Apple

Applied AI Engineer

Apple$130K — $180K *
Information Technology
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 3+ years of software engineering experience
  • Proficiency in Python and at least one systems-level language (Swift, TypeScript, etc.)
  • Experience in designing and building backend services and data pipelines
  • Hands-on experience with modern AI/agent frameworks
  • Strong skills in software architecture and API design
  • Experience with retrieval pipelines and knowledge retrieval systems
  • Effective communicator across disciplines
  • Experience with AI system evaluation and feedback loops
  • BS or MS in relevant technical fields.

Responsibilities

  • Collaborate with multi-disciplinary teams to develop AI-native platforms
  • Design and build data systems for device architecture
  • Transform internal tools into scalable products
  • Implement backend services and data pipelines
  • Evaluate and iterate on AI system performance
  • Deliver reliable AI-powered tools that meet user needs

Benefits

  • Join a high-impact team with an ambitious roadmap
  • Opportunity for significant influence on product architecture
  • Engage with world-class talent across various disciplines
  • Work on transformative AI infrastructure
  • Develop solutions that evolve from tools to impactful features
Full Job Description
Description

You will work alongside machine learning scientists, algorithm engineers, hardware teams, designers, and human factors researchers to build the AI-native platforms and data systems that accelerate how Apple ships its next generation of devices. We're a small, high-impact group with an ambitious roadmap - you'll have outsized influence on the architecture and direction of what we build.

The algorithms behind Apple's most beloved features span software, hardware, and design - and the AI infrastructure you build will serve all of them. You'll be at the center of a uniquely cross-functional environment where world-class talent in each discipline depends on the platforms you create to move faster and make better decisions. The best ideas here have a way of starting as internal tools and growing into something bigger - you'll help shape that trajectory.

You might have built a chatbot that needed to reason over internal docs, designed an agent that orchestrated multi-step tool calls, or created a pipeline that turned unstructured data into searchable knowledge. What matters is that you've gone beyond tutorials - you've shipped AI-powered tools that real users depend on.

Minimum Qualifications

3+ years of software engineering experience

Proficiency in Python and at least one of: Swift, TypeScript, or another systems-level language

Experience designing and building backend services, data pipelines, or platform infrastructure

Hands-on experience building with modern AI/agent frameworks

Strong software architecture and API design sensibilities - you think in systems, not scripts

Experience building retrieval pipelines (RAG, embeddings, vector search) or knowledge retrieval systems

Strong communicator who works effectively across disciplines

Experience evaluating and iterating on AI system outputs - you've built evaluation pipelines, measured quality, and know that shipping AI means shipping feedback loops

Sharp problem-solving instincts and a bias toward shipping

BS or MS in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Data Engineering, or equivalent experience.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience building macOS or iOS client applications

Background in workflow orchestration, experiment tracking, or reproducibility tooling

Experience designing data models, storage layers, or integration APIs for complex domains

Experience integrating LLMs with external tools and APIs (tool-use patterns, MCP, function calling) or building custom integrations between LLMs and external systems

Familiarity with access-controlled or policy-aware data systems

Experience with vector databases or embedding pipelines (Pinecone, Chroma, pgvector, or similar)

Track record building developer tools, CLIs, or internal platforms that engineers rely on daily

Experience with cloud AI services (AWS Bedrock, Azure OpenAI, Google Vertex AI) or self-hosted model serving

Contributions to open-source projects in AI/ML infrastructure

Comfort navigating large, established codebases and shipping iteratively within them

About Apple

Apple is a corporation that designs, manufactures, and markets mobile communication and media devices, personal computers, portable digital music players, and sells a variety of related software, services, peripherals, networking solutions, and third-party digital content and applications. Apple provides many products and services, including iPhone; iPad; iPod; Mac; Apple TV; a portfolio of consumer and professional software applications; the iOS and OS X operating systems; iCloud; and accessories, service, and support offerings. It sells its products worldwide through its retail stores, online stores, direct sales force and third-party cellular network carriers, wholesalers, retailers, and value-added resellers to the consumer and also sells third-party iPhone, iPad, Mac and iPod compatible products, including application software and accessories through its online and retail stores. Introduced in 1984, the Macintosh was the first widely sold personal computer with a graphical user interface (GUI). That feature and others such as an improved floppy drive design and a low-cost hard drive that made data retrieval faster helped Apple cultivate a reputation for innovation. Apple was named as the most admired company in the United States in 2008 and in the world from 2008 to 2012 by the Fortune magazine. The company was founded by Steven Paul Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Gerald Wayne on April 1, 1976, and is headquartered in Cupertino, California.

Apple Careers

Join Apple, a place where extraordinary people gather to do their best work. Our ever-expanding global team is at the forefront of innovation and leadership in the tech industry. At Apple, we're not just building products—we're crafting the kind of wonder that revolutionizes entire industries. It's the diversity of our people and their ideas that inspires the innovation that runs through everything we do, from amazing technology to industry-leading environmental efforts. Work You’ll Do Embark on a journey with Apple’s market-leading team to help some of the world’s most influential companies navigate their path to digital mastery with cutting-edge technology and services. Transform industries and touch lives with your unique ideas at Apple. Here, you’ll lead through a unique position at the intersection of technology, creativity, and robust industry expertise. Collaborate with a global team of professionals who are at the top of their game in technology and design. Apple isn’t just a company, it’s a community of innovators and passionate thinkers. Introducing the Apple Innovation and Leadership Initiative We are building a market-leading team to drive our efforts in delivering groundbreaking solutions and services. At Apple, job opportunities are abundant, offering you the chance to explore diverse roles from engineering to marketing, all designed to empower your career growth. Do Innovative Work Join the largest group of creative and technical experts in the world—professionals dedicated to redefining what’s possible through technology and innovation. Deliver targeted solutions through a depth and breadth of expertise that’s unmatched, driving forward our commitment to excellence and leadership in every project we undertake. Be Part of a Great Team Engage in a wide range of projects utilizing Apple’s technology and resources. Harness the unparalleled capabilities, global scale, and joint solution development that only Apple can offer. Future-Proof Your Career Advance your career with limitless opportunities at Apple. Go as far as your ambition takes you with unmatched training, development, and certification support. Explore Discover how Apple is leading the way in tech innovation: [With iOS] Businesses can streamline operations and enhance customer interactions... READ MORE Smart home technology integration that sets the standard for convenience and security... READ MORE The Apple Experience Our combined service capabilities, global scale, and joint solution development help clients overcome challenges and lead transformation in their industries. Clients worldwide look to Apple for new strategies and solutions that drive growth and innovation in the digital era. Stay Connected Join Our Team Search open positions that match your skills and interests. We look for passionate, curious, creative, and solution-driven team players. Whether you’re seeking a professional role, an internship, or a leadership position, Apple offers a variety of employment opportunities. SEARCH APPLE JOBS Keep Up to Date Stay ahead with career tips, insider perspectives, and industry-leading insights you can put to use today—all from the people who work here. READ CAREERS BLOG Job Alert Emails Personalize your subscription to receive job alerts, latest news, and insider tips tailored to your preferences. See what exciting and rewarding opportunities await at Apple, a company committed to diversity, innovation, and leadership. Explore job opportunities, employment benefits, and the culture of growth and innovation at Apple. Prepare your resume, hone your interview skills, and ready yourself for a career at one of the most prestigious companies in the world. Join us in pushing the boundaries of what is possible.
Learn more about Apple
Size
154,000 employees
Market Cap
$2,074.3 billion
Industry
Net Income
$63.9 billion
Founded
1976
5 Year Trend
+11.5%
Revenue
$294.1 billion
NASDAQ

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