Senior Software ML Engineer - Watch Software

Apple Inc.; Cupertino (CA); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 278,000; Full time

Job summary

Apple Inc. in Cupertino, California, is seeking a Senior Software ML Engineer for Watch Software to advance on-device machine learning features for Apple Watch.

You will design and ship ML-powered watchOS capabilities, integrating models with sensors and UX layers, and optimize performance and power usage on constrained devices. You will collaborate with designers, ML engineers, and software experts across Apple to prototype, validate, and deploy innovative sensing-based experiences for

Qualifications

• MS/PhD in Computer Science, Machine Learning, or related field.
• Proficiency with Swift or Objective-C for Apple platforms.
• Experience using Python and deep learning frameworks such as PyTorch or TensorFlow.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and ship new ML-powered features on watchOS.
• Integrate and deploy ML models on-device, building Swift or Objective-C frameworks.
• Profile and optimize code for performance and power on Apple Watch.
• Develop ML algorithms leveraging multimodal sensor data to detect activities and contexts.
• Design tools, analytics, and processes to validate algorithm performance offline and on-device.
• Drive innovation from concept to deployment into user-facing features.

Skills

Swift/Obj‑C

Python

ML on-device

Communication

Education

MS/PhD in CS/ML

Tools

PyTorch

TensorFlow

Job description

Senior Software ML Engineer - Watch Software

Cupertino, California, United States Machine Learning and AI

Our team is working toward a future where our devices are aware of us and our environment, they directly support our health and wellbeing, and they nudge us to be more thoughtful, present, and inspired human beings. We believe there is huge opportunity to improve lives and the world by understanding people, our activities, connections, and the environments we live in using sensing and machine learning on our devices.Our team works with cross-functional partners across Apple to create high-impact features and new ways to interact on Apple Watch, home products, and new hardware. We prototype new experiences, develop and ship products, and publish our work. We are a creative, multi-disciplinary, optimistic, and collaborative team.Come join us and build the future!

Description

The team you will join is responsible for creating the technologies that power new, innovative product features for Apple Watch, like DoubleTap, AssistiveTouch, Handwashing, and Raise to Speak. We are highly collaborative and partner with a variety of research and product teams across Apple to explore novel experiences and ship features.We are looking for a versatile Machine Learning Software Engineer who is passionate about developing innovative, ML-driven product features that push the boundaries of sensing and human-computer interaction, and who can work across disciplines — from training advanced models to rapid on-device prototyping and full-scale productization.

Responsibilities

• In this hybrid role, you’ll collaborate closely with designers, ML engineers, and software experts to transform ambitious, loosely defined ideas into next-generation sensing experiences that reach millions of Apple Watch users worldwide. Your responsibilities will include:
• Design, implement, and ship new ML-powered features on watchOS.
• Integrate and deploy ML models on-device, building Swift or Objective-C frameworks that encapsulate models, interface with sensors, and communicate with UX layers.
• Profile and optimize code for the performance and power constraints unique to Apple Watch.
• Develop and optimize ML algorithms leveraging multimodal sensor data — like motion and audio — to detect user activities and contextual situations that enhance our understanding of real-world behavior.
• Design and implement tools, analytics, and processes to perform in-depth, hands-on analysis for validating and quantifying algorithm performance both offline and on-device.
• Drive innovation from concept to deployment, ensuring promising research ideas evolve into high-impact, user-facing features.

Minimum Qualifications

• M.S. or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Machine Learning, or a related field.
• Proficiency with Swift or Objective-C and developing on Apple platforms.
• Experience using Python and deep learning frameworks such as PyTorch or TensorFlow for predictive modeling.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with ability to work independently or in small teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience optimizing and profiling applications for performance and power consumption.
• Ability to work within the full ML development cycle: data collection, model training and optimization, defining metrics, evaluation, performing failure analysis, and model deployment to resource constrained devices

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 $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 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.