Staff Applied Scientist, UI Control Models

Socket.dev; Cupertino (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

Socket.dev in Cupertino, CA is seeking a senior ML leader to drive the design, development and delivery of large language models powering Siri-like experiences on-device. You will lead research and engineering in model post-training techniques that enable UI control, tool calling and compelling conversational models within mobile constraints.

You will collaborate with researchers, software engineers and product teams to move innovations from prototype to production, owning the end-to-end model

Qualifications

• Masters or PhD in Computer Science, Machine Learning Engineering or equivalent professional experience.
• 7+ years of hands-on industry experience and a proven track record of shipping ML-powered products or features, ideally involving LLMs.
• Proficiency in Python and one of the deep learning frameworks (such as PyTorch, JAX, or TensorFlow).

Responsibilities

• Design, develop and deliver large language models powering Siri-like experiences on device.
• Lead research and engineering efforts in model post-training techniques for UI control, tool calling and conversational models.
• Set technical directions for the team and drive end-to-end model lifecycle from prototyping to production.
• Collaborate with researchers, software engineers and product teams to move innovations from prototype to production.

Skills

Python programming

Communication skills

Research leadership

ML development loop expertise

Education

Masters or PhD in Computer Science/ML

Tools

PyTorch

JAX

TensorFlow

Job description

DESCRIPTION

In this role you’ll drive the design, development and delivery of large language models that power the core of Siri. You will lead research and engineering efforts in model post-training techniques that create powerful UI control, tool calling and compelling conversational models that run within the constraints of mobile hardware. You’ll collaborate closely with researchers, software engineers and product teams to move innovations from prototype to production. This includes identifying and applying post-training techniques, advancing model efficiency and contributing to the end-to-end model lifecycle process. This position emphasizes technical leadership through action, hands-on innovation and impact. You will be responsible for setting technical directions for the team. Our team values rapid iteration and delivering impactful results. The ideal candidate will have a passion for applied research, strong modeling expertise, good software engineering skills and a desire to get things done.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Masters or PhD in Computer Science, Machine Learning Engineering or equivalent professional experience 7+ years of hands-on industry experience and a proven track record of shipping ML-powered products or features, ideally involving LLMs. Extensive experience with the ML development loop, with expertise in model architectures, data curation, training policies and evaluation. Deep expertise in LLM/VLM post-training methods, including supervised fine-tuning, and reinforcement learning. Proficiency in Python and one of the deep learning frameworks (such as PyTorch, JAX, or TensorFlow). Excellent communication: strong interpersonal, verbal and written skills.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Experience developing AI agents capable of complex reasoning, planning, tool use and UI control in diverse environments. Experience developing small LLMs for constrained or edge devices. Experience building thoughtful benchmarks and environments to evaluate UI control agents. Deep understanding of model efficiency and deployment trade-offs in production environments. Experience with multi-modal foundation models. Experience developing ML systems for natural language understanding or digital assistants.