Senior Search Machine Learning Engineer

Cupertino, California, United States Machine Learning and AI Apple Maps and the thousands of applications it empowers are being used by millions every single day! As a fundamental tool for human activity, Maps technology is evolving and new techniques are emerging. We are looking for a Machine Learning Engineer to join and play a big part in the next revolution of Maps; to enable users to find more things in innovative ways. On our team, you will have plenty of opportunities to build groundbreaking technologies using Machine Learning and Generative AI at scale to improve the search quality for Apple Maps. Description The goal of Maps Search team is to take Apple’s Maps to the next level of intelligence and accuracy using machine learning and artificial intelligence techniques. Engineers and scientists on our team work on a wide spectrum of approaches to improve search experiences on Apple Maps. In this role, some of the projects you will contribute to include but are not limited to: Develop and optimize Machine Learning algorithms to handle key issues in local search: query understanding, intent modeling, ranking and semantic search Design and develop tools, processes and analytics for backend data-extraction pipelines - along with performing hands‑off analyses to answer hard hypotheses/questions. Collaborate with various teams (e.g., infrastructure, quality, data) to develop exciting features and contribute towards our mission of best search experience to our end-users. Develop and mentor aspiring applied scientists / engineers to expand their scope and have a big impact. Be part of building a world class search team! This position involves a wide variety of skills and innovation, it is a unique opportunity that sits at the intersection of science and engineering. Ultimately, your work would have a huge impact on millions of users across the globe. Responsibilities MS in computer science or equivalent field with 7+ years of industry experience Proven record in delivering end-user facing Machine Learning driven products Strong programming experience in one or more of the following: Java, C++, Python Knowledge and experience with one of Tensorflow/Pytorch/Jax frameworks. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills - working independently and/or in small teams Attention to detail, data accuracy and quality of output. Minimum Qualifications Ph.D in computer science or equivalent field with 7+ years of industry experience. Expertise and experience in various facets of machine learning and natural language processing, such as classification, feature engineering, information extraction, clustering, semi-supervised learning, topic modeling and ranking Practical understanding of the mathematics behind modern machine learning, linear algebra and statistics. Good knowledge of big data processing, prior experience with Hadoop, Spark, Hive is highly desired. Proven expertise in applying Generative AI & Large Language Models (e.g., prompt engineering, model fine‑tuning) to search or NLP tasks. Prior experience in consumer-facing product is desired. Prior team lead experience is desired. Preferred Qualifications Prior experience in consumer-facing product is desired. Prior team lead experience is desired. At Apple, the base pay is one part of our total compensation package and is determined within a range. The base pay range for this role is between $181,100 and $272,100, 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. Apple also offers benefits including: comprehensive medical and dental coverage, retirement benefits, a range of discounted products and free services, and reimbursement for certain educational expenses — including tuition. Additionally, this role might be eligible for discretionary bonuses or commission payments as well as relocation. Note: Apple benefit, compensation and employee stock programs are subject to eligibility requirements and other terms of the applicable plan or program. Apple 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 applicant. At 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 workplace. Learn about reasonable accommodations for job applicants. Apple accepts applications to this posting on an ongoing basis. #J-18808-Ljbffr