Senior Machine Learning Research Engineer, NLP, Input Experience

Senior Machine Learning Research Engineer, NLP, Input Experience

Cupertino, California, United States Machine Learning and AI

Our team’s mission is to enhance ML powered user experiences on all Apple platforms through personalized multimodal input, composition, and understanding, with a global perspective. We achieve this daily by collaborating at the intersection of natural language processing, machine learning, and software engineering. We are responsible for the machine learning and software (non‑UI) development for several user‑facing Apple Intelligence features, including Writing Tools, Summarization, Found In Apps, and Messages/Mail Smart Replies. Additionally, we oversee the keyboard machine learning and software stack, which includes autocorrection, suggestions, and inline completions. If you’re passionate about being part of an ambitious, organized, and collaborative team that delivers user experiences with pioneering ML partnered with the best UI designs, join the Input Experience NLP team. Here, you’ll have the opportunity to transition from building groundbreaking NLP models to optimizing them for various hardware backends and user interfaces that create an enchanting experience.

Description

As a Machine Learning Research Engineer on our team, you’ll build and iteratively refine model pipelines that enable machine learning driven user experiences on Apple products. You’ll conduct experiments and create prototypes for innovative approaches to enhance the quality of our models and expand their intelligence. Additionally, you’ll implement the building blocks and infrastructure that integrate these innovations into our production pipelines and contribute evaluation metrics to measure progress.

Responsibilities

• Researching techniques to enhance model behavior.
• Development and maintenance of scalable modeling pipelines that support multiple languages and production deployment.
• Defining robust automated evaluation metrics to facilitate model quality improvement through hillclimbing.
• Conducting failure analysis to identify and address the shortcomings of our models.
• Curation and synthesis of representative training and evaluation data.
• Implementation of experiments and simulations to assess the value of model modifications.
• Collaboration with language experts and QA to refine modeling approach in consideration of language‑specific requirements.

Minimum Qualifications

• MS or PhD in Computer Science or related field with at least 2 years of industry experience.
• Strong Python programming skills, with experience developing production‑quality Python modules.
• Solid background in machine learning, data science, natural language processing, or statistics.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience building and maintaining model pipelines end‑to‑end, from data curation to evaluation.
• Ability to design and perform experiments that bring ML and NLP research ideas to production.
• Familiarity with LLMs, such as SFT, RHLF, prompt engineering, data synthesis, automatic evaluation, and RAG.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• History of developing in Python and / or Swift.
• Record of publications, innovations, and/or leadership.

At Apple, 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 $318,400, 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 Benefits.

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.