AIML - Senior ML Engineer, Responsible AI and Safety

Apple Inc.; Cupertino (CA); On-site; USD 181,100 - 318,400; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive medical and dental coverage

Retirement benefits

Education reimbursement

Discretionary stock programs

Discounted products and services

Job summary

Apple Inc. is looking for a Senior ML Engineer in Cupertino, California to shape the future of responsible AI. Your experience in machine learning and generative models will be pivotal as you lead the AI lifecycle, collaborate with cross-functional teams and push towards innovative solutions in user safety.

This role requires strong analytical skills and proficiency in Python. Ideal candidates will also have a background in developing evaluation tools and frameworks for generative AI systems, ensuring high-quality AI experiences globally.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in machine learning, focusing on generative models.
• Proficiency in Python and data science libraries.
• Strong analytical and independent problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead the responsible AI lifecycle end-to-end.
• Collaborate with cross-functional partners to ensure user protection.
• Develop models and tools to improve safety of generative models.

Skills

Machine Learning

Generative Models

Python

Data Analysis

Interpersonal Skills

Education

BS, MS, or PhD in Computer Science, Machine Learning or related field

Tools

Pandas

Job description

AIML - Senior ML Engineer, Responsible AI and Safety

Cupertino, California, United States Machine Learning and AI

Join Us in Shaping the Future of Generative AI at Apple! Are you passionate about making AI systems safer, more inclusive, and globally representative? Apple is seeking an expert Machine Learning Engineer to shape the future of responsible AI for the next generation of generative features. In this role, you will lead the responsible AI lifecycle end-to-end: assessing risks, defining policies, developing mitigation strategies, and driving continuous improvements. Your work will directly influence how we evaluate, align, and monitor the safety of large language and multimodal models. As part of Apple’s Responsible AI group within the Human-Centered Machine Intelligence (HCMI) organization, you’ll collaborate with cross-functional partners to minimize unintended consequences across people, systems, and society while elevating feature capabilities and the overall user experience. Together, we’ll anticipate challenges, measure real-world impact, and deliver trusted, high‑quality AI experiences to users around the globe. You’ll also contribute to forward‑looking research in fairness, robustness, uncertainty, and safety — pushing the boundaries of responsible AI at scale.

Description

Our team leads Responsible AI initiatives for global generative AI products, operating at the intersection of policy, product, and GenAI. We're seeking candidates who will shape safety policies in partnership with leadership, design, engineering, legal, and regulatory stakeholders—ensuring our safeguards advance both user protection and product innovation. These individuals will work on architecture mitigation and safety alignment strategies for generative models, drive integration in production. Additionally, they will work on developing models, tools, datasets, and evaluation methods to monitor, diagnose failures, and improve the safety of generative models throughout the deployment lifecycle. We do all these by incorporating human and automated feedback, post‑launch to continuously improve feature safety and user trust.

Minimum Qualifications

• 3+ years of proven ability in machine learning, including work with generative models (Transformers, LLMs, VLMs), NLP, or Computer Vision
• Proficiency in Python and data science libraries (e.g. Pandas) with strong skills in data analysis, visualization, and applied ML workflows
• Excellent interpersonal skills and proven ability to translate sophisticated technical insights for cross‑functional partners, senior leadership, and executives
• Strong analytical and independent problem-solving skills, with ability to navigate ambiguity
• Experience designing and supporting human and automated evaluations, particularly with complex, nuanced, or multi‑labeled data
• Hands‑on experience collecting and analyzing language, vision, or multimodal datasets
• Background in failure analysis, quality engineering, or robustness testing for ML‑driven systems
• Must be comfortable working with sensitive or potentially offensive content

Preferred Qualifications

• BS, MS, or PhD in Computer Science, Machine Learning, or related field, or equivalent experience
• Proven success contributing in a highly cross‑functional environment
• Experience shipping complex AI systems at global scale
• Background in model explainability, uncertainty estimation, or interpretability
• Curiosity and research interest in fairness, bias, and the societal impacts of generative AI
• Passion for building innovative, high‑impact products that draw upon interdisciplinary skills

At 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 $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.

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.