website.

[via Ars Technica]