ML Research Engineer, HOUr - ISE

Role Number: 200691165Team: Software and Services, Machine Learning and AILocation: CupertinoPosted: 2026-11-12SummaryThe Human and Object Understanding (HOUr) team in the Intelligent System Experience (ISE) organization at Apple is Looking for ML research engineers in the space of advanced face understanding and analysis. This is an opportunity to join a team that built the enabling ML technologies behind a number of marquee products and features such as:Visual User Identification stack for Apple HomeView.Visual Age Estimation for Child Safety on Apple Platforms.Gaze understanding in Camera & Photos, Accessibility.Liveness assessment for IDs in Apple Wallet, and more.DescriptionYou must have a proven track record of domain expertise and technical leadership in applied ML research.You will partner closely with feature and product teams across the company to build use-case specific and feature enabling technologies in areas such as understanding visual identity, facial attributes, face liveness and anti-spoofing, eye tracking and gaze analysis.You will leverage state-of-the-art techniques to develop highly efficient, real-time solutions where needed, and/or also leverage pre-trained large scale visual/multimodal foundation models to achieve state-of-the-art quality for specific downstream use-cases.You will be interacting very closely with a variety of ML leaders, researchers, software engineers, hardware & design teams cross-functionally in order to build and ship new experiences based on your technologies.Ensuring quality in the field, with an emphasis on fairness and model robustness would constitute an important part of the role.Minimum QualificationsMasters, or Ph.D. in Computer Science, or Computer Engineering; similarly related fields, or comparable professional experience.Extensive knowledge and experience in leveraging large scale foundation models including multi-modal LLMs or vision-language models, including adapting/distilling pre-trained models for downstream perception tasks.Strong programing skills in Python and proficiency in toolkits like Pytorch or equivalent deep learning frameworks.Proficiency in leveraging AI coding and productivity tools, to supercharge experimentation and model training iterations.Preferred QualificationsStrong background in research and innovation, demonstrated through publications in top-tier journals or conferences, patents, or impactful industry experience.Experience in addressing challenges associated with the transition of a prototype into a shipping product.Familiarity with challenges of developing algorithms that run efficiently on resource-constrained platforms.Excellent written and verbal communication skills, be comfortable presenting research to large audiences, and have the ability to work in multi-functional teams.Pay & BenefitsAt Apple, base pay is one part of our total compensation package and is determined within a range. This provides the opportunity to progress as you grow and develop within a role. The base pay range for this role is between $150,400 and $277,600, and your base pay will depend on your skills, qualifications, experience, and location.Apple employees also have the opportunity to become an Apple shareholder through participation in Apple’s discretionary employee stock programs. Apple employees are eligible for discretionary restricted stock unit awards, and can purchase Apple stock at a discount if voluntarily participating in Apple’s Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You’ll also receive benefits including: Comprehensive medical and dental coverage, retirement benefits, a range of discounted products and free services, and for formal education related to advancing your career at Apple, reimbursement for certain educational expenses — including tuition. Additionally, this role might be eligible for discretionary bonuses or commission payments as well as relocation. Learn more about Apple BenefitsNote: Apple benefit, compensation and employee stock programs are subject to eligibility requirements and other terms of the applicable plan or program.EEO StatementApple is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to inclusion and diversity. We seek to promote equal opportunity for all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, Veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics. Learn more about your EEO rights as an applicantAccessibilityAt 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.Learn about accessibility in Apple’s workplaceLearn about reasonable accommodations for job applicantsApplication DeadlineApple accepts applications to this posting on an ongoing basis.